January 31, 2016

Monthly News - January 2016

-pic of the month- Sabre In The News


Bavaria and Transfluid Agree to Coperate

Germany’s largest shipyard for catamarans, sailing yachts and motor boats, Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH, and the well-known Italian power transmission manufacturer, Transfluid Trasmissioni Industriali, have reached a cooperation agreement. The aim is to offer innovative hybrid drive trains for yachts built by Bavaria Yachtbau. The first yacht from Bavaria Yachtbau to be fitted with a Transfluid hybrid system is the new semi-displacement motor yacht Bavaria E40.  Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH and Transfluid Trasmissioni Industriali share a flair for innovation, a high level of technical expertise and strong quality demand. The two companies have now reached a long-term cooperation agreement on the development and installation of hybrid drive line in yachts built by Bavaria Yachtbau. The Italian company from Gallarate has almost 60 years of experience in building power transmissions for industry and vehicles. It is in particular in the field of hybrid systems for marine applications that Transfluid engineers and technicians have a wealth of experience. One unique feature is the possibility to use Transfluid's hybrid system, which consists of a hybrid module that integrates the clutch on which the electrical machine is mounted and connects directly onto the flywheel of the Diesel engine. The new semi-displacement motor-yacht Bavaria E40 is the first project on the agenda of the engineers of Transfluid and Bavaria Yachtbau. They will be in a position to test the first prototype of the Bavaria E40 in the spring 2016. The first boat with a hybrid propulsion will be available at the end of 2016. During navigation the skipper can switch between Diesel and electric mode or use the booster mode in which both propulsion systems are used together, without the need to stop the boat. Only a simple button is required for the innovative Transfluid hybrid system to switch between modes.  Ugo Pavesi, Managing Director of Transfluid, confirms the value of this innovative project, in line with the recent International Agreement signed in Paris for world pollution reduction. This project promotes "Slow Sail", a new way to live and enjoy the sea.  Transfluid is proud of this partnership with a world leading boat builder.  This agreement shows the excellent reputation achieved by Transfluid not only regarding industrial products but even focusing on marine applications.


Bavaria New Nautic Collection

At boot Düsseldorf boat show, Bavaria announced an exciting new cooperation with Adidas Sailing to supply branded clothing to Bavaria’s customers worldwide. More then 30 styles of jackets, shirts, shoes, accessories and bags of the new ‘myBavaria Nautic Collection’ by Adidas Sailing, are now styled and branded with Bavaria Yachts and available for owners, friends and fans of the famous German ship yard. All styles and shoes of the new myBavaria Nautic Collection by Adidas Sailing will soon be available on Bavaria Yachts web site.


Bennetti and Henrik Fisker Team Up

Entrepreneur and acclaimed international designer Henrik Fisker, the founder of Henrik Fisker Design, and influential global superyacht builder Benetti are joining forces to create a series of innovative 50 meter superyachts. The collaboration is focused on a new 50 meter yacht with naval architecture by Benetti. The yacht will be designed in California and built at the Benetti facilities in Livorno, at the heart of the Tuscan coastline.  The concept will integrate a new platform developed by Benetti’s engineering team with Fisker’s sporty exterior and interior designs.  Fisker is pioneering a new design concept to enhance and optimize the on-board experience by utilizing more space on the vast superyacht for both hosting and leisure. The design will add a new “human flow” element to reduce unused space and increase its usability. The yacht exterior will have a dramatic body using light weight carbon fiber and other exotic materials, as well as optimized ocean views from all major cabins and use reclaimed wood, integrated solar panels and optional hybrid power. The interiors will feature the new design concept for each of the three decks that will enhance the space and emphasize comfortable and clean luxury living in a pristine environment. The interiors will feature advanced and sustainable materials, and state-of-the-art technology for automated controls and optimal power management. Onboard amenities will include a beach club, spa, several bars, a pool and sunbathing areas on multiple decks. A future owner will welcome 12 guests in six cabins, looked after by 11 crew members with comfortable staff quarters. Fisker is renowned as the international designer for famous iconic, exotic and collectable cars. He is best known for his BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, as well as the Artega GT, Fisker Karma Hybrid, the Viking motorcycle, Mustang Rocket and most recently, the Force 1 among others.

