Monthly News - May 2021

-pic of the month- Wajer Supplier to Red Bull Racing Team

Benetti Giga Yacht for Monaco Grand Prix

The largest hybrid yacht in existence, Benetti’s Luminosity has touched down in Monaco, where she will stay the weekend for the F1 Gran Prix until Tuesday. The 107.6-meter and 5,844 GT giga yacht is well matched with the Gran Prix, both testaments to the achievement of cutting-edge propulsion and material technology.  Many F1 enthusiasts choose to be part to the Circus onboard of a yacht – but for this purpose, Luminosity is an exceptional choice. With a 3MWh battery pack onboard, all the main systems can run throughout the event (up to 12 hours) without the need to switch on the generators. Peace, quiet and comfort are realized onboard Luminosity, with plenty of space to enjoy the fresh air as well. Should it be necessary to leave the event early, the giga yacht can even sneak away without disturbing her neighbors, navigating in full electric mode with a range of more than ten nautical miles. Added bonuses of this futuristic functionality include a much faster startup time and exclusive access to SECA environmentally protected areas, which are known for undisturbed natural beauty.

Cigarette Sells to Lionheart Capital and John H. Ruiz

Cigarette Racing Team, synonymous with high-powered luxury performance powerboats, has new ownership with big plans for growth of the company and the future of boat racing in across the globe. Lionheart Capital, led by Founder and CEO, Ophir Sternberg, has partnered with billionaire entrepreneur, John H. Ruiz, to purchase the iconic American brand from longtime owner of two decades, Skip Braver.  "After 20 years of building the Cigarette product line and brand, I look forward to seeing Ophir and John's vision for the company become a reality. Lionheart Capital and John H. Ruiz share my commitment to quality and performance, as well as my passion for Cigarette's brand, and I'm confident in their ability to take the company to even greater heights based on their own successful ventures, resources and business knowledge," said Skip Braver, former owner of the Cigarette Racing Team.  Cigarette Racing Team specializes in custom-made, hand-crafted, high-performance powerboats. Its clientele has the most discerning taste for luxury and performance. Cigarette's reputation as the market's premier powerboat builder has roots deep in offshore racing's history where performance made its early run for glory. From its inception in 1969, the company grew in size and reputation, based on the hard-racing, fast-lane living of its founder, Don Aronow.  "I am thrilled about our acquisition of Cigarette Racing and believe that Cigarette Racing's brand is daring, defiant and pushes barriers. With that, my partner John H. Ruiz and I, look forward to taking the company into its next chapter where we build upon the legacy of the brand and create significant value in the future through powerful partnerships and unique collaborations, production amplification and increased distribution channels," said Ophir Sternberg, co-owner of Cigarette Racing.  Since its inception, the Cigarette brand has grown in sophistication, becoming a product excellence company which focuses on impeccable engineering and beautiful design. Cigarette now builds the finest powerboats for the most loyal and discriminating performance boaters, using only the best in materials, technology and workmanship. "Ophir and I both are excited about Cigarette Racing and what we can contribute to the company," said John H. Ruiz, co-owner of Cigarette Racing. Ruiz, who brings expertise in building hugely successful technology platforms, is excited about incorporating the most cutting-edge technological advancements, innovations and safety features to take performance to the next level. "I have been an avid fan for decades. I personally own numerous Cigarette hand-crafted powerboats and believe that the brand is on the verge of a new wave of acceleration. Cigarette Racing is such an iconic American name in the world of boating, that it is truly an honor to be a part of the continuation of its legacy that's been going strong for over 50 years, and look forward to taking it into unchartered waters." Always on the cusp of redefining luxury, Cigarette recently collaborated with Italian Architect and Designer Giorgio Cassetta, the 2019 World Superyacht Award winner, to create a boat of unconventional strength and style. That know-how and innate elegance with a passion for new challenges, led Poltrona Frau to array the interiors of the powerful Tirranna 59'.  Cigarette as a lifestyle is visible on waterways around the world, but it started and continues to be headquartered in Miami, Florida. Cigarette Racing powerboats range from $600K to $3.5M.

