-pic of the month- Wider Triumph at Superyacht Awards 2019
Azimut Launched International Competition for Young Designers
In pursuit of its mission to innovate the future by helping Young talents discover ways they can play a leading role in tomorrow's yachting industry, Azimut Yachts has launched a Design Competition with Arts Thread, the world's leading network for new creatives. Azimut Yachts is calling for highly innovative and creative projects from transportation and interior designers, asking them to create a new day cruiser for launch as part of the brand’s Atlantis Collection. For this new concept boat, designers are requested to propose one of these options: the external lines of a 10-meter boat with in-board engines; the layout of habitable areas with open and multifunctional spaces; under-deck interiors; innovative, exclusive and luxurious micro-design details dedicated to on-board comfort (objects, seats, ergonomic sundecks and combined lighting). The use of sustainable materials will be considered a valuable plus for participants. The winner of the competition, to be announced next December, will receive an all-expenses paid three-month internship at Azimut headquarters in Avigliana, Italy. This contest is the most recent chapter in an ongoing process that has seen the brand partnering for over 10 years with international design schools and universities, such as IED, Poli-Design, Politecnico di Torino, Coventry University, to develop a curriculum and build a stronger understanding of yacht design. The initiative is part of a broader project developed by Azimut|Benetti Group to celebrate its 50th anniversary and underline the brand’s focus on design, featuring a design installation in Times Square that showcases an Azimut S6 yacht, in partnership with Design Pavilion, to mark NYCxDesign in May.
Azimut New Australian Dealer
Azimut|Benetti Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of semi-custom and full custom motor yachts, has announced today the appointment of d'Albera Marine as exclusive Azimut Yachts dealers for Australia. D'Albora Marine is part of the D'Albora Marinas Group, which has 10 marinas, full service boat yards and dry-stack boat storage facilities located throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Marco Valle, Azimut Yachts CEO, commented “Our number one priority globally is customer service and satisfaction. We have always considered Australia to be one of the highest potential markets in the Asia-Pacific region: d’Albora, with its large in-house marina and customer support network, is the best possible partner for us to succeed in such a demanding market. We are pleased that d'Albora's market leading offering and experienced team will now be there to support current and new Azimut Yachts owners". D'Albora Marine is headed by Matt Walford who has over 15 years’ experience in the marine industry. He has worked with numerous luxury motor yacht brands in Australia and previously held the position of Business Development Manager with Austal, leading national shipbuilder. He is also joined by a team of sales brokers and customer service staff with long term industry experience. “We’re delighted about this partnership. Azimut Yachts has a revolutionary new product range which we look forward to introducing to the Australian market, starting with the new model Atlantis 45 arriving later this year. At the same time we are excited about connecting with the large number of existing owners to see how we can support their immediate requirements”, he said. Azimut Yachts, on behalf of the entire team, would like to express its gratitude to 5 Star Motor Cruisers, which supported the brand’s sales in Australia in recent years.
Benetti Wins World Superyacht Award
A symbol of Made in Italy experience, with a unique and inimitable design, 69-meter mega yacht M/Y "Spectre" is back on the top step of the podium at the World Superyacht Awards in the category "Displacement yachts between 500 and 1,999 tonnes". The Boat International judges were won over by the exteriors designed by Giorgio M. Cassetta and interiors by the Benetti Interior Style Department. M/Y "Spectre" is also a worthy winner of the award because of its sporty performance, the cutting edge technology of the hull by Mulder Design, and Total Ride Control® by Naiad Dynamics1. Almost a month after the Asia Boating Awards 2019, where M/Y "Spectre" won the "Best Custom-Built Yacht" prize, the iconic 69-meter Benetti wins another prestigious new award. This time M/Y "Spectre" has cast its spell over the designers, architects and yachting experts that were part of the jury of Boat International, one of the world's most highly respected yachting magazines, who gave the yacht the World Superyacht Awardin the category "Displacement yachts between 500 and 1,999 tonnes" for its build quality, technology, high performance and cruising comfort. Paolo Vitelli made the following comment on this latest achievement:"I feel extremely proud to be Chairman of Azimut-Benetti Group, once again recognized as the largest megayacht producer in the world for 19 years now. Benetti is receivimg this prestigious award for Spectre and in the meantime is completing 3 Giga yachts of more than 100 mt. We are living a sparkling sales season adn hosting great events all over the world. These are great achievements with which I happily celebrate the 50th Anniversary of my group". The words of Chairman Vitelli were echoed by Giorgio M. Cassetta, who designed the exteriors of M/Y "Spectre". “Imagining, designing and building 'Spectre' was a great opportunity, which my team and I honoured with our most dedicated attention and work. I am deeply grateful for this outstanding recognition and wish to thank deeply John and Jeanette Staluppi, all the team involved in this spectacular construction, my own team who have spared no effort and all those who have shown appreciation for 'Spectre' which will always bear an important place in my heart”. The dynamic exterior design of "Spectre" accomodates spacious interiors by Benetti's Interior Style Department, which has created a modern yacht embellished by steel detailing and sculpted glazed surfaces. The atmosphere conjiures up the mood of 1930s Art Deco found in New Orleans and Florida, which draws its inspiration from late 19th century French Liberty Style. The distinctive features that won the judges over also include the incredible performance and cutting edge technology of the "High Speed Cruising Hull" designed by Dutch firmMulder Design and the innovative Total Ride Control® system by Naiad Dynamics. These two technologies give "Spectre" a top speed of 21.2 knots, with a range of 6,500 nautical miles at a speed of 12 knots. "The High Speed Cruising Hull was developed by Mulder Design over the years with the target to increase cruising speed by 30% compared to conventional displacement hulls", said Frank Mulder, founder of the Dutch studio. "This technology improves on board comfort and increase fuel efficiency at long range speed, thus obtaining serious long range capability". "We credit Mulder Design. Benetti and the yacht owner for their forward thinking and confidence in Naiad Dynamics", said John Venables, CEO of Naiad Maritime Group. "We are delightes to have had the opportunity to apply our Total Ride Control technology for this superb yacht. Benetti has made this a reality". The system significantly improves the cruising stability of "Spectre" and onboard comfort using two roll stabilizing fins, two forward pitch control canards and three independently controlled stern blades.
Dominator Twenty Years Anniversary
2019 marks the 20-years anniversary of the brand Dominator Yachts who are proud of each and every client who has inspired them during the construction of his and her own tailormade yacht. With over 145 Dominator yachts cruising worldwide, the Italian boat builder has always been first in row when it comes to technologies, materials and a bespoke philosophy. True to the motto small but mighty, only the experienced yacht owner truly appreciates what Dominator Yachts achieves in every build: megayacht features in a convenient format!
Feadship Majestic Opening Ceremony
Feadship officially opened its brand-new, purpose-built superyacht facility in the port of Amsterdam on 16 May in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Máxima and some 2500 members of the workforce. The spectacular ceremony saw the culmination of five years of meticulous planning, design and construction on the second Royal Van Lent yard (and the fourth Feadship facility in the Netherlands), which will now be used to build and refit Feadships of up to 160 metres in length. Measuring an impressive 425,000 cubic metres, the facility is the most eco-friendly superyacht yard in the world and the pinnacle of contemporary design. Before entering the giant construction hall, Queen Máxima was introduced to Dick Van Lent, the fourth generation of his family to have led the yard until his retirement in 2016. This year marks the 170th anniversary of Royal Van Lent, one of the two yachtbuilding family dynasties that makes up Feadship along with Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw in Aalsmeer and Makkum.
Ferretti Wins at Motor Boat Award 2019
A combination of style, comfort and innovation continues to be Ferretti Yachts’ winning formula. The brand received an important, new recognition yesterday in London, at the “Motor Boat Awards 2019,” a prestigious prize awarded by experts and boat testers on the basis of innovative features and technical and design criteria. At the award ceremony held at the Corinthia Hotel London, Ferretti Yachts 780 triumphed in the “Custom Yachts” category following thorough performance tests and sea trials carried out over the last 12 months. Ferretti Yachts 780 is the fruit of the close cooperation between the Ferretti Group Product Strategy Committee and Engineering Department and fulfils every ship owner’s desire of comfort, style, seaworthiness and safety at sea. The aerodynamic design is expressed in clean shapes and sleek lines that highlight the decision to reduce the height of the dead work to enhance the yacht’s overall sportiness. An important innovation is the aft area, which offers the comfort of a real beach club thanks to the new hatch opening system. The two sections that form the hatch are internally fitted with two large sun pads and can come down together or separately over the large swim platform which, upon request, can also accommodate a tender. Once the operation is completed, they transform the area into a space for seaside entertainment. “Ferretti Yachts 780 was rewarded owing to its all-around excellence, evident from the architecture of the engine room to the flybridge,” stated the members of the panel while commenting on the victory. “Ferretti Yachts always offers extraordinary interior layouts and exemplary solutions from the engineering and quality of construction viewpoints, characteristics that are always highly appreciated by yacht owners.”
