Monthly News - August 2009

-pic of the month- Italian Yachts Dealer Meeting

Baia Wins Forcola D’Oro Prize

On Friday 18th of May, in the presence of the Minister of the Public Administration and the Innovation, Renato Brunetta, Roy Capasso, marketing manager of Cantieri di Baia, received the “Forcola d’oro” award for the One Hundred, the first superyacht built in Campania. Expo Venice spa and Fondazione Valore Italia wanted this prize, this year at the first edition, in order to encourage and exalt the Italian style and the excellence of the made in Italy in the nautical world. The choice for Baia One Hundred was for its research to innovate the morphology of the spaces of the deck. They were never organized in this way until now. The innovative solution of continuity between the inside and the outside surprised the jury in a particular way.

Baia at Rolex Capri Sailing Week

Also this year Cantieri di Baia took part at the famous Rolex Capri Sailing Week with One 43’ and Azzurra 63’. Once again Cantieri di Baia demonstrated to be up to the greatest names of the international sailing world that every year take part at the Rolex Capri Sailing Week. It’s a confirm of the well-established partnership between Cantieri di Baia and the sailing word.

Baia Book

Last June Cantieri di Baia presented the new Baia book. It is the Cantieri di Baia’s story. It started in 1972 when Capasso family acquired the shipyard. It narrates the evolution of this reality that with the time has become a real trend setter in the international nautical world. At the same time, however, Cantieri di Baia constitute a value added for their territory, in fact they maintain the whole production process in the Neapolitan gulf. 160 pages and 140 images describe the changes of the shipyard since Pascià, first boat of Cantieri di Baia made in fiberglass that was completely lined with teak staves. The story continues until the last great success of Cantieri di Baia, the Baia One Hundred, that is the first superyacht built in Campania, and it takes into consideration also the rich and appreciated line of Life Style products, signed Baia.


Bayliner Receives Thress CSI Awards

Bayliner Boats is proud to announce that for the second year in a row, Bayliner will receive three prestigious Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Awards from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the leading association of the recreational boating industry. The NMMA’s Marine Industry CSI program recognizes marine manufacturers whose pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement earns them overwhelming customer support. Matching its performance in 2008, Bayliner received 2009 awards in the following categories: deckboats, sterndrive bowrider boats, and sterndrive cuddy and express boats. Companies must actively measure customer satisfaction for award consideration by the NMMA. Upwards of 60,000 consumers participated in the industry-wide 2009 CSI Awards surveys. To receive its three awards, Bayliner achieved customer satisfaction ratings of 90 percent or higher over the past year. Customer satisfaction is measured independently, and based on information provided by all consumers who bought a new Bayliner between April 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009. Bayliner’s impressive repeat performance is the latest in its long history of winning over customers. The company has received several CSI awards in recent years, including sterndrive bowrider and deckboat awards as well as an award in the fiberglass outboard category. The NMMA will acknowledge Bayliner and the other CSI Award recipients during the 2009 International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), Oct. 12 - 14 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.


Fountain Files Chapter.11 Bankruptcy Protection

Fountain Powerboats has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina. According to court documents, Fountain will attempt to sell its assets, including the facilities and tooling in North Carolina, as well as brand names and unsold inventory for the Fountain and Baja brands. It expects the assets to sell for between US$6m and US$8m. Fountain said it owes its largest creditor, Regions Bank, US$19.6m. About US$4.3m of the total is for floor-plan loans, while the other US$15.3m was for term loans and a revolver loan. The company reported a loss of US$2.2m in fiscal 2008, and US$8.1m in fiscal 2009. The company's two biggest shareholders are Cede and Company which owns about 2.2m common shares, and Chairman and CEO Reggie Fountain, who owns about 2.1m common shares. The company intends to continue operations, according to the court documents. Reggie Fountain told local news sources that only about 10 to 12 workers will remain on the site in the coming weeks. He also expects the backing of new private investors to be in place by the end of the month. The court documents said Fountain's current operations would not be sufficient enough to support a traditional reorganization.


Italian Yachts Dealer Meeting

Italian Yachts SpA, the company owning and building the “Jaguar Yachts” is particularly active in its expansion with important developments to upgrade is dealer networks in Italy and in other countries. In this format Italian Yachts organized its dealer meeting, that was located in the Porto Antico of Genova, where the company has its administration and sales offices. The occasion could not have been better where to company could show the newly launched Jaguar 80 to the special guests. This Super Sport Yacht will be officially presented to the public in the coming boat shows of Genova and Cannes. At a production level Italian Yachts also announced that in the building facilty of Massa Carrara, there is also further new models in construction like the new sporty Jaguar 72 and the 92 Jaguar, new flagship of the range. The success of the critics of the last two years of the Italian Yachts Jaguar open series has been testimony of a brand which has escalated to a rapid growth on the international yachting scene.


