Azimut-Benetti Group Triumphs at the World Yacht Trophies
The new nautical season 2014-2015 inaugurated, as every year, by the Cannes Boat Show, opens for the Azimut|Benetti with two prestigious awards assigned to yachts of the Azimut Yachts brand. Organized by the French publishing group LuxMediaGroup, the World Yacht Trophy is one of the most important awards in the nautical sector: a panel of experts made up of highly qualified members belonging to the steering committee of the publishing network is entrusted with the task of selecting and evaluating the boats and the winners for each category. The awards’ ceremony was held on Saturday, September 14th in the elegant framework of the Carlton Hotel in Cannes. Azimut Grande 95RPH, a beautiful 29 meters with a Raised Pilot House, was awarded the title of “Most Achieved Trophy" in the category of yachts from 24 to 36 meters. Azimut 77S, brand new jewel of the sporty collection, with its sleek lines and low consumption was awarded the prize for the “Best Exterior Design” in the category of yachts from 15 to 24 meters. At the 2014 edition of the Cannes Yachting Festival the Italian Group participated with 22 models including 4 world premieres.
Azimut-Benetti Group New Appointments
On 1st September 2014, Fabio Ermetto will take on the role of Chief Commercial Officer of Benetti, the Azimut|Benetti Group’s flagship megayachts division, specialising in the production and worldwide sale of megayachts. The 42-years-old manager has worked in the yachting industry for over 15 years, specialising in the world of mega- and gigayachts. In his new role, Mr Ermetto will be responsible for further enhancing the prestige and commercial development of Benetti, particularly in markets with a high growth rate. Fabio Ermetto will be handing over the Executive Chairmanship of Fraser Yachts, having redefined its set-up and organisational structure, to Roberto Giorgi. Mr Giorgi has held a seat on the Group’s Board of Directors, and has served as Honorary President of V. Ships, in which he gained a unique experience in the naval and nautical world, launching and managing the Leisure and Ship Management divisions. In his new role, Mr Giorgi will execute Fraser Yachts’ growth strategies and coordinate its top managers. His objectives also include developing internal talent and identifying the next CEO. These appointments form part of the company’s current strategic development plan.
Bavaria Optimize Further Management Structure
Since 2010 Daniel Kohl has been the product manager at Bavaria Yachtbau responsible for the development of sailing yachts, with immediate effect he has now been appointed as Chief Product Officer (CPO) for the shipyard. He is thus responsible for the entire product range and marketing of the company. In addition, he will be supporting Nautitech CEO Bruno Voisard in the coming years to help build this new Bavaria division. Sebastian Jürgens, the graduate in engineering manufacturing technology who came from SGL Automotive Carbon Fibres and joined Bavaria in the spring this year as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Bavaria has also taken over the management of product development department and design in August. Former Bavaria consultant Christian Hollstein is appointed as Chief Finanacial Officer (CFO) to 15th of September and will report along with Daniel Kohl and Sebastian Jürgens direct to Constantin von Bülow, CEO of Bavaria Yachtbau.
Benetti Reveals Sales For Two 100 Meters Plus Super Yachts
Benetti, the worlds largest producer of yachts over 24 meters in length for 14 consecutive years, with a production oriented towards ever longer vessels, bursts into the over 90 meter mega-yacht sector revealing the advanced state of production of a 90 meter yacht and the double sale of two megayachts over 100 meters in length. This exceptional result once again underlines Benetti's unique quality of having both a high number of yachts under construction coupled with numerous contracts. This is the result of a consolidated financial effort that the whole Azimut Benetti group has managed to develop though the years by earning the trust on one hand of institutional lenders and on the other of clients from all market sectors around the globe. The attention and care that Benetti pays to their clients during the delicate pre-contractual phase, together with their World-wide reputation for quality products, has allowed them to reach ever higher objectives. The two new ships will be built at their Leghorn facilities, well known for their size, technology, and available construction slots (14 over 50 meter long yachts are currently under construction there). Benetti will be keep constantly updated all media regarding work in progress of those yachts over the next months.