Benetti Mega Year Book Celebrating Success

The Benetti Magazine is aptly called BE Inspired by Italian Genius. To complement its more informative take on all things Benetti, we have decided to launch an annual yearbook called, not surprisingly, Benetti Inspirations: and since our business is in mega-yachts, we have chosen to make this a mega-book.  The extra-wide horizontal format showcases our differently styled yachts and provides a perfect layout for our extraordinary collection of both exterior and interior shots.  Benetti Inspirations also offers a unique insight into our way of life: from the backstage of our advertising to the craftsmanship and dedication to quality that link us to our partners. Benetti Inspirations will be launched at the Miami Boat Show with a dedicated event for the yachting press.


Fairline Future Secured

The new company, Fairline Yachts, is funded by two long term UK-based Russian investors, who are both highly experienced in managing and developing marine businesses and in the production of high technology products, IT and media services. Both are also passionate boat owners.  Russell Currie has been appointed as Managing Director to lead the new business. With nearly 30 years directly relevant experience, Russell has a very strong background in the luxury motor yacht industry. A Fairline dealer since 1998, Russell is CEO of Fairline North Mallorca, where he has achieved over £90million of sales. Prior to his role at Fairline North Mallorca, Russell was Engineering Director at Sunseeker International’s factory team based at Mallorca, and was Chief Test Engineer at Princess Yachts International before that. The appointment of Russell ensures continuity of senior management at Fairline Yachts and safeguards close customer and boat dealer relations under the new ownership structure.  The newly formed company will operate from its manufacturing facilities in Oundle, Northamptonshire.


Ferretti Custom Line Wins MBY Awards 2016

If a good beginning makes a good ending, this 2016, when Custom Line celebrates its 20th anniversary, is destined to become a long season of successes and awards. And it couldn't be otherwise, when your fleet may include the Navetta 28, jewel of the brand's semi-displacement series. In fact, this remarkable maxi-yacht has won the 2016 “Motor Boat Awards”, the first of this nautical year, held by IPC Media of Britain - the publishing house of some of the most famous European magazines in the sector.  The award was presented to the Italian maxi-yacht during a gala dinner on January 11th at London's Rosewood Hotel, as part of the 62nd edition of the London Boat Show, set to continue until January 17th.  The Ferretti Group is attending the show together with its exclusive dealer Ventura UK.  Custom Line Navetta 28 triumphed in the “Custom Yacht” category, where the other seven finalists included some of the most important new crafts introduced by major international shipyards over the past several months. It's an award of exceptional value, as borne out by the fact that each yacht is professionally tested by expert journalists from the British publisher before it can enter the “short list” of finalists and thus be eligible to win.  “We're really pleased to begin the year of Custom Line's 20th anniversary with this award that honours one of our most important yachts - said Stefano de Vivo, Ferretti Group Chief Commercial Officer.  This is true not only because the prize was given in Great Britain, home of many of our most important competitors and a country with a great nautical tradition and culture, but also because it is awarded by a jury of professionals who choose the winner after an exhaustive series of sea trials and after taking into account the technical, appearance and innovative features of each yacht.  This victory also highlights the effectiveness of the design and build strategy that Custom Line has followed over the years, a strategy that has made it one of the most commercially successful brands on international markets.”  In this way, Custom Line Navetta 28 is continuing its remarkable run as the major player in its market segment, which it has enjoyed since its début at the 2014 Cannes Yachting Festival. Indeed, the Custom Line Navetta 28 has been successful on every market where it's been introduced.  From Europe to the Middle East all the way to Hong Kong, where the yacht debuted last October.