Hatteras Acquired by White River Marine Group

White River Marine Group announced a significant expansion of its saltwater manufacturing footprint with the acquisition of Hatteras Inc., in New Bern, North Carolina.  The brand will become part of the White River Marine Group. The company’s family of brands includes Tracker, Mako, Ranger, Triton, Tahoe, Nitro and others.  The addition will shift the focus of the company’s saltwater manufacturing from the Midwest to the Atlantic seashore, closer to the saltwater market and a thriving community of craftsmen and women. Importantly, the purchase represents an investment in New Bern, North Carolina’s long history of boat building and the jobs it sustains.  “We are inspired by the many similarities between the pride and passion of the master boat builders from our home in the Ozarks and the legendary boat builders of North Carolina and the New Bern area in particular,” stated a company promotional piece. “Both share the same genuine commitment to American craftsmanship, with scores of family members working together and generations of highly experienced boat builders taking pride in what they do. We’re committed to support Hatteras in staying true to its roots as a legendary saltwater brand built by a passion for fishing while expanding our operations to better serve all those who love the sea.”  

Heesen Wants You to Pick a Colour

Heesen is excited to invite you to be part of our new Heesen Project SkyFall Contest that seeks opinion on which paint scheme best suits the 60m superyacht and her matching tender. We would like to extend this invitation to you to take part online and let the owner hear your thoughts on which out of the five colour options you prefer.  When complete in 2023, 60-metre SkyFall – a lightweight aluminium FDHF – will be Heesen’s most powerful yacht to date. Powered by four MTU 20V4000 engines driving four Kongsberg S90 water jets, she will max out at 37 knots. SkyFall epitomises why Heesen is world-renowned for being the best place to build 55-60 metre plus full-aluminium yachts.  Her sporty exterior is designed by Omega Architects. Her matching Vanquish tender is designed by Guido de Groot. Oozing style and sophistication, she is geared around sports fishing with a fully-fledged fishing cave, including stowage for 40 rods.  And now, she needs a colour scheme to suit!  The exterior colour scheme is a defining element of a yacht’s identity. It speaks to the overall design and ensures that the yacht makes a real impact on water. Five colour options have been selected to choose from.

Riviera Announce Extended Warranty Program

The dedication to excellence by Australia’s largest and most awarded luxury motor yacht builder, Riviera, has been further elevated by the company’s industry-leading support for motor yacht owners with the announcement of a new and comprehensive extended warranty program. Riviera is now providing even greater peace of mind by increasing the Structural Limited Warranty on Riviera motor yachts by an additional two years to seven years. The company has also doubled its Express Limited Warranty, which covers all non-structural components, from one to two years.  Riviera’s new seven-year Structural Limited Warranty provides the ultimate assurance for motor yacht owners in the quality of the hull, deck, flybridge and hardtop of all Riviera motor yachts which are engineered and crafted for superior blue-water performance.  The warranty covers seven years or up to 2,800 hours of boating, whichever comes first, from the moment an owner takes delivery of their new motor yacht from their Riviera dealer representative.  The extended warranty program affirms Riviera’s dedication to quality across the company’s 22-model range from 39 feet to 72 feet in the Sports Motor Yacht, Sport Yacht, SUV, Flybridge and Belize collections.  Riviera owners enjoy superior sales and service support from a global network comprising 60 dedicated Riviera representatives in Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Europe and Asia.  The extended warranty support is further strengthened by the five-year limited warranty on Volvo Penta and MAN-powered yachts being standard on all Riviera models. This positions Riviera’s extended warranty program among the most comprehensive in the world for luxury motor yachts.  The five-year limited warranty on Riviera’s Volvo Penta-powered yachts covers all Volvo Penta controls, displays, steering, propellors, IPS drives and engines. This warranty covers five years or up to 1,000 hours on D6 engines and 2,000 hours on D8, D11 and D13 models. All Volvo Penta-powered yachts equipped with Garmin electronics also have five-year protection for the Glass Cockpit System.  Through Volvo Penta’s unique Yacht Series Support service, Riviera owners also have access to Volvo Penta’s global dealer network in 130 countries.  Riviera motor yachts powered by MAN engines enjoy a five-year or up to 2,500 hours, whichever comes first, limited mechanical warranty. The MAN Gold Standard Premium covers all MAN-branded engines.  This extensive cover is further supported by the five-year limited warranty on durable Sunbrella materials used for upholstery and awnings in Riviera motor yachts.  “The Riviera motor yachts of today are the best we have ever created, offering unparalleled peace of mind for our motor yacht owners,” said Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst.  “Our owner assurance has been enhanced even further with this new warranty program. Around the world, Riviera motor yacht owners truly appreciate the quality craftsmanship and engineering excellence that is implicit in every luxury motor yacht we build.  “With the support of our global network of dealer representatives and through the assurance from the world’s leading brands and technology, our extended warranty program is further complementing the ultimate boating experience that Riviera owners enjoy.”