Ferretti Group expands its presence in Europe and announces a new dealership agreement with W / Yachts, that will dedicate itself to the exclusive marketing of Pershing and Ferretti Yachts brands in Poland. The partnership, in force from April first 2019, will allow the Group to further consolidate the coverage of the assistance network in Eastern Europe, guaranteeing a full service to the shipowners of the region, starting from the order time to the post-sales. “This agreement is another important step in our ambitious process of strengthening and expanding our business. We have decided to rely on a highly experienced nautical broker, able to manage every aspect thanks to its wide range of services, so as to continue our development plan and further strengthen our distribution channel, remaining faithful to the quality and excellence standards that have always identified Ferretti Group in the world” commented Stefano de Vivo, CCO of Ferretti Group. "For us the future comes now. Thanks to the dealership agreement with Ferretti Group, we are ready to enter a new chapter after 12 years of boat sales. With Ferretti Yachts and Pershing we will let the shipowners experience the true yachting dream” declared Tomasz Wrzesinski, CEO of W/Yachts. "It is an extraordinary goal achieved thanks to the support of all our employees. We are a family in which everyone takes care of each other: this is the key to our success”. The agreement will be announced at an exclusive cocktail party organized by the dealer W / Yachts tonight at ‘The View’, the most fashionable club in Warsaw. Champagne, finger food, a live jazz concert and the participation of Polish celebrities will liven up the night entertaining the guests.
Hatteras Cup Officially Underway
Get your lines in the water the Hatteras Cup Million Dollar Sportfish Challenge is officially open! This fun fishing competition, which runs from now through the end of the year, is open exclusively to anglers fishing onboard a Hatteras yacht, regardless of model or year. The Hatteras Cup is easy to enter. Only the Atlantic Blue Marlin prize categories require you to submit fish caught during an official billfish tournament. For the rest of the categories, you can enter a fish you hook anywhere in the world, as long as you’re already registered for the competition, and it’s caught from a Hatteras yacht. Prize categories include Catch and Release (multi-species), Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Snapper and Grouper. And, there’s a cool $1.115 million in prize money at stake!
Hatteras Sixty Years and Hatterascal
As Hatteras Yachts celebrates its 60th anniversary year, the company is looking forward to all the offshore tournaments that Team Fish Tank will be entering this summer in the newest Hatterascal, the GT59. And at the same time, the company looks back fondly on all the other Hatterascals that came before this one. Hatterascal was the playful name that Hatteras Yachts President and Founder Willis Slane gave to the company’s annual demonstrator sportfishing boat, which typically would go on a tournament tour during the summer season. The earliest mention of the Hatterascal demo program can be found in a 1965 dealer memo written by Slane. In it, he said the new Hatterascal, a raised-deck 34 Convertible, was packed with standard equipment, including, “…mufflers, bulkhead and sliding doors, dual controls, hot water heater, shower, Princess stove, to name a few.” The standard model came with twin 290hp gas engines, but the Hatterascal demo version featured an upgrade propulsion package: twin GM 453-T turbo-charged diesels that produced the same cruising speed as the gas-powered version. “We and General Motors are very pleased and feel it is a perfectly matched hull, weight and horsepower for diesels,” Slane wrote.
Horizon Receives Best Asian Builder 2019
Horizon Yachts is once again the recipient of the “Best Asian Yacht Builder” award. It is the yard’s 14th consecutive win at the annual Asia Boating Awards ceremony, which was held on April 10, 2019 in Singapore. Horizon has now been honored with the prestigious “Best Asian Yacht Builder” award 13 times. The top award of the evening, the title of “Best Asian Yacht Builder” is presented to one yacht builder in the Asia-Pacific region who has demonstrated “consistent, outstanding quality over the past year and who has the proven ability to expand in the market.” For Horizon, being recognized as the Best Asian Yacht Builder celebrates the company’s innovation and continued growth as a luxury yacht manufacturer, which is underscored by our dedication to building world-class yachts for clients around the globe. “We are very proud to have received the ‘Best Asian Yacht Builder’ award again this year,” said John Lu, CEO of Horizon Group. “The development of Horizon’s cutting-edge products has set a benchmark in yacht building and design, and has given us a strategic advantage over the competition. We remain dedicated to making each and every owner proud to own a Horizon yacht.” Organized by Asia-Pacific Boating magazine and China Boating magazine, the Asia Boating Awards are the most renowned yachting awards in Asia and have served as a benchmark for the marine industry in the Asia-Pacific region since 2005.