Formula Flex

FormulaFlex is a recently developed program by Formula Boats that offers individual personalization in key areas such as graphics, upholstery and electronics. FormulaFlex changes are all available at no cost to the customer, and if something is desired beyond those offerings, FormulaFlex MyWay allows for further upgrades.


Gulf Craft Brings Luxury Seafaring to Omani Waters

Oman’s passionate seafarers are developing a growing interest in luxury sea travel and new oceangoing experiences, according to the country’s market leader for recreational yachts and boats, Gulf Craft.  Speaking at the company’s Exclusive Preview event at the Almouj Marina at Al Mouj Muscat, Erwin Bamps, CEO of Gulf Craft, said this increased desire to spend more quality time on water mirrors regional trends, in which comfort, space, and the capacity to entertain are becoming a priority for existing and prospective owners.  


Nordhavn's Depart for Cuba

A convoy of Nordhavns set sail yesterday from Key West, bound for Havana, Cuba, marking the first time a group of Nordhavns has explored the waters around the island nation. A second group of Nordhavns is set to converge in Cuba later in April, while still others will make the trek solo over the coming months.  Chatter amongst Nordhavn owners regarding a “Cuba Rally” has run rampant ever since the U.S. and Cuban governments announced a renewal of diplomatic relations last year. While several Nordhavns have individually been able to freely visit Cuba, now American owners – who make up the majority of Nordhavn ownership are finally able to take advantage of the unique cruising grounds and discover what it is that has made Cuba a popular tourist destination for the rest of the world.  The owners of more than 30 individual Nordhavns gathered at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show last November to meet and discuss final details regarding a Nordhavn rally to Cuba. It’s been months and months in the planning, said Cuba Rally Committee co-chair John Phillipson, culminating with the countdown that started in Miami last week. There, boats provisioned and readied prior to making their way down to Key West where most of the participating boats departed en masse. Meanwhile, others set out from other parts of the U.S., the Southern Caribbean and even Europe.  Once in Cuba, the boats will be together, though each with an individual itinerary, according to Phillipson, since some are restricted by the number of weeks they are able to stay. In those instances, the boats will spend most of their time in and around Havana while boats staying longer will visit Varadero, Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.  Despite the legal Cuba travel opportunities that now exist for Americans, there is still a great deal of risk and many regulations must be adhered to.  Still, in the opinion of Phillipson as well as those in the group – the risks don’t outweigh the rewards.  A second fleet of Nordhavns is gathering steam for an early April departure to Cuba. Unlike Phillipson’s group which is strictly owner-organized and self-directed, this second rally will be under the guidance of Peter Swanson, editor-at-large for AIM media group which includes Passagemaker Magazine. For a fee, owners will pay to participate in what Swanson refers to as a Legal Cuba Rally via one of 12 general licenses that authorize U.S. citizens to travel by boat effectively eliminating the “risks” of visiting Cuba faced by those who ad-lib their trips. AIM will be overseeing America-Cuba cruises under the current regulations of the “people to people” exchanges, which don’t require a license or paperwork, but do include guidelines Americans are expected to follow. As their tour leader, Swanson becomes the “person subject to U.S. jurisdiction”, meaning if anyone in the group isn’t following the rules – knowingly or unknowingly – it’s his head on a platter.  The two Cuba rallies make an important commentary on the Nordhavn brand, said Jim Leishman. .


Nordhavn Embarks on Maiden Voyage

One of the most gorgeous Nordhavn 68s ever manufactured left Dana Point, CA, last week bound for Mexico on what is her first major journey. Nordhavn Yachts Southeast salesman and delivery captain, Devin Zwick, is at the helm of the yacht, enjoying a trouble-free delivery throughout Baja, Mexico en route to La Paz. What could be described perhaps as a leisurely delivery, there’s been no shortage of port stops with the owners enjoying visits to Rosarita, Isla Santa Margarita and Cabo San Lucas to name a few. 


