December 31, 2019

Monthly News - December 2019

-pic of the month- Azimut Benetti Group Top Super Yacht Builder for 20th time

Azimut Benetti Group Top Super Yacht Builder for Twentieth Time

For the 20th time, leading luxury motor yacht builder Azimut|Benetti Group confirms its place on the top step of the Global Order Book 2020 podium, the official ranking drawn up each year by highly-reputed UK magazine Boat International to report on industry trends for yachts over 80 feet in length based on actual order data.  With its Azimut Yachts and Benetti brands, the Italian Group has outranked shipyards from around the world, with 101 yachts under construction totalling 3,535 meters in length, and celebrates the milestone of 50 years in business with this prestigious win.  But the happy surprises don’t end here: in the last few days the second Giga yacht over 100 meters long launched this year was handed over to the owner, crowning the first “Benetti Giga Season”. This endorses Benetti’s excellence in this segment as the only shipyard in the southern Mediterranean to compete in this niche market.  Finally, the last initiative to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary puts the spotlight on the company’s employees and their families, after the customer-oriented celebrations in Dubai, the exciting experience in Times Square and the magical evening in Cap d’Antibes.  Employees were given a copy of the book written by the Vitelli family about the history of the Italian yachting industry and the company’s place in it. It describes the founder’s entrepreneurial vision and tells the story of how Azimut|Benetti’s success is built on the consistency and continuity of management ensured by the family. There were some particularly touching moments during the evening, such as the award ceremony for long service employees (25, 30 and over 30 years) and the presentation to Paolo Vitelli of an unexpected plaque with which everyone in the company wanted to express their esteem for the Man and the entrepreneur. The Group President commented: “I created this company 50 years ago and for almost half our long history we have topped the world ranking, a record of which I am deeply proud. Our longstanding success stems from ongoing efforts to develop and improve our products and production processes, in which attention to design, innovation and technology, but also the quality of the work of our employees - our most valuable asset - are imprinted in the company’s DNA. This business culture combined with the financial solidity that is essential when yachts this size are involved and our managers’ expertise, have once again shown that they represent the value added by the Group. It is with great joy and equally great confidence in the future that I close this unrepeatable year: both Benetti and Azimut Yachts already have very healthy order books and will soon be launching some extraordinary product novelties”.

Benetti Wins Robb Report China Best of Best 2019

During a gala evening held on December 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beijing, Robb Report China named “Spectre” as the winner of the Best of the Best award in the “Yachts over 100 feet” category.  Benetti has once again won over Asian markets with the shipyard’s capabilities, know-how and craftsmen, confirming the brand’s place on the international scene as a leading builder of yachts that are both groundbreaking and proud heirs to a great tradition.  This new success for “Spectre” can be attributed to the sophisticated exterior design by Giorgio M. Cassetta, who has strived to reconcile the yacht’s sporty character with her sheer size, and also to the style of the interiors, which are given a very modern feel by steel detailing and sculpted glass, and are designed by Benetti’s Interior Style Department. The award also takes into consideration the yacht’s sporty performance, the cutting-edge hull technology designed by Mulder Design and the Total Ride Control® system from Naiad Dynamics1.  One of the many striking things about this exclusive yacht is the novel “High Speed Cruising Hull” created by famous Dutch firm Mulder Design to deliver incredible performance. As well as a range of 6,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots, “Spectre” has a top speed of 21.2 knots, or 30% faster than a traditional displacement hull. Also contributing to the stunning performance of “Spectre”, in addition to the hull, is the Total Ride Control® system by Naiad Dynamics1, which significantly improves cruising stability and onboard comfort using two roll stabilizing fins, two forward pitch control canards and three independently controlled stern interceptor blades.  Benetti is proud to receive this award that confirms the brand’s success and pays tribute to the work of everyone who contributes their long standing experience and an overriding passion for the sea and beauty to the process of building unique, cutting-edge yachts.

Benetti Sponsors Exhibition for Livorno Artist Amedeo Modigliani

For Benetti, a timeless icon of excellence with the skills to combine great tradition with refinement in an exclusive all-Italian product, its sponsorship of the exhibition “Modigliani e l’avventura di Montparnasse. Capolavori dalle collezioni Netter e Alexandre” is no coincidence. By celebrating the work of Livorno native Amedeo Modigliani, Benetti identifies and demonstrates the parallels existing between the artist’s profoundly Italian culture and the style of its yachts, which has always been influenced by the dictates of art.  The common thread tying Benetti to this event is the love of beauty represented by a master artist like Amedeo Modigliani, taken together with the powerfully international outlook of a man who brought Renaissance art to a worldwide audience, and a shipyard that is in the process of conquering all five continents with its yachts.  The exhibition, which is the city of Livorno’s way of paying tribute to one of the most famous artists of all time, marking the centenary of his death at only 36 on January 24, 1920, is organized by the municipality of Livorno together with the Restellini Institute, Paris, and with the participation of Fondazione Livorno. Furthermore, the exhibition is curated by Marc Restellini with the coordination of Sergio Risaliti and offers to the public the opportunity to admire 26 Modigliani’s works including paintings and drawings.  Entering the exhibition, visitors will be welcomed with a surprise by a 1:50 scale model of the Benetti 58-meter Sunday.