Maritimo Racing Takes Australia and the World
Australia's Maritimo Racing is preparing for a mass of events in the upcoming months across two different championship series that the team compete within both here and internationally. The newly constructed Maritimo R30 is in transit from Australia to Italy for the Round 1 of the UIM XCAT World Championship in Stresa, Italy after undergoing extensive testing on Australian waters. The team is also busy preparing the team’s R36 and R40 in readiness for Round 2 of the Australian Offshore Superboat Championship in Bowen, QLD which is scheduled on the same weekend as the opening round of the UIM XCAT World Championship, said Maritimo's Tom Barry-Cotter. The team is dealing with the calendar overlap by rostering a reserve team to take on the responsibilities of campaigning the two-boat team in North Queensland in the Australian series, whilst the usual team will compete in Italy. The newly formed team to compete in Australia will undergo extensive testing on the Gold Coast in the coming weeks in order to bring themselves up to speed and familiarize themselves with Maritimo Racing’s state-of-the-art equipment. Standing in for Maritimo Racing’s usual driver’s and crew are Chris Frier, Brendan Frier, Ian Harris, John Barbagallo, and Steve Cox. “We are very excited to welcome some new, yet familiar faces to the team in order to continue our local championship push”, said Tom Barry Cotter. "Chris and Brendan Frier, and John Barbagallo are usually in competition with Maritimo Racing, however after a stint away from the sport their services were on offer, and their experience proves extremely valuable in maintaining a highly competitive package. "Whilst the aforementioned are typically racing against Maritimo, Ian Harris and Steve Cox are very familiar with the team’s equipment due to being tasked with the construction of Maritimo Racing’s boats. “We have managed to bring together a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience, with what is an extremely professional group of people, and we are very confident that the team is in safe hands." Whilst the team is being represented on home soil, the push for taking top prize in the UIM XCAT World Championship will just be getting underway. The newly constructed Maritimo R30 has been undergoing extensive fresh water testing in Australia in preparation for the conditions in Stresa, Italy. The team is closely guarding the design of the new XCAT until it is unveiled at the Italian GP. “The team is very confident in the performance of the R30 from the early data we have compiled in testing, and we believe we have taken a step forward since previous seasons," said Barry-Cotter. Barry-Cotter said much of what Maritimo racing learned on the international and national race circuits eventually was incorporated into the company's range of production motor yachts. "We are the only production motor yacht manufacturer with a dedicated race team and that gives us a great advantage over the competition," he said. "The knowledge we gain through racing gives us a distinct advantage in terms of staying at the leading edge of production motor yacht manufacturing."
Maritimo Secures Multiple Sales at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show 2019
Leading luxury cruiser manufacturer, Maritimo, says the 2019 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show has been a big success with multiple sales across a broad product line range. CEO Garth Corbitt said the total number of sales will not be known for several weeks as current deals are negotiated and finalised and buyers conduct sea trials. Needless to say we are very happy with the response with sales of both our flybridge motor yachts and the newly released X50 being strong, he said. With many millions of dollars worth of deals finalised and more pending our forward order pipeline is extremely healthy. Corbitt said the world premiere of the X50 on Friday had been a headline grabber at the show and was set to be a very successful model for Maritimo.
Marlow 23rd Spring Rendezvous
As Spring arrived, the staff at Marlow Marine was full speed ahead in preparations for their annual Spring Rendezvous being held at the Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club on Marathon in the Florida Keys. A record number of guests arrived by boat, plane and car to attend this exciting event! For our members arriving by boat, our select detail crew provided a full exterior wash. Our select group of specialized technicians, subcontractors, and suppliers were on hand to provide various services free of charge. With the support and participation of its sponsors, Marlow Marine was able to put on a fantastic event again this year! This was the 23rd year that Marlow Marine held their much-anticipated “Rendezvous” designed to encourage camaraderie among Marlow owners and yachting enthusiasts who maintain membership in the Marlow Marine Cruising Club. This beloved event is a way for the team at Marlow to show continued appreciation to their most loyal clients and to extend a warm welcome to the newest Cruising Club members. It is the time of year for Marlow owners, new and experienced, to gather together in one place and have a great time as one big Marlow family! At registration check in, all attendees received custom bags with their boat names embroidered on them, T-Shirts and lots of other surprises. The evening concluded with a Luau on the Yacht club lawn where guests enjoyed live music, dancing and tasty treats including Coconut Shrimp, Ramaki, and Whole Roasted Pig much to the delight of everyone. For the first time, the Marlow Team decided to incorporate a few “healthier” activity options for its Cruising Club Members, one of which was a “Sunrise Yoga” class on Friday morning, led by Sales Office Manager, Jenn VonGraupen, and held on the marina jetty with breathtaking views of the rising sun over the ocean. After breakfast, guests attended very informative seminars in the morning hours and the afternoon presented plenty of entertainment options for MMCC members. This year included choices between a trip to the Turtle Rehab hospital, lawn games such as badminton, cornhole, water balloons and hula hoops or a Sea Turtle Themed “Painting with a Twist” session for our creative guests. As the sun set, cruisers ended their busy day with a fun “Fire and Ice” themed party and the much- anticipated unveiling of guests’ and staff members’ creative costumes and characters which has become a Marlow Rendezvous Tradition! Saturday started off with a brisk 5K “Fun Run” at 7am, a healthy breakfast buffet, educational yachting seminars, and a coveted opportunity to have questions answered by David Marlow and his crew. Saturday was also an opportunity to christen boats, tour open boats and do a little “pretend gambling” as members wagered on their favorite horse in the Kentucky Derby “Run for the Roses”. Colorful hats and stylish attire added to the theme of the evening. An unexpected auction took place to benefit the Turtle Rehab Hospital and raised $4000 for this amazing institution. A scrumptious dinner followed featuring Filet, Lobster Tail, and Key Lime Pie for dessert. Of course, Saturday evening wouldn’t have been complete without awards, tons of prizes, and live entertainment. The event sadly came to an end on Sunday morning where guests enjoyed a final Sunday breakfast buffet and the Marlow Crew wished everyone a Bon Voyage and offered an open invitation to return in 2020.