Kadey-Krogen Open House

Kadey-Krogen Yachts will host their annual West Coast Open House October 2-4, 2009, at their new Seattle office location at the Salmon Bay Marine Center, 2288 West Commodore Way, Suite 220, Seattle, WA. The Open House is for those who are looking to start their search for a cruising powerboat as well as cruisers who are interested in becoming more familiar with the Pure Full Displacement trawlers that Kadey-Krogen builds. Attendees will visit some of the most popular among the company’s trawlers and have an opportunity to spend time aboard each boat comparing features as well as have the chance to sign up for a short ride aboard a Krogen 44’ as part of the weekend experience. In addition to the 39’, 44’, 48’ and 58’ that will be on display, the event will be the West Coast debut of the new 55’ Expedition with hull number two on the docks. In addition to the Open House event, Kadey-Krogen Yachts is hosting a hands-on engine training seminar in collaboration with John Deere and Northern Lights on October 2-3, 2009. The seminar will be held at the Cascade Engine facility in Tukwila, WA, about 45 minutes from the Kadey-Krogen office. The seminar will be headed by Bob Senter, Greg Light, and the staff at Cascade Engine. Though the Open House is free to attend, there is a cost for the training seminar and the number of participants will be limited. The Kadey-Krogen Open House will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. The event is free and open to the public and the media. Anyone interested in joining the cruising-under-power lifestyle will appreciate the chance to go aboard Kadey-Krogen yachts ranging from 39 to 58 feet with knowledgeable and qualified sales representatives from Kadey-Krogen.


Maritimo Success at Sydney Show

Maritimo completed the 2009 Sydney International Boat Show with sales success across its range. The new flagship Maritimo M73 Motoryacht drew massive crowds throughout the five-day show, spilling through the company’s marquee and on to the walkways. The new silver-hull flagship headed Maritimo’s largest ever on-water boat show display of 13 boats valued at more than $25 million. Maritimo also unveiled the A50, the second of its sporty Aegean Enclosed Flybridge models. According to Marketing Director Luke Durman, boating enthusiasts arrived at the show ready to do business.


Maxum Brand to be Discontinued

Brunswick has made the decision to discontinue production of the Maxum brand, and has notified dealers. This decision emerged from continuing efforts to review every aspect of Brunswick operations, including brand portfolio, in an effort to position it to emerge from this downturn a stronger company. It was a difficult, but necessary, decision, driven and based on economics. Maxum will sell boats currently in inventory, and will not have production for the 2010 model year. Brunswick remains committed to the marine industry, and continues to offer its dealers and consumers one of the widest arrays of boating options through our marine portfolio. Support for the Maxum products will continue throughout the warranty period. We intend to support our Maxum consumers. There will be no change to the type or level of warranty service, parts and support provided to the Maxum dealers at this time. We are offering the dealers an opportunity to continue with the significant retail and wholesale incentives that have been in place during this selling season to support the dealers’ retail efforts. We also will be providing each Maxum dealer with an opportunity to participate in an extended support program intended to help dealers wind down their Maxum business over the coming months.


Menorquin to Manufacture Llauts Again

The Menorquin Llaüts have been designed according to tradition and for their seafaring qualities, created for those who enjoy relaxed coastal sailing from cove to cove, anchoring at leisure, joining up with friends or the pleasures of recreational fishing. Now, after various years of externalizing the manufacture and sales of this range of vessels, Menorquin is to take on these tasks once again from its headquarters in Menorca. The Menorquin Llaüts are the very boats which gave rise to the birth of the shipyard over 30 years ago. The overall boat lengths range from 5 to 8 metres and are characteristic because they retain the traditional style of the typical Balearic fishing boat, or llaüt. Over the years Menorquin has worked to incorporate improvements in to the manufacture of the Menorquin Llaüts to achieve a product which meets the highest quality standards and has become a distinguished brand in this segment of the nautical market. Some years ago the shipyard opted to externalize the manufacture and sales of this range in accordance with the company’s business strategy of the time. Now, in response to changes in the requirements of the recreational nautical industry and to aid its recovery through the launch of new business formulas, Menorquin has decided to internalize these procedures once again at the shipyard facilities on Menorca. Menorquin Llaüts are very suitable for those just getting started in the nautical world, they are characterised for their ease of handling, sound performance and safe sailing qualities which are indispensable for living out a passion for the sea from the very first voyage. Menorquin Llaüts offer a variety of attractive features for those who prefer to sail without haste, at a cruising speed of 7 knots. They are boats which as a result of their very individual character and style draw much attention and are very popular with nautical tourism. Thanks to their hull shape with a very small draft, these craft are able to navigate through very shallow waters, close to beaches, making it easy to disembark and explore on dry land.