Numarine Announces New Dealers

In the last six months Numarine has not only been busy in building new products like the new 60 Fly, 70 Fly and 105HT, but it has also worked hard at improving the reach of its dealer network. The results speak for themselves: Numarine is now present in Spain with its Partner Living by Carlos in Mallorca, and with Yachts & Trade in Italy and Switzerland. Furthermore, in Malta, Morocco, and Tunisia Numarine is now present thanks to BHP Group from Malta, and in Egypt with Planet Navis out of Hurghada.   Yard has also strengthened its presence back home in Turkey with the new Partner Karina in Istanbul.  USA – along with Central and South America could not be left alone, especially now with the confirmed comeback of the market - indeed Numarine has brought on board Grande Yachts out of Maryland with its East Coast facilities and USA network of sub-dealers.  Burevestnik Group from Moscow joined the team for Russia, CIS and Montenegro. Andrey Boyko, CEO of Burevestnik stated “We are happy to be partners of Numarine - we needed in our portfolio a range of competitively priced, high-quality, customizable fly-bridges and open yachts that we could feel comfortable selling to our demanding clientele in search for fresh design and seaworthy performance.”  With its Hong Kong based partner Asian Marine expanding into Thailand and Philippines, and Q7 Marine ready to introduce the all-new 60HT into Australia and New Zealand, Numarine is certainly poised for continued growth in the coming months.


Princess New Executive Chairman

Princess Yachts International plc has announced today the appointment of Antony Sheriff as Chairman, succeeding Philippe Mellier, who will remain on the board of the company's holding company.  Antony joins Princess from McLaren Automotive where, over a decade as Managing Director, he built McLaren's road car division and turned it into a leading global force in the world of luxury cars. Under his leadership, McLaren conceived a range of ground-breaking supercars such as the MP4-12C, 650S, 570S and P1 and launched them to market with great success. At the same time, he built a global distribution network and turned McLaren into an elite, technology-driven and profitable luxury sports car brand.  Prior to joining McLaren, Antony spent 8 years at Fiat Auto where he was Director of Product Development for all Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia cars, conceiving multiple winners of the prestigious Car of the Year award.  Antony holds a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College and an M.S. in Management from M.I.T.  Chris Gates, Managing Director: "It was an absolute pleasure to have worked with Philippe Mellier over the past year as he was really passionate about the brand and product and I thank him for all of his efforts. I'm delighted to welcome Antony here at Princess as our new Executive Chairman. I can clearly see his experience and energy adding tremendous value to our business and I am looking forward to working alongside him to further develop Princess over the coming years."  Mr. Sheriff adds: "I am thrilled to be stepping into such a respected luxury brand that is clearly seen as a world leader in the industry. Over 50 years, Princess has built a well-deserved reputation for building the finest boats in its class and I am looking forward to working with Chris and the rest of the brilliant team at Princess, to continue to build the best and most innovative products while delivering the best customer experience in the industry. I hope to help grow Princess into a truly iconic British brand with far reaching recognition and respect."

Princess Celebrates 50 Years With Limited Edition Sea Bob

In time for boot Düsseldorf 2016 and the 50 year anniversary of Princess, the partnership starts with two specifically crafted Seabob editions for Princess. The design incorporates an illustration by renowned artist Jaume Vilardell in the style of the 1960s, who was commissioned by Princess Yachts to create the brand's 50th anniversary campaign artwork. Bestowed with the Red Dot Award the Seabob achieves the highest levels of design. This makes it a perfect companion to the highly anticipated Princess 30M superyacht, launched this week at boot Düsseldorf - the largest yacht, at the largest European indoor boat show. The lifestyle product Seabob is an excellent complement to the elegant and modern look that distinguishes the M Class range of Princess superyachts.  The Seabob F5 S in the Princess 50th Anniversary Limited Edition collection is available in 2 limited edition designs. Lady `65 and Cubic `65 and are now available for 11,255 Euro net each. They are designed in modern lightweight construction and equipped with highly efficient electric drive systems. High-quality components made of carbon, special ceramic coatings and seawater resistant precious metals ensure they are light weight. The Seabob jets can be lifted by a single person without aids from the water and are thus easy to handle. These characteristics make them the ideal accessory, not only for larger yachts with lifting devices, but also for smaller boats.  Over or under the water, the Seabob scores high in maneuverability and performance. Its easy handling makes it suitable for sportsmen or people who just like to cruise. Underwater enthusiasts wishing to explore in a more professional manner will appreciate the effortless underwater movements possible, allowing the diver to descend up to 40 meters in perfect harmony with nature. Diving into completely new dimensions and discovering a fascinating underwater world, now from the luxury of your Princess yacht –Seabob makes it possible.