Moonen World Super Yacht Award Finalist 2019
Moonen Yachts announces that the 36m Dutch-built motor yacht Brigadoon has been nominated for Best Yacht in the semi-displacement or planing motor yachts - 33m to 39.9m category at the World Superyacht Awards, taking place in London from 16th - 18th May 2019. 36m motor yacht Brigadoon features exterior design by renowned Dutch designer, René van der Velden, with naval architecture executed in cooperation between René van der Velden and Diana Yacht Design. Nauta Yachts was responsible for her interior design, while Studio Indigo was in charge of interior decoration and styling.
Princess Record Results and Employment
Princess Yachts Ltd has today announced record financial results, plus new records for yacht sales and employment at its Plymouth headquarters. The results make 2018 the British manufacturer's most successful year in its 54 year history. Financial results for the 12 months to 31st December 2018 show record turnover of £340.3m (up £65.9m / 24% on 2017) and record operating profit before exceptionals of £29.8m (up £10.9m / 173%). EBITDA for 2018 was £32.8m up from £14.9m in 2017. In 2018 Princess hit a record high for employment of 3,200. Recruitment has taken place across the business from engineering to exterior design, manufacturing to management, making Princess one of the UK's largest specialist manufacturers. Princess also increased investment in its successful apprenticeship programme with 40 new apprentices brought into the business; apprentices now make up 4% of the workforce with a 100% retention rate following qualification. Antony Sheriff, Executive Chairman, Princess Yachts, said: "I am really proud of what the Princess team has achieved in 2018. Their focus and dedication enabled Princess to build on the previous two years of solid financial figures and beat 2017's record results. The team launched six stunning new luxury yachts while growing revenues to over one third of a billion pounds." "These strong financial figures will enable us to build upon our unique, highly integrated infrastructure in Plymouth and invest even more in advanced technologies, new yachts and quality levels across design and production. We continue to forge ahead in our vision to be not just the highest quality, most innovative and successful luxury yacht manufacturer in the world, but also a great British employer."
Princess Innovation Inspire Marketing Revolution
The third and final part in Princess Yachts' innovative Princess R35 marketing strategy has now been released within the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones. The stunning new R35 film titled 'The Red Thread' debuted on British TV recently, aired via Sky TV's AdSmart Video on Demand service within commercial breaks of season 8 of the TV blockbuster. 'The Red Thread' was created in a unique location never before accessed by a film crew. Its star, the Princess R35 performance sports yacht, is dramatically and beautifully presented within an intriguing storyline set on the remote island of Santa Cruz del Islote, Colombia. Thanks to Princess Yachts' retail partner in Colombia, this is the first time permission to shoot a commercial on the world's most densely populated island has been granted. Santa Cruz del Islote is home to just 1,247 Colombians, but at just 0.012 km2 (2.4 acres) it has a population density four times that of Manhattan. An insightful behind-the-scenes film was also produced that introduced the film's local Islote stars and their home. Kiran Haslam, Marketing Director, Princess Yachts said: "The revolutionary R35 sports yacht is the product of transformational change and innovation at Princess Yachts, so we've raised the bar on the standard of luxury yacht advertising. Beginning with our take on the iconic dazzle camouflage developed by Norman Wilkinson in the early 20th century in our home city of Plymouth, followed by the Manga-style anime we teased the product with ahead of its launch, we have completed our campaign having had special access to a stunning location. It was only right that we then presented the finished film via on demand TV within an equally dramatic backdrop during the final season of Game of Thrones. "The superb quality of TV now and the ability to target a highly relevant audience for us via Sky AdSmart means that TV advertising is now a genuine marketing channel for a luxury brand willing to break the mould. We will continue to innovate in our products and our marketing channels."