Ferretti Custom Line Record Breaking 2019

Custom Line’s tailor-made nautical art is winning over more and more owners and enthusiasts as demonstrated by the 14 launches with which the shipyard is celebrating the end of the year. Three new launches were held during the last three months at the Ferretti Group’s Superyacht Yard in Ancona: Custom Line 106’ was launched on 28 October, a Navetta 42 on 3 December, and a Navetta 28 took to the water on 12 December.  These latest débuts show once again the tremendous commercial success of 28-42 metre Custom Line vessels, the leaders in comfort, technology and design. As many as 14 Custom Line yachts were launched in 2019 at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard, crowned by the recent sale of two Navetta 33s in December alone.  These masterpieces offer the qualities of seaworthiness, comfort, safety and customization - part of the brand’s DNA and company philosophy - in products that are revolutionary in terms of their style, volume and attention to detail.  As with all Custom Line vessels, the interior layout of these yachts offers exclusive features. Every request from the customer was implemented by the architects at the shipyard, who work with a vast range of prized woods and furnishing materials on display at the showroom and come up with solutions that are both functional and aesthetically advanced.  These events were held at Ferretti Group’s Superyacht Yard in Ancona: a world-class ship-building facility that also builds the steel and aluminium mega-yachts for the CRN, Riva and Pershing brands, as well as the entire Custom Line fleet. The latter will be completed by the arrival of the new Custom Line 140’ for the planing line, the result of collaboration between the Product Strategy Committee, led by the engineer Piero Ferrari, the Group’s Engineering Department and the Francesco Paszkowski Design studio, and by the new Navetta 30 and Navetta 48, part of the semi-displacement line that are the result of the new collaboration with the architect Filippo Salvetti for the exteriors and Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel studio for the interiors.

Ferretti Group Convergance 2019

Mixing business with pleasure – in this sense Las Vegas is a guarantee – “Convergence 2019”, the event dedicated to professional training for captains and chief engineers of Ferretti Group yachts, left all the participants not only with a pleasant memory but also the feeling of having experienced an important time of discussion and sharing on technical topics examined clearly and in depth, using effective interactive methods. Following a presentation on the commercial and technological news and the new refitting services of Ferretti Group’s Customer Service, the first workshop, held on 23rd October, was dedicated to "Connectivity on board", with a focus on the Internet connection of the various equipment and the future potential regarding issues of privacy and cybersecurity. The panelists included representatives of Ferretti Group, MAN, MTU, Naviop-Simrad, RINA and Volvo Penta, who outlined the opportunities and possible future developments for the shipbuilding sector. This issue is very topical in an increasingly connected and “smart” world that inevitably also involves the complex on-board systems of luxury yachts.  On 25th October, the topic was "Preventing and managing extraordinary weather events". The participants were keenly interested in topics such as weather forecasting, yacht preparation, and the insurance perspective on these ever-increasing extreme weather events.  RINA and Side Power were the sponsors of this workshop, bringing to the attention of the participants the importance of preparing one’s yacht for these contingencies from the moment of its configuration in the shipyard and the importance of inspections and periodic renewals of the Class Certificates.  USCG Vice Admiral Brian Peterman and Rear Admiral Duncan Smith stimulated the discussion by presenting the case of the sinking of the container ship El Faro due to underestimation of the weather conditions and incorrect course choices made by the captain. Neil Maclaren, of International Bluewater Marine Services, marine surveyor and former Royal Navy officer, presented cases of vessels affected by lightning and the precautions that need to be taken.  To complete the discussion, Rob Carron and Andrea Gaudenzi of the company Willis Towers Watson informed the audience on the insurance issues related to these exceptional events.  Also in this panel discussion there were many questions and observations from the captains and chief engineers.  In both sessions, an interactive app made it possible to have feedback and questions from the audience in real time, also anonymously, proving to be very valuable in facilitating discussion and participation to the panel.  Of particular importance was the contribution of the technical sponsors: Asea Power System, Seakeeper, and Videoworks, who set up special corners where they provided information to the participants in dedicated meetings.  Equally appreciated was the offer of activities for socialising and fun, with guided explorations of Las Vegas and its most famous sites. Marked by magical emotions and gastronomic delight, the evening that featured the fantastic Cirque du Soleil performance of "O" at the Bellagio, in which water is the protagonist, was followed by a fabulous dinner at the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace.  For the Convergence Night, the group ventured to the top of the Stratosphere, the highest tower in the state of Nevada, with unparalleled and breathtaking views of the Las Vegas skyline. The bravest participants also had the chance to experience the adrenaline-fuelled rides at the top of the tower.  In addition to the classroom days, the day of the 24th was dedicated to the always enjoyable and fruitful teambuilding activity, this time set on a ranch in the California desert, with exciting challenges and moments of socialisation that further strengthened the team spirit. Divided into teams, the participants challenged each other in various cowboy games, including lasso tossing, ax throwing, and “the bucking barrel”, a fun variation of the mechanical bull, a true Wild West adventure that left everyone tired but happy.  At the conclusion of the event, the prize was awarded to the winning team and the certificates of attendance, highly coveted amongst Ferretti Group yacht captains, were handed out.  “Convergence is proving more and more each year to be an essential opportunity for increasing the skills and experience of the captains and chief engineers of Ferretti Group yachts”, said Stefano de Vivo, Ferretti Group’s Chief Commercial Officer. “It is a unique opportunity for professionals and experts to exchange information and opinions, which also helps us improve our vessels by providing owners with an increasingly safe and satisfying sailing experience”.