Riviera New Whitsundays Management Service

Award-winning Riviera and Belize dealer R Marine Crawley based at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast has just announced a significant boost to the luxury marque’s renowned owner care program in the idyllic Whitsundays region.  Dealer Principal Ben Crawley said the new Whitsundays yacht management service in the very heart of Queensland’s fabled cruising grounds would be launched in February 2016.  “Our purpose-built ‘floating office’ will be located at Abell Point Marina, Airlie Beach, to enhance our premium service and support for the 100 Riviera and Belize family members who choose to berth their boats in this wonderful part of the world,” said Mr Crawley. "We will also have a Riviera 47 Open Flybridge there from June to November each year, and we will have a quick-response vessel there permanently."  R Marine Crawley's dedicated team already spends three to four months in the Whitsundays each year as part of the dealership’s annual Experience events that encourage Riviera and Belize owners to undertake the passage north in company of like-minded luxury motor yacht enthusiasts, and with the peace of mind of knowing assistance is close at hand should they require it.  “R Marine Crawley Whitsundays will be a complete luxury motor yacht management and concierge service and we will also be further expanding our program of social, educational and hosted cruising events for Riviera and Belize owners, many of whom fly in from other parts of Australia and the world to spend quality time on their yachts in these beautiful, pristine waters," said Mr Crawley.  “Experienced skipper Matt Brown will be on-hand and on-call for everything from warranty, factory parts and repairs to routine maintenance and detailing, we are very proud to welcome him to the R Marine Crawley team.”  Matt Brown has established his luxury motor yacht management credentials over the past decade with Matt Brown Marine in Sydney and says he is extremely excited to be making the move north with his wife Jodie and their three children, Elle, Benji and Cooper.  “For the past three years I have spent up to three months a year in the Whitsundays with Riviera and Belize owners. For a long time Ben Crawley and I have wanted to provide 52-weeks-a-year, premium Riviera service for owners who berth their yachts here,” said Mr Brown.  “Those owners now have peace of mind knowing that R Marine Crawley Whitsundays is providing the premium quality care and attention their luxury Riviera and Belize yachts deserve.”  Mr Brown has a genuine passion for Riviera and its hallmark ethos of excellence, having purchased his first ‘Riv’ a 3000 Offshore as a gift for himself for his 30th birthday.  “We kept her for five years,” he said. “We loved our 3000 and now we have the opportunity to work directly with Riviera and R Marine Crawley, for Jodi and I it really is a dream come true."  Mr Brown joins a well-rounded service and support team at R Marine Crawley, which has boating professionals on-hand and on-call to cater for all owner needs.  “We have also recently welcomed factory-trained electrical engineer Jason Kowalski to the R Marine Crawley team and his extensive knowledge and 11 years of experience creating new Rivieras will prove invaluable,” said Mr Crawley.  “Jason is available to assist owners with the purchase of Riviera or Belize luxury motor yachts, with new yacht handovers and with special training for the state-of-the-art technology that today makes boating so much easier and more enjoyable with Riviera, such as the CZone digital switching and glass bridge navigation systems as well as the amazing joystick steering with IPS.”  Mr Kowalski said his passion is customer service and the opportunity to have one-on-one interaction with owners would enable him to call on all the skills developed at Riviera.  “I particularly enjoy making people happy and I really like the fact the team of R Marine Crawley is so focused on that end-result,” he said.  “The advanced marine technology of today really does enhance time aboard for every owner and every guest.  “I’m excited – this a great opportunity for me to work with R Marine Crawley, the 2015 Riviera Sales Excellence for a Dealer award winner, and with Ben Crawley, the 2015 Individual Sales Excellence award winner.”