Meridian Yachts Earns Second Award

Meridian Yachts recently received a Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Award for the 2009 model year from the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association. This is the second consecutive year Meridian Yachts has received the honor, which is based on achieving and maintaining an independently-measured standard of excellence of 90 percent or higher in customer satisfaction over program year. Meridian Yachts was recognized in the Inboard Motoryachts and Trawlers sub-category. Out of the 105 boat and engine manufacturers that participated in the NMMA program, only four brands – including Meridian Yachts – were recognized with Customer Satisfaction Awards in bridge boat categories. Meridian Yachts has experienced remarkable success in recent years. In 2008, Meridian became the best-selling bridge boat brand in the USA and received its first Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Award. The brand continues to excel in 2009 with segment-leading sales and this second national customer satisfaction award. The award is based on information provided directly by the customers who purchased a new boat and engine during the period between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009. 2009 CSI award recipients will be formally acknowledged during the annual International Boat Builders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) taking place October 12 to 14 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Fla.


Morgan Yachts Ambassador in Northern Adriatic and Eastern Europe

Morgan Yachts, the brand of Aicon Group specializing in the design, construction and marketing of yachts in the Dinghy, Lobster Boats and Fast Commuters segments, has finalized its second Ambassador partnership agreement with Barke Bonom for the sale of its classic motor yachts range in Eastern Europe. Barke Bonom will be an authentic representative of the Morgan brand in the Northern Adriatic area and in Eastern Europe. The agreement signed confirms the Morgan will to develop a strong and exclusive network of partners all over the world, which will be, as the name itself means, Ambassadors of the Morgan’s brand and philosophy in their each country. Barke Bonom has the head-office based in Zagreb, Croatia and a second office in Brezice, Slovenia. Its offices will be a meeting point for all the potential clients and shipowners that represents access to the Morgan’s world.


Outer Reef Builds to Australian Commercial Class

Outer Reef Yachts has revealed that it can now build any of its long-range custom motoryachts to Australian Commercial Survey. A recent sale of one of its new 21m (70ft) models to an experienced yachtsman requested the yacht be built to Queensland Commercial Survey so the yacht could be put into charter in Northern Queensland. Although Outer Reef currently builds many of its boats to different classifications, including Bureau Veritas (BV), very few builders will take the effort and devote the management to build to class or survey in the under 30m (100ft) range, the company claims.


Riva in London

Once again, and still in London, Riva confirms its strong relationship with the automobile world that, since the 50s, has been a reference point in the design of its famous yachts. In the enchanting frame of the Georgian Hurlington Club in London, a specimen of the “spider of the sea” Aquariva, stood out among the luxury objects displayed at the Salon Privé, that took place from the 21st until the 24th of July. Thanks to the collaboration of Riva’s exclusive dealer for Great Britain, Ventura UK, guests had the chance to admire the iconic model of Riva range. Now in its fourth year, this one represent the most exclusive Super Cars event and Concours d’Elégance in the UK: an occasion during which the lucky attendees can admire from closer luxury vintage and modern cars displayed. Among the important brands of different luxury fields, Riva was the only representative for the worldwide nautical industry at the event, and obtained a great success.


Riviera Reaps Reward at Sydney

Australia’s largest luxury boat builder, Riviera, has reaped the rewards at this year’s Sydney International Boat Show with an astounding $8.7 million in sales. Riviera’s chief executive officer, John Anderson said the results proved there was strong support for Riviera in the current market. Riviera launched two exciting new models; the 51 Enclosed Flybridge with triple Volvo Penta IPS and an entirely new flybridge design and the 5000 Sport Yacht with Cummins Mercruiser Zeus drives – the first production boat in Australia to carry this new pod drive system. The 5800 Sport Yacht and 3600 Sport Yacht with IPS made their debut at the Sydney International Boat Show. Once again the ‘I Love Riv’ team was a huge success at the show with more than 7,000 ‘I Love Riv’ stickers being requested by visitors to the Riviera stand. The launch party held on the floating display on Saturday night attracted more than 250 owners who showed their support and dedication to the company whilse inspecting the latest expressions of Riviera’s innovative designs.