Gulf Craft at Formula One Etihad Grand Prix

Yas Marina is alive in the first weekend of December with the biggest motorsports event in the region, the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2019. In similar fashion, the F1 in its tenth year, is attracting an A-list crowd of royalty, celebrities, and wealthy C-suite executives.  To add extra glitz to the event and event’s exclusivity Gulf Craft fleet of superyachts was present at the waterfront as the Grand Prix proves a major event for the global yachting community. For Gulf Craft, being an Emirati company, it is an exciting gathering especially that it is coupled with the long National Day celebration weekend.  With more choices than ever before, the company showed the Majesty 44, 48, 56, 77, 90, 101, 121, 122 and 125 along with the Nomad 75 to view and experience for international A-listers.


Hatteras Launch A Legacy of Innovation Video

Hatteras Yachts launch A Legacy of Innovation," a video honoring its 60th year. This short video spans the years from 1959, when Founder Willis Slane decided he wanted to build a boat that could go out when the wooden boats had to stay at the dock, to the new GT65 Carolina under construction in the factory today. Whether it’s a 1950s motor yacht or a contemporary, tournament-level sportfish, this video gives you a glimpse into the engineering and innovation behind each Hatteras.


Maritimo Finishes 2019 as World Champions

Leading Australian luxury motoryacht manufacturer Maritimo's international race team has beaten the world's best to be crowned UIM XCAT World Champions and XCAT Pole Position World Champions in Dubai at the weekend.  Maritimo Racing was the first team in XCAT history to win both titles and also the first non UAE team to win a world championship.  Maritimo was also the first Non Victory Team Hull/Boat to win a world championship.  Maritimo's lead designer and race team member Tom Barry-Cotter said the feeling of the win 'was unreal'.  He said the win came after a year of high and lows and was a long way from the serious accident that saw the team's boat destroyed in an accident in April 2018.  " We competed in a brand new boat designed and built by Maritimo on the Gold Coast and first raced in Italy in Round 1 where it secured pole position and second place in Race 1 in its first outing," said Barry-Cotter.  "We developed the boat all year, improving handling and speed.  "We took two wins in Shanghai last month to set up the championship showdown with Dubai Police#3 and Abu Dhabi#4.  "Conditions were challenging here in Dubai, but they suited the boat's design.  "We took Pole Position and secured the Pole Position Championship on Friday."  He said race one in Dubai was incredibly challenging with the team having a technical issue for the opening laps that saw it dropping back to fifth position. The technical issue cleared and Maritimo fought back to secure second place in an incredible race with many overtakes, thus setting up for the championship decider with one race to go.  "Who ever won the race out of top three championship boats would be crowned champion," said Barry-Cotter.  "We got a great start in race two and were fighting in second position from the opening lap.  "We felt we had the pace and were applying constant pressure to Abu Dhabi #4 in front . "That pressure became too much for #4 and they hooked the boat in a turn missing a turn mark, thus releasing us, into clean water with no boats in front.  "We continued to pull away from the field and boat got faster and faster.  "However, It didn’t all go our way, as we lost all comms in the boat and from boat to shore, so the race strategy was all done from hand signals in the cockpit and from shore.  "We are incredibly proud and excited to bring the championship back to Australia for the first time and share with our 300 staff at Maritimo."  Maritimo is the only production motor yacht manufacturer with a dedicated race team competing on the international stage and the learnings from such high pressure racing flow through to improvements and innovation in the production yacht range.


Pardo 2020 Power of the Year Nomination

The Pardo 38 has been nominated for the 2020 European Power Boat of The Year, the most important European award. Launched as a World Première at the 2019 Cannes Yachting Festival, the Pardo 38 achieved great success only days after her first public appearance. As every year, we'll discover the award winner during the official opening gala called "Flagship Night", on January 18th at Düsseldorf.


Pursuit Welcomes New Marketing Manager

Pursuit Boats, a luxury fishing and cruising boat manufacturer, is pleased to welcome Megan Foley Morris to the team in the role of Marketing Manager for the award-winning brand. Morris brings with her a wealth of experience in the fields of marketing, public relations, advertising, publishing and event planning across multiple platforms, including more than 10 years immersed directly in the marine industry. Morris will work closely with Pursuit’s Director of Marketing as the company expands not only its facilities, but its staff, brand and product line. “We are happy to welcome Megan Morris aboard as Marketing Manager,” said Amy Gobel who was promoted to Director of Marketing earlier this year. “Megan’s marketing acumen will be instrumental to our team as we work to further build the Pursuit brand through strategic marketing campaigns and explore innovative ways to communicate the Pursuit lifestyle and the distinctions that make our boats the best in the industry.” In her role as Marketing Manager, Morris will coordinate with the marketing and design teams to create advertising plans, both digital and print, plan and manage photo shoots and other events, such as boat shows, and work directly with the sales team and dealers. A south Florida native, Morris will also communicate with local media to build the Pursuit brand regionally. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Pursuit family,” said Morris. “It is a strong, established company that builds beautiful boats right here in south Florida. The lifestyle Pursuit brings to its boat owners is contagious and is evidenced in the positivity of the team. I thank all who have welcomed me as we work together to deliver the boats built here to the families who will enjoy the Pursuit experience behind the helm.”