Sabre In The News

Readers who live in southern Maine will probably have seen local news coverage of the Sabre 66 Dirigo as it was transported through the streets of Rockland.  It's truly thrilling for Sabre to have been met with so much excitement and enthusiasm, not only in this aspect, but in every new phase of the 66 project. When Sabre chose to name this line 'Dirigo' they knew pride in this vessel would be immense, but never anticipated the level of acceptance and enthusiasm they have encountered across the state of Maine, and from the boating community as a whole.  It doesn't seem possible, but 2016 promises to be just as exciting, if not more so! 


Sea Ray New Senior Vice President and General Manager

Sea Ray Boats recently announced that Scott Ward has been named senior vice president and general manager of the Sport Yacht & Yacht category, reporting to Sea Ray President Tim Schiek. Ward is currently vice president - Brunswick Financial Services. Ward will assume his new duties at Sea Ray Feb. 1.  “Scott brings 28 years of marine experience, a solid track record of growth and profitability, and strong dealer and industry relationships to his new position,” Schiek said. “For the past nine years, he has successfully led Brunswick’s Financial Services businesses as well as the popular and successful Brunswick Dealer Advantage for growth and profitability through unique product offerings to a diversified dealer and OEM base. Prior to that, Scott worked in yacht sales and marine retail as well as positions in marine financing.  “Scott’s strong retail financing knowledge, solid dealer relations, yacht sales experience, and genuine passion for the water and boats -- he is a Sea Ray owner -- make him a perfect fit to lead the Sea Ray Yacht category’s future growth,” Schiek added.  In a related move, Sea Ray also announced that Brad Anderson will assume responsibility for the Sport Boat and Cruiser category as the senior vice president and general manager, reporting to Schiek. Anderson, whose appointment is effective immediately, was most recently senior vice president - global sales - Sea Ray & Meridian.  “Brad grew up in the boating industry. His first job was at a local boat dealership,” Schiek said. “Over the past three years, Brad has been instrumental in re-establishing Sea Ray as the market leader. He has driven significant improvements across our marketing enterprises, product portfolio, and global sales. Prior to joining Sea Ray, Brad was president of Brunswick’s Harris and Cypress Cay pontoon brands.”  “Focused category alignment enables the category teams to operate in a more entrepreneurial fashion, moving with greater speed of execution to maintain a steady stream of industry leading products and services that win in the marketplace. This outcome provides a consumers' experience that is above and beyond our consumers' expectations and further enables us to be the best partners for our world-class dealers. The appointment of Scott and Brad will enable these teams to perform at an even higher level," Schiek added.  “Over the past two years, we have steadily aligned our business around these two categories -- Sport Yachts & Yachts and Sport Boats & Cruisers -- for increased focus and execution and have had much success,” Schiek explained.