CRN Wins World Yacht Trophy 2014
CRN, a Ferretti Group Company specializes in the construction of mega yacht completely custom-made in steel and aluminum, opens the new season with a major award won by M/Y Chopi Chopi 80 meters at the 2014 World Yacht Trophy. The event, organized as usual by the international group Lux Media Group, rewards the best megayacht built by shipyards in the world; the flagship of Ancona shipyard was awarded the prestigious award of "Most Achieved Trophy" in the category of mega yachts from 54 to 82 meters. The experts of the jury agreed that in the international yachting industry Chopi Chopi stands out for quality, the craftsmen’s commitment to work on the finish and interiors, for its spectacular volumes and open spaces, and its constant and direct contact with the sea. Not forgetting art, design and attention to the wellness onboard. This new award enriches the numerous prizes that CRN’s flagship has reached throughout 2014, like: ‘Best Interior Design Award’ at the Showboats Design Awards 2014 category, among megayachts above 60 metres in length, the Judges Commendation at The World Superyachts Awards 2014, and the ‘Boat of the Year 2013’.
Ferretti Wins Most Innovative Award
Ferretti Yachts, the iconic brand of the Ferretti Group representing the excellence of Made in Italy boating industry, has been awarded with an important international prize, celebrating one of its most recent jewels. The flagship Ferretti Yachts 960 has been awarded as the “Most Innovative” yacht during the Gala organized on the occasion of the “World Yachts Trophies” Award, assigned by the French publisher Luxmedia Group at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2014. At the awarding ceremony, which took place on 13th September at the enchanting plage of the Intercontinental Carlton hotel in Cannes, the flagship Ferretti Yachts 960 has been awarded with the Innovation prize in the category including the best models presented in 2013 and 2014 between 80 and 120 feet. The panel decided to assign this important award to Ferretti Yachts 960 specifically for the introduction of the aft floodable garage, which allows launching the tender in an extremely easy and safe way. Thanks to this system, which does not require the use of a davit, allows the guests to enjoy wider spaces and makes the operations of the crew easier. This much-appreciated innovation has contributed to the positive sales trend of this model. 8 hulls have been sold in just one year, therefore leading the Group to install this solution on the latest models presented in Cannes. For example, on the brand new Ferretti Custom Line Navetta 28, further enriched by the Dual Mode Transom, the double movement door, which is an exclusive patent by Ferretti Group. The award obtained at the “World Yachts Trophies” by Ferretti Yachts 960 joins the Motor Boat Awards 2014 in the “Custom Yachts” category, the award received in January on the occasion of the London Boat Show. This success confirms the international appreciation for this yacht, resulting from the collaboration between Studio Zuccon International Project, AYT&D - Advanced Yacht Technology, the R&D department of the Group, and Centro Stile, which perfectly matches elegance, sportiness and remarkable performance with an innovative distribution of spaces and a cutting edge design.
Heesen Awarded at World Yacht Trophies
Heesen Yachts is proud to announce that on September 13, 2014 Galactica Star won her eighth international award: Best interior design at the World Yacht Trophies in Cannes. London based Bannenberg & Rowell Design firm designed the award-winning interior of the 65m Galactica Star.
ISA Yachts New Sales Manager
ISA Yachts is pleased to announce the appointment of a new manager to their Sales and Marketing team, Jeroen Minnema. Dutch born Jeroen boasts an extensive background in the yachting industry being a yacht broker for over ten years. In his most recent role as a Sales Broker at Ocean Independence, Jeroen has sold new built projects and brokerage yachts alike. In his new role he will be looking to boost sales and give worldwide support to both clients, brokers or owner’s representatives and whilst doing so contribute to further developing the ISA Yachts brand by reflecting the company’s values and the real sense of ‘custom-built’ luxury.