Riviera Owner Says Thank You to Owners and Staff

Riviera Australia continues to create and innovate motor yachts of distinction. Yachts that are acclaimed internationally for their sea keeping qualities and high calibre of construction as much as they are for their fine and luxurious finishes.  At the company’s annual end of year celebrations, Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst addressed the 600-strong team and paid tribute to both the craftsmen and women who create Australia’s most popular motor yachts and the almost 5,600 loyal yacht owners that make up the global ‘Riviera family’.  “Why are Riviera yachts in such demand?” said Mr. Longhurst. “Why do boaters often comment that Riviera is among the finest motor yachts in the world?  “We have a special culture here that all of you have created, together. All of you work as a united team. You have a real commitment to excellence and you work with us to nurture future champions in our team and to create the finest motor yachts we can.  “This culture is what makes Riviera, Australia’s world-class motor yacht builder and allows our owners to have the time of their lives aboard our yachts. That’s a great reward for us all and in recognition of this, I thank each and every one of you here today for your part in our success as much as I thank our owners publicly for their trust in us all,” added Mr Longhurst.  Long-time staff members and long-term dealerships have been key to Riviera’s continued success in 2019. At the same time, Riviera continues to be humbled by the fierce loyalty shown by Riviera yacht owners from around the world, a great many of whom are repeat customers. These experienced boat owners have shown great confidence in their commitment to Riviera.  Rodney Longhurst showed both loyalty and trust by purchasing Riviera in 2012 and infusing its leadership with strength and long-term commitment. Seven years on, the company continues to grow and expand. Riviera is a truly global brand focused firmly on its people and impressive yacht range.  Having owned a number of Riviera motor yachts prior to purchasing the company Rodney Longhurst brought a unique insight to the company, from a boat owner’s perspective.  What he’s championed is a relentless pursuit of build quality and excellence, which is articulated from the senior levels of management right down to the factory floor.  Riviera is always striving to deliver the best possible boating experience. To create this opportunity, the skilled in-house design and new yacht development team in collaboration with international specialists, has been expanded in 2019 to over 50 people. At the same time, The company’s design engineers are always working with the world’s leading brands, to allow Riviera to often set trends where others tend to follow. Their mission is to remain nimble and respond to customer needs with fresh eyes and fresh approaches.  With the 68 and 72 Sports Motor Yacht, for example, Riviera saw an opportunity to create a new and unique class of yacht. They perceived a similar opportunity with the SUV range developing a niche slightly away from the mainstream.  These two series now bring to five the number of distinct model collections offered by Riviera in 2019 – Sport Yacht, SUV, Flybridge, Sports Motor Yacht and Belize – featuring 20 models in total, ranging from 39 to 72 feet with more exceptional models currently under development for release in 2020 and 2021.  This diversity of model design and size is a key point of difference for Riviera owners and dealers alike. It’s a formidable range, one that is continually evolving, all backed with substance and vision.

Riviera Assist Supports Owners

The Christmas holiday period will bring together more Riviera owners at Rottnest Island than any other time of year. Approximately 250 Riviera motor yachts will moor at Rottnest over the festive season, enjoying the pristine surrounds and sharing in the unique camaraderie that is the Riviera family.  Riviera’s representative in Perth, R Marine Perth will again operate its industry-leading 'Riviera Assist' program for the twelfth consecutive year, supporting WA Riviera owners with a technician and a ready supply of spare parts and consumer-able items. This exclusive service is just one of the many benefits of being part of the Riviera and R Marine family. The ‘mother-ship’ for the program this year is a Riviera 53 Enclosed Flybridge and R Marine Perth will moor the yacht at Thompson’s Bay in Rottnest Island.  There is no other service available in western Australia that compares to this program provided by R Marine Perth. Michael Pitman, the Dealer Principal at R Marine Perth is entirely focused on ensuring that every member of the Riviera family enjoying Rottnest Island this Christmas season is well supported and cared for.  "We will be based at Rottnest Island and working to ensure that all Riviera owners have a fantastic holiday, safe in the knowledge that we are there to help them should they require any assistance", Michael stated.  Arriving in Thompson’s Bay on Boxing Day and staying until Sunday evening, the 5th of January, the ‘Riviera Assist’ program will operate with a 'no call out' fee service during this peak period and parts and labour are not included in the service. Call out times will be very prompt given the immediacy of the location and the crew will be using the ‘mother ship’s’ high speed 6.5 metre rigid inflatable boat. Typical service issues range from generators, to batteries and sanitation systems.  Josh Hoffman, the senior technician from RMP Service, will oversee the ‘Riviera Assist’ program at Rottnest this year. Expecting around 150 calls and callouts over this busy holiday period, Josh and his team are fully prepared and focused on making sure that all WA Riviera owners fully enjoy Rottnest over the holiday period. Michael Pitman knows only too well how important the R Marine Perth ‘Riviera Assist’ program is to Riviera owners.  "Every year our exclusive ‘Riviera Assist’ program is incredibly well received and appreciated. It is all about ensuring peace of mind for our owners while they enjoy a well-deserved break at Rottnest. Too see so many Riviera boats in one place at one time is the most amazing spectacle you will see. Our unique owner care and support programs such as ‘Riviera Assist’; is just another reason why boaters choose to own a Riviera motor yacht", Michael commented.  Riviera Australia owner Rodney Longhurst congratulated the R Marine Perth team for the exceptional owner care and service they provide.  “The ‘Riviera Assist’ program offered by R Marine Perth is a one-of-a-kind service. With such a large number of Riviera owners out on the water near Rottnest at this time of year, the service is a great benefit to our owners. We want all of our Riviera owners to enjoy a relaxing Christmas season on the water” Mr Longhurst added.

