December 31, 2015

Monthly News - December 2015

-pic of the month- Storm Yachts Masters of LXRY


Azimut-Benetti Group World Leader of Super Yachts Again

The Azimut-Benetti Group has triumphed once again, taking first place in the Global Order Book 2016 which ranks the top 20 manufacturers of mega yachts - for the 16th year, and beating the most important industry players from Italy, Germany, Britain and America. Its 2,580 metres yachts under construction confirm the outstanding success of the Italian company's models, which meet the needs of boat owners around the world. The Azimut-Benetti Group offers the most comprehensive range of products, and has recently even expanded into the field of giga yachts, with vessels measuring over 100 meters now under construction at the Benetti shipyard in Livorno. Such a long-standing success can only come from the meticulous and constant development and improvement of its products and their production process, something that the President of Azimut Benetti, Paolo Vitelli, has always set as an essential cornerstone for the company's growth. First-rate projects, along with industrially and financially viable shipyards, are the key factors to achieving this result. The snapshot taken by the Global Order Book is a tribute to Italian excellence, as it portrays Italy as the world's leading manufacturer of mega yachts. This is a positive sign for the company, and for the Italian boating industry as a whole. The ranking, compiled annually by Show Boats International, the prestigious U.S. trade magazine, is the most reliable and authoritative point of reference for the boating industry. Every year, it provides an accurate performance report, publishing information on actual orders, for yachts measuring 80 feet up, confirmed by the 1st of September of the year in question.

Azimut Grows in China

Azimut Yachts continues to grow in the chinese market, confirming its positive trend more to ten % recorded during last year in China and a consistent gain in market share. Confirming such a growth, in Hainan Rendez Vouz, Azimut Yachts has hit one additional great achievement : the selling of a Leonardo 100 in the few days of the exhibition, thus positioning as the big protagonist of Hainan Rendez Vous itself. Such being the result of a capillary work at Azimut of empowerment of Dealrship Newtork in China with a strengthening of the presence in the Field. As key player at Hainan Rendez Vous, Azimut Yachts has also been present with an impactful five Boats display and brand new stand signed Studio Michele De Lucchi, the Italian Architect, driver of Italian design worldwide. The new Stand Image is part of a worldwide operation at Azimut Company of delivering a new Brand Image associated to Lifestyle and to Made in Italy excellence in the Luxury World, clearly visible at all levels of marketing actions. Time to celebrate at Azimut in Hainan Rendez Vous! This is the driving mood with each Azimut has arranged a big Party Event on 29th November in Hainan Rendez Vous Stand, Italian Style oriented, starring key celebrities like Marcello Lippi and involving key Partners: GoldStream , Stefano Ricci, the Italian Brand Illy and the Italian chocolate Brand Pernigotti 1860.


Baglietto Appoints New General Manager

Baglietto, the historic boat builder based in La Spezia, announces the appointment of Mr Michele Gavino as its new General Manager. 54-year old Michele Gavino was appointed as Baglietto’s General Manager on December, 14. After graduating in Aeronautical Engineering, over the years Mr Gavino has held several high-responsibility positions in the Operations field. He was Plant Manager at beer brewing company Birra Peroni, Quality Manager in AgustaWestland, and then General Manager and Industrial Development Director at Sea – Società Europea Autocaravan. From 2013 he was the COO of a leading company operating in the rubber and plastic industry.


Beneteau Volvo Partnership Honored

Through many years of close collaboration, Beneteau and Volvo Penta have produced a multitude of new technologies that have revolutionized the leisure boat and yacht market. To honor the companies’ long-standing and fruitful partnership, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France (CCSF) has awarded Beneteau with the “French Partner of the Century” Special Prize of Excellency. Beneteau received the prize in a ceremony attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, as well as Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, The ceremony was part of the CCSF centenary gala celebrating Swedish-French friendship and a century of Swedish companies in France, which was held at Petit Palais on November 30. Founded in 1884, the family-owned Beneteau Group offers a wide range of sail- and engine-powered leisure boats, under its cruising sail boat brands —Beneteau, Jeanneau, CNB monohull and Lagoon catamaran—and powerboat brands, including Prestige, Monte Carlo Yachts and Lagoon power catamarans. Beneteau has built its success on a well-established foundation, including passion for innovation and investment into new production techniques. For more than a century, Volvo Penta has worked according to values similar to those of its partner Beneteau. With a strong tradition of innovation, Volvo Penta has revolutionized boating again and again, with products and solutions ranging from the diesel stern drive and Volvo Penta IPS to the duo prop and joystick docking and driving. The company has remained at the forefront of the marine market, consistently finding new ways to meet customer needs and exceed expectations. Through joint R&D ventures, the two companies have made industry-wide improvements in maneuverability and safety, allowing a new generation of boaters to enjoy the pleasure of leisure boating. Beneteau’s Air Step® hull and the Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS) are just two examples of the successful innovations that have resulted from this partnership and have boosted the performance of boats across the marine industry. 