Majesty Yacht Fashion Shoot
Luxury brands such Harvey Nichols, Stella McCartney, Michael Kors, Saint Laurent Paris just to name a few, were brought recently on board a Majesty 105 for a photo shoot at the Majesty Yachts shipyard in Umm Al Quwain for the August 2014 issue of the Haya Magazine, a weekly high-end fashion and beauty magazine. Haya magazine is a weekly high-end fashion and beauty magazine with a focus on women, published in cooperation with leading Arab broadcaster MBC Group and distributed in the Middle East, and North Africa. It brings inspirational interviews, in-depth profiles and biographies of Arab and international stars, as well as behind-the-scenes information about the latest hit series and programs that are the talk of the town. It also explores current social and cultural trends through dedicated reports that invite readers to transcend regional boundaries. The magazine also boasts an extensive glamour section the ultimate fashion and beauty guide for female readers in the region.
Maritimo Offshore Team Looking at World Championship
Maritimo is competing in two boats in the Australian National Superboat Championship races and is using the series as a warm-up for the World Championships in Europe next year. At this stage Maritimo Australia is running second and our Maritimo Newcastle race boat is running third. With the finals not too far away we will be cheering on the boys at Harvey Bay in November.
Maritimo Partnership Proving Succesful
The 2014 Sanctuary Cove International Boatshow saw the launch of this very exciting partnership which provides high quality sound and visual packages for our new owners. Bang and Olufsen's general manager, Julian Kipping, said the company was thrilled to be partnering with Maritimo.
Nordhavn Owner Receives 50,000 Mile Pennant at Southampton
Luxury trawler yacht specialists, Nordhavn Europe, were delighted to present a 50,000 mile distance pennant to Richard and Lorna Maybin, owners of the Spirit of Ulysses, at this week’s Southampton Boat Show. Richard and Lorna’s forward pilothouse Nordhavn 76, the largest Nordhavn model ever to be exhibited at a European show, was on display at Southampton all week. She has cruised over 51,000 nautical miles in the last seven years, based mainly in the Pacific and having cruised the West Coast of the States including Alaska, New Zealand, Australia and many of the Pacific Islands as well as a non-stop transatlantic crossing from Bermuda to Hamble, UK. Members of the press were welcomed on board the Spirit of Ulysses on Friday to witness a special presentation to the owners in recognition of their landmark achievement, with Dan Streech, President of Pacific Asian Enterprises, on hand to deliver the award. Nordhavn’s popular Distance Pennant Programme was created to recognise the accomplishments of the many Nordhavn owners who travel the world’s oceans enjoying the adventures of a lifetime. Somewhat impressively, the average miles travelled by members of the programme is a little under half of a circumnavigation for each registered owner.
Princess Yachts Spectacular VIP Show
On Friday 12th September Princess hosted a VIP event on their stand at the Festival de la Plaisance de Cannes, with iconic lifestyle brand Purobeach who provided live music and signature cocktails. Set against the spectacular backdrop of nine Princess models, including the new S72 and mighty 88 Motor Yacht, guests enjoyed a Moët & Chandon champagne reception late into the evening. As the sun set over Cannes' Vieux Port, guests sipped cocktails and danced the night away to music provided by one of Purobeach's renowned DJs, accompanied by world famous saxophonist, Florencio Cruz.
Riva New Custom Steel Range is Born
“Building in fiberglass is undoubtedly easier than building in wood. Building well, though, is difficult.” Paraphrasing this statement made by Carlo Riva in the late 1960s by replacing the word fiberglass with the word steel would be enough to summarize the inextinguishable drive that has always pushed the iconic brand of worldwide yachting towards the future and innovation, heading for perfection. Because this is Riva's DNA: it was in the past as much as it is in the present. Today, the brand has chosen one of its most beloved locations, Montecarlo, and particularly the charming Aquarama Lounge, on the terrace of the Yacht Club de Monaco, to announce that it is ready to seduce the world once more, making its debut in a market segment to which its reputation has naturally led it and to which it has ideally always belonged. Riva is announcing the creation of its new full custom line in steel, which, starting off with a first 50-meter long project, followed by a second 68-meter yacht, will develop further over the next few years to include a range of crafts up to 100 meters in length. Between the 1960s and the 1970s, Eng. Carlo Riva, through his Yacht Division, had started to 'think big' - first by cooperating with Northern European shipyards and building the famous “Caravelle” and “Atlantic” M/Y series; then establishing a historic partnership with CRN, thanks to which six motor yachts exceeding 20 meters in length in the “Marco Polo” series and two 90-foot and 100-foot “Vespucci” crafts were built between1970 and 1978. Today, his project turns into reality. And the baton, in this relay, has ideally been taken by 'his' Riva company, now a member of the Ferretti Group.