Riviera Lights Up Gold Coast

Australia’s premier luxury motor yacht builder, Riviera, has held one of its largest overnight Raft-Up’s on the Gold Coast, with a total of 37 yachts rafting together, to share in the spirit of the festive season and their love of Australia’s most popular luxury motor yachts. Following months of behind the scenes planning, R Marine Jones, the Riviera and Belize representatives based at Coomera, welcomed a procession of 37 yachts into the harbour at Calypso Bay on Saturday morning. Gliding in at their allotted time slots to form a striking arc, the yachts ranged from a 3000 Offshore to a 68 Sports Motor Yacht.  Riviera’s Raft-Ups, held around the country, are just one of over 100 exclusive events marked on the boating calendar for Riviera owners to celebrate and share their passion for their luxury motor yachts. These raft-up’s are an opportunity to enjoy some festive cheer and relish the unique camaraderie shared between Riviera owners.  The R Marine Jones team played Santa Claus, hopping from yacht to yacht, delivering gifts and costumes, spreading Christmas cheer. Arming the ‘Riv kids’ with handfuls of glow sticks, their grins stretched from ear to ear, a good indication that all were having a fantastic time.  As dusk arrived, the band kicked off with some standard favourites, as old and new friends enjoyed a chilled bottle of Tasmanian wine and some fresh king prawns provided for the occasion. The laser light show that followed had even the most time-honoured guests in awe as the colourful beams of light pierced the night sky.  Seasoned skipper, Regan Fleming and his family, arrived back to the Gold Coast aboard their Riviera 68 Sports Motor Yacht only weeks before the Raft-Up. Returning from an epic 7000 nautical mile cruise through the Pacific, they were keen to share and swap stories with their fellow Riviera adventurers.  “The R Marine Jones Raft up was fantastic. As always, a very well organised event by Randall and his experienced team. It was great to catch up with fellow Riviera owners over some fresh prawns, a few drinks and some great live music. It was also a good opportunity for us to share stories and videos of our Pacific trip this year with other Riviera owners as well,” Regan reminisced following the raft-up.  Tony Borgia purchased his Belize Daybridge from R Marine Jones only a matter of weeks prior and was thrilled to bring his "Aqua Bella" to the raft-up.  “The timing was perfect to show our friends our new boat, the beautiful Belize Daybridge”, stated Mr Borgia.  “The music and laser show were spectacular and what a way to celebrate Christmas and the end of 2019. We would thoroughly recommend the raft-up experience to all Riviera and Belize owners as a way to meet new friends and to see all the different boats that Riviera has to offer. Thank you to R Marine Jones for putting on a spectacular event, their planning and execution was first class”.  Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst enjoys the Riviera family bond. Exclusive events such as these raft-up’s, foster friendships and new connections among the growing Riviera boating community.  “The Riviera Raft-Up’s bring together our Riviera family of owners in a relaxed and unique atmosphere to share in the pleasure of Riviera ownership. These incredible events allow owners to share stories and inspire each other to new adventures on the water,” Rodney Longhurst added.  By Sunday lunchtime, old and new friends began to depart the raft-up and head home, thanks again to the well-orchestrated plan of the R Marine Jones team.