Sabre Stories Kicks Off

Sabre is kicking off a new ongoing series - Sabre Stories! In the inaugural episode, the Captain of the Judy Davis a Sabre 48, talks about cruising around the low country of South Carolina, making memories, and all the ways that boating "soothes the soul."

Sunreef Wins UIM International Award

Sunreef Yachts has won the Union Internationale Motonautique Environmental Award. The shipyard’s in-house engineered solar power system has been voted as the most innovative green motoryacht technology. Established in 1922 and based in Monaco, the UIM is the world governing body for all Powerboating activities. The UIM Environmental Award recognizes outstanding environmental leaders or organizations that have excelled in inspiration, vision, innovation, leadership and initiatives to the benefit of the Environment. The Sunreef Yachts Eco solar power system is the only composite-integrated photovoltaic technology in the marine industry. Engineered by the Sunreef Yachts Eco R&D office, it allows to integrate solar panels with all curved composite structures for an energy efficiency unrivalled in the yachting world.


Sunseeker Famous Five Premiere

Sunseeker is delighted to officially reveal the Sunseeker ‘Famous Five’ in a magnificent, all-new display of the Manhattan 55, Predator 55 EVO™, 65 Sport Yacht, 88 Yacht, and 90 Ocean together for the very first time off the coast of Dorset, England. The five new models dominated the waters as they sailed to Studland Bay in perfect formation against a breath-taking sunrise.  Revealing not one but five new models reflects the extraordinary pace of product development and a feat never before seen in the company’s history. To celebrate their arrival, a special guest and friend of the brand, actor Hugh Bonneville, recently visited the boat builder in Poole to support a very special launch video. The sheer expanse of Sunseeker’s presence, with its legendary shipyard set against the backdrop of the town’s historic quayside made for an ideal filming location.  Hugh commented: “A few years ago, I joined the Sunseeker team at the London Boat Show and quickly came to understand that this company is so much more than a brand - it's a global family. Sunseeker don’t just build boats, they build dreams and I feel very fortunate to join in the celebratory launch of these incredible new models. It's an outstanding achievement of which the iconic British company can be justifiably proud.”  Joined by Sunseeker CEO, Andrea Frabetti, and Douglas Culverwell, Director of Distributor Development, Hugh experienced the Sunseeker Famous Five first-hand by going behind the curtain of this complex operation. As well as touring the shipyards that house these remarkable yachts and meeting with the teams responsible for building them, Hugh relished the exceptional interiors of the 88 Yacht, sat comfortably at the innovative SkyHelm™ of the 65 Sport Yacht, and felt right at home on the all-new X-TEND™ transforming sunbed; just some of the many latest technology innovations on board these class-leading, industry-defining models.  Andrea Frabetti, CEO at Sunseeker International, commented: “It was a great privilege to welcome Hugh back to Poole to help launch all five new models, each imbued with Sunseeker style and innovation. This is the culmination of a great deal of hard work, talent and passion by the entire workforce; the credit rests with each and every one of them. This launch is a truly momentous occasion, and I cannot wait to welcome even more clients to our burgeoning ‘family’ as our range continues to expand.”