Riva Launches Movitra Eyewear
Unmistakable style, practical designs and innovation: the legendary international nautical brand has stolen the spotlight again with its new Riva eyewear, which is 100% made in Italy and produced by Movitra. Riva by Movitra glasses are already award-winning. They received the Best Functionality Prize during Milan Design Week at the Land Rover Born Awards, which were launched by BORN founder and CEO Jean Christophe Chopin to showcase and support exceptional design and creative output by top international names. The ground-breaking Riva by Movitra glasses are already in great demand. The number one aim during the eyewear maker’s design process was to cater to a simple, common need: to protect lenses from everyday bumps and scratches. Movitra invented and patented an exclusive design. The model is inspired by the timeless elegance for which Riva fleets have always been renowned and it is named Aquarama. The accessories have already gained cult status. Every single feature perfectly encapsulates the unique quality, innovation and craftsmanship that have earned Riva an international reputation for perfection. The arms of the glasses are shaped like the keel that runs from the stern to the foredeck and onto the hull of the legendary Aquarama Super yacht, while the shape of the decorative details is based on the air intakes of the classic Ariston. Included among the colours is the nautical brand’s unmistakeable trademark aquamarine hue. The glasses come with polarized Carl Zeiss lenses and there is a choice of two colours: black and white. They are entirely made in Italy by master craft workers whose precision and attention to detail ensure that the quality and workmanship are exceptional. Riva by Movitra glasses will be on sale exclusively from Riva dealers by the end of June.
Riva Lounge and Privee New Destination in Opatija
Savour the allure of the Riva legend all around you, as encapsulated by materials and wood that you can reach out and touch for yourself. For 177 years, they have been used to make the most famous yachts in the world, attracting a host of adoring stars and celebrities. Now you can enjoy the Riva Brand Experience in the exclusive Riva Lounge and Privée at the Ikador Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa in Opatija: a renowned Croatian seaside resort where kings, emperors and artists used to spend their holidays. The stunning landscape and crystal-clear water mean that Opatija is still hugely popular with the international jet set today. The new Riva Lounge in the enchanting town embodies the very essence of the Sarnico shipyard. The highly refined setting is the perfect place to relax or sip a drink as you admire the breathtaking views. Steeped in the graceful, timeless Riva style, it offers hotel guests a truly unique experience. The interior design in the Riva Lounge at the Ikador Luxury Boutique Hotel & SPA is redolent of quintessential 1950s Dolce Vita style. Inimitable details such as stainless steel trims and lacquered wood instantly call to mind the iconic yachts of a golden, unforgettable age. All of the items of furniture, such as the Aquarama tables and chairs, are part of the prestigious Riva Brand Experience collection. Guests will find the same style and luxurious atmosphere in the Riva Privée: a private area customized with Riva design in the Nobilion Restaurant at the Ikador Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa. Guests can dine or have informal meetings in the welcoming, secluded location, which fully immerses you in the Riva experience. In addition to the Lounge and the Privée, the Ikador Hotel has decided to use a magnificent Aquariva Super to provide its guests with an exclusive speedboat service. There is room for up to six people in the vessel, which is ideal for exploring the beautiful coastline and hidden islands in the Kvarner Gulf in style.
Sabre Customer Service Growing
Sabre Yachts is proud to welcome Joby Newman to our growing Customer Service Team. Joby joins our veteran representatives, Glen Chaplin and Tucker Thompson, and will play a key role in our ongoing effort to provide the highest quality customer service to our ever-expanding family of Sabre owners. Joby is a graduate of The Landing School, in Kennebunkport, Maine, and earned his stripes as a Marine Electrician, Service Technician, and Team Lead at Zodiac Mil Pro, in Stevensville, Maryland, then at Washington Marina, in Washington, D.C. In 2015 Joby accepted an overseas position with the Department of State, and for the last several years he served as a Logistician and Project Manager with the Engineering Security Office in Vienna, Austria. Over his career, Joby has developed superior technical skills, a diverse collection of tradecrafts, and a passion for imparting knowledge and ensuring the success of his team. Joby joined our team upon his recent return to Maine and is excited to dive back into the world of boating and boatbuilding where his passion lies.
Sanlorenzo Best Managed Company Award 2019
Sanlorenzo, one of the world's leading manufacturers of yachts and superyachts, was voted "Best managed company" as part of the second Italian edition of the international Deloitte award, which aims to reward Italian companies that have distinguished themselves for strategy, skills, commitment to people, excellence, and performance. One of the main international players as a business model and innovator, Sanlorenzo has again won this important award, thanks to a winning strategy that has seen it experience significant growth over the last decade, and to position itself at the top of the production world of yachts and superyachts. With four factories located in Ameglia, La Spezia, Viareggio and Massa, and 450 direct employees, plus 1,200 with the induced and a global market, for over 60 years Sanlorenzo shipyards have been building high-quality motor yachts, designed and made to measure as per the customer's wishes. Here the role of Mr. Massimo Perotti, Chairman of Sanlorenzo, is fundamental. Since 2005 with passion, determination and entrepreneurial vision he has guided the company over the years, enhancing the company's know-how and artisan tradition and introducing very important innovations that have allowed Sanlorenzo to stand out by profoundly changing the field of yachting. Andrea Restelli, Deloitte Partner in charge of Best Managed Companies for Italy declares - "Best Managed Companies is not just an award, but also a growth program for companies, which also gave them (Sanlorenzo) the opportunity to be supported by professionals Deloitte and its experts during their candidacy process and self-assessment on critical success factors this year, such as corporate strategy, skills and innovation, corporate culture and commitment, governance and financial performance, internationalization and CSR - with the aim of being able to compare themselves with players at an international level in a constantly changing business environment ". Started in Canada in 1993, the award has spread globally, becoming a prestigious award given on the basis of the analysis of some critical success factors. Promoted by Deloitte and also supported by Altis Catholic University, by Elite - the project of the London Stock Exchange Group that supports the development and growth of high-potential businesses - and by Confindustria, the venture ended today with the award ceremony of the 46 winning contenders that took place over the day at Palazzo Mezzanotte, the prestigious headquarters of Borsa Italiana, in Piazza degli Affari in Milan. The numbers confirm Sanlorenzo's constant commitment to research and development: the company has closed the 2018 financial year with 55 yachts and 383 million euros billed. Sanlorenzo has confirmed the same positive outlook for 2019 as well, providing for an estimated turnover of 460 million at the end of the year thanks to an order portfolio of 505 million euros.