Riviera Owners Castaway in the Gold Coast

Riviera’s representatives on the Gold Coast, R Marine Crawley based at Runaway Bay, have hosted a very memorable weekend for their motor yachts owners and their families. Over 90 would be pirates all signed up with bells on following the invitation to be shipwrecked at the stunning Sunset Beach Bar at Couran Cove, Stradbroke Island. With the promise of pirates, Christmas cheer, festive fun, music and a barefoot beach barbeque, the Riviera owners and their families didn’t take much convincing to become castaways.  Ben Crawley the dealer principal of R Marine Crawley and RMC Service along with his dedicated team orchestrated the weekend to the finest of detail, promising their exclusive Riviera family, a weekend to remember. “It is always a great pleasure to organise these events for our family of owners. Seeing the excitement, laughter and enjoyment on owner’s faces of all ages makes the effort worthwhile. Having everyone come together and share stories in this forum is what sets R Marine Crawley and Riviera apart,” said Ben Crawley.  The entertainment kicked off at 6.30pm with the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow marooned with the guests. The uncanny impersonator was a crowd hit, showing off his magic tricks and delighting with his cheeky comedic wit.  The enjoyment continued when the musical duo SoulCutz took to the stage. With the vocal range of Barry White and dance moves to rival Michael Jackson, the castaways quickly took to the dance floor and grooved the night away.  Glenn and Mary purchased their treasured Riviera 5800 Sports Yacht two years ago, crowning her ‘True Blue’. Proud members of the R Marine Crawley family, Glenn and Mary eagerly await each of Riviera’s exclusive events, ensuring they’re in the diary nice and early, so they don’t miss out.  The annual Christmas get together, is a firm favourite. Berthing for two nights at Couran Cove, Glenn and Mary were thrilled to catch up with their Riviera family friends, sharing a cool drink on the back decks, dressed in their pirate attire.  “We reconnected with friends and forged new ones, all dressed up in our Pirate finery as there was the threat of walking the plank if not suitably attired - we didn’t want to test that threat! Mary laughed following the get together.  “Captain Jack Sparrow the entertainer amused and delighted the children and had them following him around, swords in hand, for ages. Father Christmas also made an appearance with his sack of goodies for the little ones”.  The night was also about the spirit of giving and this year the thoughtful team at R Marine Crawley chose the charity organisation, GIVIT, to support for Christmas. GIVIT is a foundation that supports the families affected by the recent serve bush fires in Queensland. Guests were asked to bring a present for a child and leave it under the tree. By the end of the evening the tree was jammed with gifts and the spirit of Christmas well alive.  Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst values the strong family bond among Riviera owners. These events foster friendships and new connections among the growing Riviera boating community.  "The raft ups which occur all over the country bring together Riviera owners in a unique setting to share stories, inspire each other and share in the joy that is ownership of a Riviera motor yacht.” Rodney added.
Glenn and Mary are the perfect example of the sheer joy that Riviera ownership brings.  “The Crawley team are exceptional in putting together events, both on the water and on land, creating an element of surprise and fun every time. Their genuine interest in making sure everyone is connected and confident in their boats is evident. This is the reason we love boating”, Mary beamed.  Owners, Dan and Judy Gatt also praised the event.  “Not being from the Gold Coast it was great to meet new people and learn about their experiences and find new places to visit that we can enjoy in the future with our Riviera.”  “It was lovely to catch up for a laugh with old friends and the fun team from Crawley’s.”

Riviera Celebrates in Perth

Riviera, Australia’s premier luxury motor yacht builder, has truly got into the spirit of Christmas with a series of Riviera raft-ups and exclusive events around Australia. Always one of the biggest events on the boating calendar, the Perth Western Australia raft-up was held under cloudless skies on November 29th.  Hundreds of Riviera and Belize owners, their families and friends have rafted-up around the country, enjoying festive cheer and relishing the unique camaraderie shared between Riviera owners.  At the Western Australia raft-up, organised by R Marine Perth, the Riviera family rafted together and enjoyed a day in the sun, sharing in their love of their motor yachts. Organising 45 boats ranging from an M290 all the way up to 60-foot Flybridge is no small feat with preparations starting around midday for an afternoon of memorable celebration. The boats were arranged around a central mother-ship, requiring precision close-quarters handling from each owner.  "It was fantastic to see so many of the western Australian Riviera family coming together and really getting into the Christmas spirit. Our owners love to be a part of this highly-enjoyable annual event.  “The raft-up days are an excellent opportunity for owners to get to know each other with everyone able to step from yacht to yacht, enjoying a chat and an ice-cold beverage. The Riviera Family certainly know how to celebrate and their passion for their yachts, is simply infectious.  "As we have many new owners joining the western Australian Riviera family in 2020, next year we will welcome more than 50-yachts to our raft-up to celebrate Riviera’s 40th anniversary, making this WA’s largest raft-up ever" said Michael Pitman, Dealer Principal of R Marine Perth.  “These exclusive invitation events are a superb example of the strong friendship and bond among Riviera owners across Australia and around the world. It’s what we call the ‘Riviera Family’ and we are excited to be a part of this amazing group who just love boating,” said Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst.  Owners Neil and Sue Thoars of Ta-Keel-La, a 43 Flybridge had a wonderful day on the water.  “We have just attended our second R Marine Perth Riviera Christmas Raft Up, and once again it has exceeded expectations! To be able to catch up with and meet like-minded boaters on the raft-up was great fun, the band was fantastic. The day could not have gone any better. A big thank you to Michael, Gary and the whole R Marine Perth Team for all their hard work to pull this together, and we all look forward to next year.”  Hamish and Ngaire Beck, owners of a Riviera 58 Flybridge shared their sentiments.  “This is our third Riviera Raft-Up and each year the spectacle gets better and better. We take guests along for the day and they say this raft-up and the other unique owner events really sets Riviera apart.”  The boats were arranged around a mother-ship that became the stage and entertainment hub for the day, headlined by a local live band with their upbeat music creating a wonderful atmosphere. Most owners were dancing the afternoon away until 6pm, and then they moved away from the raft-up and anchored together to continue to enjoy the magical surrounds of the Swan River.  "The whole day was just brilliant. Creating our own community on the water for around six hours, and the way everyone so easily mingles and socialises with each other makes it a day to truly remember" Michael Pitman concluded.