Riviera Dealer Awards

Professionalism, enthusiasm and sales results always go above and beyond expectations, which is why Matthew Willet has been awarded Riviera’s Salesman of the Year award for Australia and New Zealand. For the past seven years Matthew has seen the full cycle of the marine industry and is elated with his success at Riviera’s Dealer Awards held at the Sydney International Boat Show. Riviera Chief Executive Officer, John Anderson said Matthew also won this title in 2007, which was a credit to his hard work, and determination. The Dealer Awards were held this month and have been running for the past 15 years and are designed to recognise outstanding achievement and dedication to the Riviera brand. Dealer of the Year was awarded to R Marine Sydney for having the highest number of new Riviera sales and deliveries in the 2008/2009 Australian financial year as well as outstanding customer feedback. Mr Anderson said R Marine Sydney sold more than 25 new Rivieras and more than 70 trade boats in this period. Service Person of the Year was awarded to Jon Dodds from R Marine Pittwater, located in Sydney’s northern beaches, for his total customer satisfaction and tireless dedication to Riviera. Pittwater dealer principal Bruce Mitchell said Jon played a huge part in the ongoing success of the Pittwater dealership and has maintained the highest service levels throughout the 12-month period.


Sunreef Launches New Brand

Sunreef Yachts has just launched Blue Reef Yachts, a new brand on the motor yachts market specializing in medium-sized practical and rational monohull power yachts. In response to demanding clients with a passion for traversing the seas, Blue Reef will offer a range of timeless, comfortable and easy to handle yachts without crew designed by top experts harnessing the full experience and know-how developed to date by Sunreef. This Blue Reef Yachts creation is the result of a strategic partnership between Sunreef Yachts and CDR Yachting based in France, Bordeaux. CDR YACHTING will lend its expertise in the design and sales of this new power yachts range. The team composed of Pierre Couach, ex sales director at the Couach shipyard, Vincent Duchatelet, naval architect and Franck Reynaud, exterior and interior designer have launched hundreds of motor yachts over the last twenty years, which is the guarantee of the future joint success of this venture. Both companies have noticed that the demand for boats that are technically reliable, aesthetically elegant and destined to navigate in comfort without a large crew is still unsatisfied. This is the reason why they have decided to join forces and form a partnership launching a new range of yachts, an offer geared towards owners wanting to explore the Mediterranean and traverse the seas docking at small, local marinas that cannot accommodate large superyachts.

Sunseeker Delivers the X-Factor

Sunseeker has taken a staring role in the highly successful ITV series, The X-Factor. The new series of the televised talent search, which started on Saturday 22nd August 2009, opened with four Sunseeker Superhawk 43s delivering the celebrity judges to the show's London auditions. Filmed on the River Thames in early August the opening sequence to the programme featured the judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh each arriving individually in a Superhawk 43, similar to the model used in the last Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. The sequence, which was shown on Saturday on both the ITV1 programme the X-Factor and on the X-tra Factor, its sister programme on ITV2, will be repeated in the first six shows of the series. This is not the first time a Sunseeker yacht has been the transport of choice for glamorous passengers cruising up the Thames. Last year a Sunseeker was used to transport the famous pop-band, Take That, to the O2 Arena for their sell out shows. Prior to that, and in another Bond movie, The World is not Enough, the film's villains drove a Superhawk 34 crashing into the river bank after being chased by James Bond, played by actor Pierce Brosnan. The X Factor is the biggest television talent competition in Europe, with 182,000 people having auditioned during the 2008 show. The prize is a £1,000,000 recording contract with record labels Sony and Syco, owned by judge Simon Cowell.


Tiara Owners Rendez Vous

This has been a year that summer eluded us cold, windy and rainy right up to July 28, the Rendezvous start date. Thankfully, the skies parted and we were blessed with some of the best weather possible. We’ll take it! Close to 40 boats participated in this year’s Rendezvous, including a few Pursuit owners, making it our first-ever combined Rendezvous. We had seasoned Rendezvous veterans along with many first timers. Events included bike rides, scavenger hunt, lunch at The Landings in Ironton Cove, Boat Hop and a great Customer Relations Seminar. One female boater said that she wanted to attend the seminar this year because in the past, the guys all came back laughing it up and clearly having a fun time with it. She wasn’t alone, as this year saw a record number of men and women joining in. The major event of the Rendezvous was a trip to Castle Farms ... A fantastic venue with great food, music, dance, tour and fun. We also had a surprise invite from a local resident who has a renowned home from the design table of Earl Young. We had over 50 people show up to see their professionally landscaped grounds on the shores of Round Lake. It was truly amazing. Tiara owners will meet again next year.