Sunseeker Wins Best Sport Cruiser Over 45ft
Sunseeker International has won the accolade for ‘Best Sportscruiser over 45ft’ at the 2019 Motor Boat Awards. The award was given to Sunseeker for its innovative Predator 50, which was launched in January 2018 and has already seen over 30 boats sold worldwide. Every detail of the Predator 50 has been designed to perfection, but this boat’s hidden treasure is the entertainment space that it affords. The Predator 50’s design is enhanced by the addition of a fully opening hardtop roof and beautifully executed cockpit glazing providing an open plan cockpit/saloon. This is complemented by forward and aft cockpit seating which can be folded down to create an enlarged sun bathing area. The spacious saloon makes an equally idyllic setting for entertaining guests in opulent luxury with panoramic views. This makes the Predator 50 a truly open or enclosed cockpit boat, unusual in this size of sports boat. The interior is just as impressive, with a combination of fine materials and large windows ensuring the full-beam master stateroom, which comes with a generous en-suite, achieves the perfect blend of comfort and elegance. The forward VIP cabin exudes a light yet luxurious feel and features a scissor berth for complete flexibility. Up to four guests can be catered for in style and comfort on the water or an additional bunk cabin can be created in lieu of the lower saloon thereby providing accommodation for six. Another key feature for this model is the ample exterior space. A stylish and highly sociable deck boasts a spacious fore-deck seating and sunbathing area complete with optional retractable pram hood canopy. Moving aft, Sunseeker’s ‘Beach Club’ concept offers an inviting space for family and friends to enjoy the optional built-in BBQ, overhead shower and fold-down transom seating. Finally, but most importantly, the integral garage which is synonymous with the Predator can, where specified, accommodate a Williams 325 Jet Tender launched via the hydraulic bathing platform. While the Predator 50 boasts truly class-leading design and luxury, performance is still at the heart of this true sports cruiser which is fitted with the new Volvo Penta D8-600 engines mated to shaft drives with optional electric steering and joystick maneuverability. The judging panel made the following comments on presenting the award: “With vast quantities of glazing, extra volume and delivering a strong mid-range performance, with surprisingly light steering and predictable low speed handling, the Predator 50 demands attention. These days it’s more about comfort, refinement and ease of control, and this is where the Predator 50 really shines. This is what customers now demand and the Predator 50 delivers them in a very elegant and well-rounded package.” On accepting the award, Sunseeker CEO, Christian Marti said: “The Predator 50 exemplifies the latest in Sunseeker’s cutting-edge design and sets a new benchmark for the smaller performance format. Since it was launched at Düsseldorf Boat Show last year it has had an outstanding reception from customers and media alike. We are thrilled to have won this award and it underlines our ability to keep giving our customers the best in class across every segment we operate in.” This is the second award Sunseeker has won for its Predator 50, in late 2018 the model was awarded the ‘Best Sports Cruiser – up to 55 Feet’ at the Asia Boating Awards.