Tiara Lands Best Industry Product

The recently launched tiara yachts 48 ls was recognized by boating industry as one of the 50 top products of 2021. The top products program annually selects the marine industry’s most innovated products and services to recently hit the market based on their impact on the industry, innovations and how they advance the product category, or in some cases, create a new segment of its own.  The 48 LS, the largest outboard-powered vessel tiara yachts has ever built, expands upon the legacy of the luxury sport series, combining the outdoor amenities of a day boat with the onboard accommodations of a weekend cruiser.  Exclusively built and engineered for the Mercury Verado v12 600hp engines, another 2021 top product award winner and highest-horsepower outboards in production today, the 48 LS can reach a top speed of 60 mph. the triple v12s are combined with the tiara yachts integrated electronics package, including Garmin marine navigation, for unprecedented control and performance.

Viking Wins Marlin Madness

Congratulations to the Viking 55 Walk West on their win in Marlin magazine’s Marlin Madness. It’s been a long road with 64 seeded battlewagons fighting it out in four regional divisions but in the end, it was a Viking that “walked away” victorious. Owned by Riley Rhodes, the Viking earned their spot in the mix for their 2020 Texas Legends Billfish Tournament win. With captain Raleigh Morrison at the wheel, Justin Waight landed a record-breaking 737-pound blue marlin – the largest to ever be weighed in Port Aransas. “It was epic and euphoric,” Riley said. “We knew it was a big fish, but we didn’t know it was that big.” Great job to all the teams that competed and thanks to all of you for voting Viking to the top spot!

Viking at Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic

Viking went one, two and three at the recent Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. The Viking 61 Devotion, above, released four blue marlin to win the Top Release Boat division. Captain Jason Hallmark put angler Brandon Rayborn on a pair of blues, and Matthew Parson and Josh Tice each added a fish to the tally. C-Student, a Viking 66, took 2nd Place Release Boat on time with three blues. The Viking 62 Contrapption was right behind them in 3rd Place with a trio of blue marlin. Scott Cooper, fishing on the Viking 80 CE, weighed the 2nd Place Tuna with a 127.8-pound yellowfin.

Viking Dominates The ShootOut

Talk about domination! In Skip Smith’s The Shootout – Production vs Custom, anglers on Bob Genord’s Viking 80 Miss Victoria released five blue marlin, seven whites and a sailfish to claim Top Billfish Release Boat. Colton Resor released eight of those fish for the Top Angler honor. Gioncarlo Ratti, fishing on Ricardo Cilloniz’s Viking 72 Anakalea, weighed the 2nd Largest Blue Marlin. The Heaviest Mahi went to Viking 62 Reel Life angler Mike Espinosa with a 34.2-pound fish. The Abaco-based invitational tournament saw 142 billfish releases in three days of fishing.

Viking Vaccine Program

Viking is proud to have hosted its first COVID-19 vaccine clinic with over 200 employees receiving their first dose of the Pfizer inoculation. In conjunction with AtlantiCare, Viking’s Health Services turned our multi-purpose room into a finely tuned injection distribution site. A second clinic is planned in two weeks with additional dates to be scheduled at both the New Gretna and Mullica facilities. Viking has worked hard to slow the spread of COVID-19 and now we're stepping up our efforts to do our part to help end the pandemic.  “In my 32 years at Viking, our vaccine rollout to our boatbuilders through our Health Services department and AtlantiCare is the most rewarding and significant program we’ve accomplished. Our employees are the most important asset of our company and we must do everything in our power to make sure they are healthy,” said Viking’s Executive Vice President Drew Davala.

Wajer Supplier to Red Bull Racing Team

Wajer is proud to announce that for the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday May 23, Red Bull Racing has once again chosen Wajer as its Official Supplier. Several Red Bull Racing Wajer yachts will be ready to transport the team from A to B in the Harbour of Monaco during the race weekend. The Wajer Care team is in ‘pit crew’ shape to get your Wajer ready for summer!