Riviera Raft-Up in Port Philip Bay

Australia’s premier luxury motor yacht builder, Riviera has held their third annual Raft-Up in Port Phillip Bay – a real boating spectacle and hailed as a great success to mark the start of the festive and boating seasons.  Organised by the Victorian Riviera and Belize representatives from Sandringham R Marine Jacksons, sunny skies and calm conditions brought 22-Riviera owners with their family and friends together to raft-up. At Mornington Harbour, an impressive range of yachts formed an arc of luxury motor yachts ranging from a 3600 Sport Yacht to a 575 SUV, on the third Sunday of November.  It was the first of this summer’s Riviera Family Raft-Up celebrations around Australia’s coastline from the Gold Coast to Perth. These events are an exclusive opportunity for Riviera owners to come together for a special boating experience and friendship.  For Kevin Harris, proud Scottish skipper of Optus Primus, a Riviera 445 SUV, the raft-up has become a permanent fixture in his boating calendar.  “It’s a tradition now, I put it in my calendar and look forward to it every year – it’s the only event I’ll miss church for on a Sunday! It’s great to see different people all enjoying the same wonderful boating life we love so much with their family and at the same time, realising what we have here in Australia.  “This year it was a bit lumpy getting there but once we were in the harbour it was flat calm, and it turned out to be a lovely sunny day. The band was fantastic, and everyone loved the music, it was lively, and it really hit the spot.”  Tied off from the raft-up this year and holding centre stage was a Riviera 50 Enclosed Flybridge, its expansive cockpit providing the perfect platform for the four-piece band. The team from R Marine Jacksons, helped to carefully position the motor yachts in place and an anchor was dropped from every third yacht to keep the raft stationary.  “It’s a really smooth rafting-up process. R Marine Jacksons have a tender and a great team to help with the ropes and fenders. With Volvo Penta IPS, it’s just so easy to hold off the raft-up until it’s your turn and then to manoeuvre into position using the joystick control,” Mr Harris said.  Sergio Cinerari agrees the raft-up was a Sunday afternoon pleasure. It was also his third raft-up, and now his family are enjoying their third Riviera, a new 4800 Sport Yacht, Dory.  “The band was well set up and the afternoon was really social. You’re jumping around from boat to boat and talking to different people who you have this fantastic shared interest with. It’s a like-mindedness about a way of life and the brand of motor yachts that we all so enjoy, it’s just easy to strike up a conversation and then you just drift along with it.”  “My wife likes Riviera motor yachts so I like them! They’re well built, comfortable, well optioned and the level of service and back-up is really important to us, as are events like this,” said Mr Cinerai.  Seeing the yachts lined up like a brilliant string of pearls leaves no doubt of the capacity of their skippers and family to appreciate beauty and enjoy the lifestyle so inherent and unique to Riviera ownership.  Riviera owner, Rodney Longhurst, said it was fantastic to see the Riviera Family enjoying themselves in such an impressive way right around Australia.  “It is so rewarding for our incredible 600-strong team and myself to see our owners having the time of their lives aboard their fabulous Riviera motor yachts. The popularity of the third annual Port Phillip Bay raft-up, hosted by R Marine Jacksons showcases that when you own a Riviera you gain much more than a motor yacht, you join a family of fun-loving-people with whom you can share boating experiences and new adventures. It simply doesn’t get any better than that!”  Stephen Porter from R Marine Jacksons said the visual spectacle and the peals of laughter that rang out from the raft-up drew the attention of nearby beach goers and boaters.  “Even from a distance, you can see that our Riviera owners really know how to enjoy themselves, sharing laughs and having a few drinks. People paddled out from the beach on their SUPs to get a closer look and other boat owners cruised by to marvel at the sight.  “We host the raft-up around the same time each year to welcome-in the boating season in southern Victoria in style. It’s a great reason to get your boat ready for the season, bring family and friends along and meet other Riviera owners. It really was a wonderful day.”


Sunreef Helps Renovate a Polish Hospice

A holistic hospice and care center "eMOCja" is an exceptional initiative being developed in Gdansk, Poland. Focused on providing comprehensive psychological help to grieving families "eMOCja" will also be the new location for two hospices for terminally ill children. Before the new center can become operational, a major challenge awaits: a complete renovation of its future site. Sunreef Yachts proudly supports the initiative and encourages everyone to help.

Sunreef Conquers Art Based 2019

Miami is home to a vibrant art and design scene year-round, yet nothing quite compares to the multi-day fete that comprises the globally-renowned Miami Art Week. At this year's edition, Sunreef Yachts was excited to exhibit a colorful yacht installation in collaboration with artist Alexander Mijares and his work 'Pieces of Me' wrapped across the hull of 70 Sunreef Power Marquis. The 70 Sunreef Power Marquis also hosted an exclusive Haute Living cocktail party on board which continued with a VIP dinner with Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud at Boulud Sud. Another cocktail party was also held at the Alexander Mijares Gallery, where guests got to meet and greet with the artist.