Wider Triumphs at Super Yacht Awards 2019
A beautiful venue such as the Old Billingsgate has been the perfect background for the World Superyachts Awards 2019, which took place Saturday evening in London. Wider, is very proud to announce that the judges crowned the Wider 165 M/Y Cecilia winner of the “Displacement motor yacht between 300 and 499GT – 48m and above” category. Organized by Boat International Media, this award recognizes the finest luxury yachts launched in 2018 and their achievements in terms of design, construction, engineering and innovations. This annual appointment is attended by the superyacht world, from owners to the industry leaders, with emotion and excitement. According to the judges: “Cecilia was a yacht that points the way to the future with one of her most significant aspects being a propulsion system in which diesel generators drive electric-powered motors fitted to azipods located at the stern of the vessel. While many yachts in the past have employed this propulsion system, few have taken full advantage of its flexibility by positioning the engine room in the bows, thus releasing the prime midships area of the lower deck for accommodation – a purpose for which it is ideally suited. This layout also means that the crew quarters, which are spacious for a yacht of this size, have also been moved further aft where motion is less pronounced.” Not only the technical aspect has been taken into consideration, but also her advanced, forward-looking design and her float-in tender dock, which carries a tender and a submersible and, when these are launched and the twin side doors opened, this area becomes a most desirable beach club. Wider is not new to Boat International recognition, as WIDER 150 won multiple awards by World Superyacht and by Design Innovation Awards and now, her big sister Cecilia, confirmed the expectations once again with this prestigious award.
Viking at Offshore World Championship
The world's best anglers recently gathered for four electrifying days to vie for the most exclusive title in international tournament fishing, the Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica. The atmosphere was particularly competitive with sportfishing all-stars striving for the Championship ring on the 20th anniversary of the event. Of the 45 elite teams in the tournament, the Viking 52 Last Dance claimed 2nd Place Overall. Last Dance Angler Brandon Hopper was awarded the Top Angler of the event with a blue marlin, striped marlin and eight sailfish. Congratulations to Brandon, Robert Collins, Kenny Longaker, John Domanic, and Matt McLean.
Viking at the Shootout
Pretty work on the Viking 80 at The Shootout. Fishing leg #2 of the Abaco Diamond Series, Captain Scott Adams led his team to a 2nd Place Overall finish. Anglers Jeff Creary, Don Gemmell, Drew McDowell and Brian Weaver released one blue marlin and 16 whites in the three-day Production vs. Custom Shootout. The Viking 80 China Time took 2nd Place Mahi with a 30.7-pound fish, while the 72 Renegade had the 3rd Place Mahi with a 22.6-pounder.
The Orange Beach Billfish Classic kicked off the Gulf Coast Triple Crown with 48 boats chasing blue marlin and more than $1 million in prize money. Nathan Neames, on the Viking 70 Reel Fire, claimed 3rd Place Blue Marlin with a 376-pound blue which measured 108 inches. Reel Fire also took 2nd in the Release category with two blue marlin. Born to Run, a Viking 72, was the 3rd Place Release team based on time. Top Tuna and 2nd Place Wahoo went to angler Bill Butler on the Viking 61 Crawgatorwith an 825.6-pound bluefin and 45.2-pound 'hoo. Stewart Fickel on the Viking 56 Hot Rod weighed a 735-pound tuna for 2nd Place in that division. A Team, a Viking 43, had the 2nd Place Dolphin with a 36.6-pound fish. Katie Gonsoulin, fishing on Jon Gonsoulin's Viking 70 Done Deal, was the Top Lady Angler with two blue releases.
Viking at Mike Schmidt's Winner Circle Charities Invitational
Last week's 20th Anniversary Winner's Circle Charities Invitational was a nail-biter to the end. Last year's champ, the Viking 70 Mr. LTD, barreled out of the gate on day one. At the scales, the crew weighed in a 13.6-pound dolphin and a beast of a 114.8-pound yellowfin which was just shy of their tuna record of 115 pounds last year. With this bounty, Mr. LTD easily took the lead. Day Two saw the Noble family fishing on the Viking 62 Reel Captivating, left, take over the lead with 126.9 meat points. Although Mr. LTD, right, had almost five more points, they had yet to catch the final of the three mandatory species, a wahoo. The scales were buzzing with excitement as lines out was called on the end of day three. The boats rolled in, and finally Mr. LTD arrived at the weight station with a 40.1-pound fish, a wahoo! The qualifying fish made Mr. LTD a back-to-back victor at the Winner's Circle. Reel Captivating claimed a solid 2nd Place finish while Susan Noble was the Top Lady Angler in the Tuna Division and Shari Noble claimed the Top Lady spot for Dolphin. Reel Captivating also released three billfish. Hannah Grey, fishing on the Viking 70 Hooked up, claimed Top Lady Angler for wahoo. Cookie Monster, a Viking 82, weighed a record breaking 62.7-pound mahi. To date, the Winner's Circle Charities, founded by Baseball Hall of Fame member Mike Schmidt, has raised over $2.5 million distributed to various charities.
Zeelander Superboat of the Year
Motorboat and Yachting awards Zeelander it's most prestigious recognition as superboat of the year. "There is simply nothing like the Zeelander Z44. Designed and crafted with the care and attention to detail of a multi-million pound superyacht" - Motor Boat and Yachting. At Zeelander they are honored to receive MBY's ‘2019 Super Boat of the Year’ award. Our appreciation goes out to the Zeelander design team and the craftsmen that made the Z44 a stunning piece of art.
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