Riviera Searching for Master Craftsmen
A growing world-wide demand for Riviera’s luxury boats has encouraged Australia’s favourite and most awarded luxury boat builder to go in search of more master craftsmen. Riviera’s general manager Scott Cumming said that right now the company was looking for highly skilled and experienced boat builders and cabinet makers to fulfil 14 positions.
Viking On The Go
The Viking Yacht Company was abuzz this week as the annual Dealer Meeting coincided with the 50th Anniversary Gala at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Monday kicked off the busy week with a welcome dinner for Viking Yacht dealer principals hosted by Bill and Patrick Healey. Tuesday morning brought a packed house to the business portion of the meeting with Viking's dealer network absorbing a wealth of information and new technology during the session. When the group broke, they bee lined to the docks and jumped on the spectacular fleet of Vikings that was waiting to greet them. Gray skies and gusty winds couldn't hold back the dedicated dealer network as they climbed aboard the boats and spent the day on sporty seas off Atlantic City. Skies were questionable when guests moved in for the cocktail and yacht viewing party but when the first model cruised down the dock, the sun and smiles broke out. The yachts strutted down the runway and concluded with the eagerly awaited Viking flagship, the 92 Enclosed Bridge. Over 300 people attended the gala dinner and everyone reveled in the telling of Viking history through colorful tales of the early days which were interrupted only by roars of laughter. Rudy Dalinger, Production Engineer, was recognized as Viking's longest tenured employee, hitting the 50 year mark this past September 2nd. A celebratory cake was brought out and Viking founding fathers Bill and Bob Healey,Sr., surrounded by their families, sliced the dessert for their customers, boat builders and friends in attendance. The night ended on a high note with the Viking Yacht Company lighting up the Atlantic City skyline. t didn't end there! The week continued with a steady stream of customers and sales professionals touring the Viking manufacturing campus. The tour's highlight was a trip to the sleek yet luxurious 75 Motor Yacht floating at the docks. Atlantic City also stayed busy with over 60 Viking sea trials completed during the week.
Viking Gives Vote
Former chair of the Coast Guard Committee, Congressman Frank LoBiondo, visited the Viking Yacht Company this week. After touring the New Gretna facility and taking time to talk with Viking employees, Congressman LoBiondo spoke about his staff's efforts for the recreational fishing and boating industry. Representative LoBiondo is working to ensure that we have pragmatic reform of the Magnuson Stevens Act, our nation's primary fisheries law. He also has introduced legislation (HR4005) to support a continued exemption for recreational vessels on incidental discharge of water.
Viking Progress Report
The ongoing project to enclose and enjoin Viking's manufacturing building is continuing on schedule. Plenty of behind the scenes detail work is completed like the underground utilities installation. Siding, trim and gutters are in place and the windows will be next. With the cool weather just around the corner, the crew is preparing to pour the first layers of concrete.
Viking Another 50th Anniversary
The Viking Yacht Company has been in a festive mood this past year as we observe our 50th anniversary...but we aren't the only one that hit the golden milestone! This month Rudy Dalinger, Production Engineer, celebrated 50 years with the Viking Yacht Company proudly making him the longest tenured employee.
Viking On The Board
A trio of Viking Yachts landed on the leaderboard at the 47th Annual Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Labor Day Tournament. Daniel Haeuser, fishing on the Viking 61 Conundrum, landed a 146 pound tuna to claim Second Place in that division. Fellow Conundrum angler Rick Sinclair took a 47 pound 'hoo to the scales for Third Place Wahoo. On the Viking 66 Controlled Chaos, Nino Bright boated a blue just shy of 440 pounds to claim Third Place Blue Marlin. Jon Gonsoulin's Viking 70 Done Deal sealed the deal in the Catch & Release Division with a Third Place finish.