Sea Ray Congratulates Dealers on Another Winning Year

Sea Ray extends a sincere congratulations to its world-class dealership network for another hugely successful year in 2015 — one that included the introduction of several new boats, including the new L590, 400 Sundancer and 400 Fly, and the announcement of a new, revitalized, Sea Ray Owners Club.  That hard work and commitment is reflected in the 2015 Model Year Top Sea Ray Dealer awards listed below. In addition, four dealership locations scored a perfect 100 in the Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Awards, a score based on information provided by nearly 60,000 consumers who purchased a new boat or engine in the past year.  The following is a complete listing of Top Sea Ray Dealers and CSI 100 earners: Top Five MarineMax Locations: 1. Pompano, 2. Long Island Lindenhurst, 3. Fort Myers, 4. Lake of the Ozarks, 5. Clearwater.  Top Five Independent Dealers in North America: 1. Sun Country Marine, 2. Hall Marine Group, 3. Clarks Landing, 4. Lake Union Sea Ray, 5. M&P Mercury.  Top Five International Dealers: 1. Marina Marbella – Spain, UK, Sweden, 2. Performance Boats – Mexico, 3. National Yachts Company – Egypt, 4. Queensland Marine Centre – Australia, 5. Alpha Marine – Guatemala.  CSI Score of 100: 1. Deep Creek Marina, 2. Sail & Ski, 3. Hall Marine – Charleston, 4. Hall Marine – Savannah. 


Sunseeker Wins 2016 Boat Award

Sunseeker International has won the award for Best Sportscruiser over 45ft at the 2016 Motor Boat Awards. The award was given to Sunseeker’s hugely popular new three-cabin Predator 57 model, which was officially launched in January 2015. Dubbed the “Oscars of the motor boat world”, the Motor Boat Awards shortlist includes every boat tested by Motorboat and Yachting Magazine during 2015, across eight main categories. Members of Sunseeker’s senior team; including CEO Phil Popham were present to collect the award at a gala ceremony in London’s Rosewood Hotel on Monday 11th January. The judging panel made the following comments on presenting the award: “Our winner combines exciting looks with generous living spaces, transformative features, top-notch quality and barn-storming performance.” On accepting the award, Phil Popham said: “We have seen an extremely positive response to the Predator 57, which became our fastest-selling model to date in 2015 with over 50 retail orders in its first six months. It was built with yacht lovers’ desires and needs in mind to deliver the ultimate cruising experience, and we are delighted to receive this award to recognise its success. We constantly strive to innovate and build the best across our full range from 50-155 feet, and every element of this yacht has been carefully designed to provide the optimum experience for our customers.”

Sunseeker to Recruit New 225 Skilled Staff 

Sunseeker International has announced that it is now looking to recruit 225 new skilled staff, an increase on its original plan for 100 new employees to support the introduction of several new models planned for 2016. The new roles will be based at its manufacturing operations in Dorset, covering construction trades including Carpentry, Plumbing and Electrical, Boat Building, plus Engineering trades including Mechanical Engineering, and Composites - GRP Laminating and GRP Finishing. Commenting on the recruitment drive, Sunseeker’s CEO Phil Popham said: “We are pleased to announce these recruitment plans which give a clear signal of the positive times ahead at Sunseeker. We have a clear and robust business plan to invest in long term growth and sustainable success, backed by our majority shareholder Wanda Group whose stable ownership and strong financial backing enables us to plan and invest for the future. Our forward order book for 2016 and beyond is looking very strong, currently up 55% over the same period last year. Expanding our highly skilled workforce is a key part of our planned investment, and with the introduction of a number of new boat lines in 2016 we are able to recruit 225 new skilled staff to support future growth. This recruitment drive is underway and will conclude in the first half of the year, bringing our total employee number to around 2,150.”


Vanquish Teams with Famous TV Chef

René also advised us to fit the Green Egg Mini barbeque on the back of the boat, suspended above the water. Now that is a tasty idea! Watch this space for more info on this recipe for success on the VQ48.  Approachable, down-to-earth, obsessed with quality and passionate about traditional dishes with a unique modern spin: René Schudel is arguably the most famous chef in Switzerland. The 39-year-old, who hails from Interlaken in the serene mountainous heart of the Alps, lives and breathes cooking. With his TV cooking shows, two restaurants and joint ventures with high-profile partners, this culinary whirlwind only knows one direction to go, and that’s fast forward!