Sunreef Main Partner of 2020 Africa Eco Race

Sunreef Yachts is the official main partner of the 2020 Africa Eco Race – a thrilling 6000km off-road race taking the participants from Monaco to the deserts of Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal for an epic adventure. An avid motorsports enthusiast, Francis Lapp, founder and president of Sunreef Yachts, has participated in many off-road events throughout his career, including two Paris-Dakar races. For the 12th edition of the Africa Eco Race he not only decided to introduce Sunreef Yachts as the main partner of the event, but will be taking part in the race onboard a custom-built rally car alongside experienced off-road racer Jacky Lechleiter.

Sunreef Lounge Concludes a Busy Season

Inaugurated this year, the Sunreef Yachts Lounge is the shipyard’s showroom and upscale bar in the heart of the emerging superyacht hub of Porto Montenegro. All the way through summer, the lounge has welcomed guests from across the globe and hosted a number of lifestyle events including the lavish Polo in the Port after party. A meeting point for all those who want to celebrate the yachting lifestyle, the lounge will be taking a break from January before it reopens in March for more exciting events in the wonderful setting of Porto Montenegro’s marina.


Yachting Developments Supports Movember

In November 2019 the Yachting Developments team took part in 'Movember,' growing mo's in aid of men's mental health. YD raised nearly $2500 towards this important cause. Brendon Driskel was the yard's top fundraiser with an impressive $430 of donations.

Yachting Developments Latest Graduates

Yachting Developments believes very strongly in the importance of passing along marine craftsmanship skills to the next generation and operates a large apprenticeship scheme throughout all our key divisions. A huge congratulations to our latest graduates who are now fully qualified.

Yachting Developments Sponsors Super Yacht Gathering 2020

Yachting Developments is returning as a sponsor of The Superyacht Gathering, with the next event held in Auckland from 25-27 March 2020. On day three, Bianca Cook will be profiling her Ocean Race campaign plans.

Yachting Developments Supports NZ Match Race Champs 2019

Yachting Developments was pleased to once again be the title sponsor of the New Zealand Match Racing Championship. This is a great way to support some of New Zealand’s best yachting talents, and the event did not disappoint with plenty of exciting sailing. Congratulations to Knots Racing, who took out first place.

Yachting Developments with Americas Cup 2021

Plans for the 36th America’s Cup are growing even more exciting, with the announcement of a new design concept ­– the AC9F – for a proposed Youth America’s Cup to take place in Auckland. Yachting Developments will play a crucial role in the event with the yard’s design team, led by Bob Graham, having developed the 9-metre foiling mono-hull concept, which was formally unveiled at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) on 12 December 2019. A prototype for the AC9F is currently in build at the Yachting Developments yard and will hit the water in February 2020.  The Youth America’s Cup has previously been a well-supported part of the America’s Cup in both San Francisco and Bermuda and with New Zealand having such a strong network of youth sailors, organisers of the 36th America’s Cup felt that it was right to try and continue the Youth America’s Cup in Auckland. The Youth America’s Cup will be hosted jointly by the RNZYS, Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) and the China Sports Industry Group. The planned multi-leg format would see a fleet racing event held in China in November 2020 ahead of a match racing series in Auckland from 18-23 February 2020. Having developed the AC9F, Yachting Developments will also be responsible for undertaking the construction of a fleet of yachts for the event. Initially five boats will be built to allow simultaneous match racing. “This project has been an ideal fit for the Yachting Developments skillset, thanks to our extensive experience in building racing yachts of all sizes and our strong support of youth racing programmes,” says Ian Cook, Managing Director of Yachting Developments. Yachting Developments has a longstanding apprentice scheme, and sponsors several initiatives that train and support youth sailors. “The Youth America’s Cup is an unmissable chance to bring young sailors from around the world to race in Auckland’s waters on an exciting design that will demand the best of all their skills.” The light displacement AC9F design will be built from carbon, with Yachting Developments a world-leading composite specialist. In recent years the yard has also invested heavily in its 3D printing division, and this technology has been heavily applied in the development of the AC9F concept and the construction of its prototype. The Youth America’s Cup is now seeking expressions of interest from parties in order to develop the event and establish expected numbers of teams, with 10 being the ideal number for a viable event. The proposed concept has been designed for a mixed gender crew of four sailors, aged between 19 and 24. Key differences from previous Youth America’s Cups include the allowance of multiple entries from countries, meaning that several different yacht clubs from the same country would be able to enter. “We are looking forward to the launch of the prototype AC9F in February 2020, which will hopefully be the precursor to a very exciting Youth America’s Cup event,” concludes Cook.


Zeelandaer Finalist at 2020 Motor Boats Award

Zeeland is happy to announce that the Z72 is a finalist in the upcoming Motor Boat Awards. Launched earlier this year, the Z72 was a star of the boat shows in Newport, Norwalk and Fort Lauderdale. Its S-shaped sheerline, wide stern and multiple curved surfaces won many admirers, not to mention its impressive top speed of over 40 knots and fantastic quietness while underway.

Zeeland New Service Hub in Norwalk
After a stellar year, thanks to the launch of the Z72 and the continued success of the Z55, Zeelander expands it's presence in North America with a new service hub in Norwalk, Connecticut. Operated in partnership with the Norwalk Cove Marina Inc who is also a Volvo-certified service center, alongside the comprehensive maintenance services on offer there will be a Z44 available for viewings.

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