Wajer Sound of the 77

Attention: all DJs and producers among us. Since the Wajer 77 is the quietest boat in its class, it's time to make some noise! To celebrate this, Wajer is pursuing ‘The Sound of The 77’ and giving you the chance to remix ‘Magico’ by Armin van Buuren and Giuseppe Ottaviani, and win a trip to the South of France!

Wajer New Director Global Care

Wajer would like to introduce you to the new Director Global Care, Reinier van Herel. With over 23 years of national and international experience for Damen Shipyards, he is the right person to further expand and internationalize the service concept Wajer Care.  From 1997 Reinier fulfilled various roles within Damen Shipyards, from Regional Director Africa to Service and Sales Director in Southern Europe. In recent years he has been active as Head of Business Innovation & Corporate Venturing.

Wally Supports Maxi Racing in Portofino

All eyes in the sailing world turned to the Italian Riviera last week, where the Regate di Primavera – Splendido Mare Cup marked the explosive return of Maxi racing to the Med. Held in the sheltered waters of the Gulf of Tigullio from 5 to 9 May, the invitation-only event gathered some of the world’s most prestigious sailing yachts.  And none more so than the towering elegance of the Wally fleet, which was represented in style at this year’s event. Kauris II (24.31m) and Ryokan 2 (24m winner of the coveted Compasso d’Oro International design award) showcased the yard’s enduring aesthetic appeal and evergreen design, where clean lines, perfect proportions and performance all combine to create emotions that only Wallys can.  «Now more than ever, people are appreciating the value of owning a yacht. We fully expect to see an exciting rebound in regattas as those who love to sail return to the water,» says Wally Managing Director Stefano de Vivo. «For us as a brand, it is key to support regattas such as the Regate di Primavera - Splendido Mare Cup and foster growth for the future. Having delivered a new 145-footer at the height of the pandemic and recently signed a contract to build a stunning 101-footer for a loyal client, I am delighted to say that the Wally family keeps getting bigger.» «Around the cans off Portofino, variable conditions prevailed. Seas ran quite high at times, while the wind went from flat calm to gusty and back again. It made for some classic racing and some memorable moments, » says Wally Founder and Wally Class President Luca Bassani. «The two Wallys were never far off the pace, and provided an unforgettable spectacle finishing close in under the lighthouse at Portofino. After a year without Maxi yacht racing, owners are understandably enthusiastic to relaunch the Med regatta circuit. Wally is delighted to be supporting Wally owners and Wally Class members this summer to participate in some of the world’s most prestigious events.»  VIP guests and visitors enjoyed another treat courtesy of Wally at this year’s event. The yard’s hugely successful Wallytender series were on hand to transport VIPs in ultimate style. Both the 43wallytender and 48wallytender served as courtesy vessels, standing out with their avant-garde design, immaculate handling and uncompromising luxury. It set the tone for a week where elegance on the water was only matched by the warmth of the Corinthian spirit on shore. Now known as the Regate di Primavera - Splendido Mare Cup, the event has been running almost non-stop since 1980 against the backdrop of the town known as the “Pearl of the Mediterranean”. Last year naturally saw a hiatus due to the pandemic, but Wally owners have been eager to restart racing and are supporting this year’s maxi events.  Wally is also doing its bit to bring these magnificent yachts back to the race course with the return of the exclusive Wally Class. Counting among its number some of the most iconic sailing yachts of the last four decades, the Wally Class fleet runs from 24 to over 50 meters in length and includes some breathtaking recent deliveries that define the state of the art in performance, interior fit out and sheer flair.  Wally Class events will unfurl majestically over the course of the next six months. Following the Regate di Primavera - Splendido Mare Cup in Portofino, Wally owners can look forward to the Loro Piana Super Yacht Regatta in Porto Cervo (1-5 June); the Giraglia Rolex Cup (16-19 June); the Superyacht Cup in Palma de Mallorca (23-26 June); the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo (5-11 September); and the unmissable Voiles de St Tropez to close the season from 4-9 October.