Viking New Year Bang

Peter Rhein and his crew on the Viking 62 Sneaky Pete started the new year off with a bang at the 36th Annual Pelican Club Billfish Invitational. Snotty seas kept the fleet at the docks on Day One but Day Two was a different story. Although still sporty, the boats headed out in search of sailfish. Sneaky Peteanglers David Kenny and Gregory Kizinski each released a sail to put the Sneaky Pete team in the mix.  The weather settled down and Day Three and Four saw 10 more sailfish for the Viking 62. When lines were called, Sneaky Pete claimed Second Place overall and David Kenny took Second Place Angler with nine releases.  As always, Pete was at the helm as nobody runs his boat but him. Having taken delivery of the boat this past summer Pete had this to say, "Our first day of fishing was rough, the weather really was beating everyone up but this boat handled like a baby carriage skipping through the ocean. And no one made it back to the dock before us."  So Pete will attest, the sails have arrived in Florida! The Gold Cup wrapped up yesterday and the last count was just shy of 200 sails released. 

Viking at 44th Gold Cup

A chill in the air bode well for the Gold Cup last week. The fleet of 24 boats were snapping up sails with 196 released over four days of fishing and it was up to the final day to see which boat would take the win. When lines were called, three boats were tied with 14 releases which put the Viking 80 in Third Place based on time. The 80 crew was led by Team Captain Patrick Healey with Boat Captain Ryan Higgins and anglers Justin Healey, Don Gemmell, Dave Meyer, Pat Kelly, and Chris Kelly, along with mates Brian Komer and Scott Adams. Dave Anderson fishing on the Viking 70 Krazy Salt's claimed Third Place Angler with five sailfish releases.


Wider and Team Italia I Bridge

Wider has always stated that "one must keep away from boring convention and have the conviction to follow great new ideas in order to create really exceptional modern yachts". It singled out Team Italia as its partner for navigation electronics, entrusting development of the new, highly innovative bridge development project for Wider 150 M/Y “Genesi” to the company.  Team Italia I-Bridge is an innovative navigation system thanks to which the wheelhouse for M/Y Genesi is unique in terms of design and integration. The console enables users to choose from a variety of settings depending on the navigation context in which they find themselves, thanks to the use of mechatronic technologies which have been specially studied and designed for this super yacht.  From the very beginning, the project for Wider 150 M/Y Genesi was devised and developed giving special importance to the bridge and to the concept of navigation. More specifically, the study of the ergonomics required special solutions and customized electronics.  Combinations and ergonomics were developed and implemented with regards to mechatronics which allow users to adapt the bridge to the navigation context in which they find themselves.  Indeed, besides contextualisation of the navigation equipment for the various possible scenarios (deepsea, bluewater, approaching, mooring, docking) the configuration also provides for variations in the ergonomic settings of the entire dashboard (from linear to C shape configuration). User friendliness and integration are made possible through Team Italia's Mulitcontrol System.  The complexity of the project was dealt with through in-house pre-building and pre-mounting, making it possible to implement a series of functions and solutions actually during the work. The bridge was built at the Team Italia Development Centre thus offering the shipyard greater versatility in terms of technical and functional solutions, and most importantly without hindering the onboard production processes. The last few parts of the installation work were considerably simplified and most importantly made it possible to respect the pre-set timeline for the work.

Wider Expands Dealer Network in Asia

Wider are delighted to announce the appointment of Boat Lagoon Yachting as dealers for the Wider Express Cruiser Division in Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. With over 20 years of experience in the yachting industry, Boat Lagoon Yachting are a subsidiary of Phuket Boat Lagoon which owns and operates one of South East Asia’s most active integrated marinas with a strong focus on maintenance and after service.  Boat Lagoon Yachting have knowledgeable and experienced representatives across South East Asia all of whom were quick to grasp the opportunity to promote the Wider Express Cruiser range at the recent Pimex Boat Show. Their discerning clients have already shown considerable appreciation and admiration for the unique styling and practical innovations that make all of the Wider product range stand out from the crowd.

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