Elandra Expands Gold Coast Plant

Australia’s newest luxury motor yacht brand Elandra Yachts has expanded its Gold Coast operations on the back of rapid growth and increased interest from Australian and international buyers. The high-end marine vessel manufacturer has acquired a further 1,000 square metres of floor space at its Arundel base, in line with Elandra’s projected growth and entry into the crucial US market. Since its launch last year, Elandra Yachts has made waves in the domestic and overseas markets, with successful recent displays at the Sydney International Boat Show and burgeoning enquiries from potential buyers. With $3.5 million committed to research and development over the next two and a half years, the extra floor space will allow for focus on the production of new models, including the Elandra 49 (extended from the initial 47 model) and a 60-foot plus model. The company is on track to establishing a major presence in the American market, with its first US delivery of an Elandra 53 scheduled for late 2016. Elandra will build four boats in the 2016 financial year, including three 53s and one 49. Elandra Yachts is driven by its positioning statement: “Inshore Elegance. Offshore Attitude”, representing a mission to match the best of the British and European brands’ interior finishes, but with understated elegance. As a semi-custom builder, Elandra also accommodates regional requirements, such as optimised air-conditioning, additional watermakers, or heating, all on 110 V. All products are manufactured and shipped from the Gold Coast.


Ferretti Group Leader of Instagram

Ferretti Group has won another international award for its presence on social networks and online media in general. This time the Group was awarded the prestigious 'World Luxury Award - Gold Use of Media' 2015 in the 'Cars & Yachts' category because of the impressive results obtained by its official Instagram account ‘@ferrettigroup’, which totalled over 23,800 followers who viewed more than 470 pictures and videos posted from 9th March 2015 (when the account was set up) to date. This year, other winners among the world-class luxury brands together with the Ferretti Group at the annual Wolrd Luxury Award held in Monaco included Hermès, Cartier, Gucci, Dior, Valentino, Emirates, Mercedes, Jaguar, Audi, Lexus, Lamborghini, Martell, Vertu, and The Leading Hotels of the World. The World Luxury Award is a highly qualified independent Forum made up of luxury sector professionals and has two main objectives: constantly improve the standard of creative excellence in the advertising, design, and multimedia sectors and be a global think-tank capable of developing prognostic techniques in the luxury goods sector. More specifically, Ferretti Group’s Instagram account, managed in cooperation with agency Arachno (a partner of the Group’s in several online communication activities), was awarded as the best among all the international luxury brands present on social networks. The motivation for the award was about “being able to involve a large number of users, including yachting enthusiasts from all over the world, by constantly sharing pictures and videos”. The Group's posts featured a wide range of subjects to attract a very diverse public: from the new products launched over the last few months to the historic icons that have made Italy's style and design known all over the world, all the way to the unmatched innovations that characterize the Group’s yachts. Ferretti Group has thus been once more recognized as an international leader, in social communication in general: not only on Instagram, but also on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Twitter, and Youtube - all channels that allow to be directly in contact with customers and enthusiasts alike, and to always be up to date, through one’s followers, on market trends, tastes and needs.


Hatteras Makes Catching Marlins Look Easy

The 2008 Hatteras 60 Convertible T-Time took 1st Place in the 2015 New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament this summer when its team tagged-and-released two blue marlin and one white marlin. This is especially impressive considering that T-Time’s Owner, Tony Simmons, captains the boat himself. Simmons is a member of the family that has owned and operated the McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco Sauce, on Avery Island since 1868. Today, he is the company’s president and CEO, but he has not always worked for the family business. Early in his career, he did a stint with the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve that he credits with his formal training as a captain. An avid angler, Simmons purchased the Hatteras 53 Convertible Tia II with his brother Cameron in 2001.  He and Cameron are longtime members of the club, which hosts the New Orleans Invitational annually. In 2013, when he was ready to sell Tia II and move up to a larger boat, Tony Simmons called another tournament angler to let him know he was putting the Hatteras 53 on the market. The Hatteras 53 sold fast, now renamed Dagga Boy, is still raising fish. The new owner’s team took two blue marlin in this year’s New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament and would have come in 2nd Place behind T-Time if a problem with their fuel hadn’t forced them to withdraw. Simmons bought T-Time in early 2014 with the help of yacht broker Ken Reda of MarineMax Ocean Reef in Key Largo, Florida. The decision to stay with Hatteras Yachts was an easy one. The first trip that Simmons took in the Hatteras 60 was to the Bahamas Out Islands. 


Maritimo 2015 Year

This time of year brings festivities and family fun. It is a time for reminiscing and looking forward. 2015 has been Maritimo most successful year ever with strong sales around the globe and a forward order book that is filled through to September next year. Maritimo founder Bill Barry-Cotter's recognition to the industry with his Queen's Birthday Order of Australia Award, completing our 400th vessel, expanding our international dealer network and our Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show / Key West Offshore Superboats World Championship / Maritimo Muster tour have been just a few of the highlights.


Mulder Nominated for Showboats Award

Mulder Shipyard, Claydon Reeves and Van Oossanen Naval Architects are proud to announce the new 34-metre “Solis” has been shortlisted as a ShowBoats Design Awards 2016 finalist. Solis is a finalist in four categories: Exterior Design & Styling, Interior Design, Holistic Design and Naval Architecture. The winners of the Showboats Design Awards will be announced on February the 22nd, 2016 in Kitzbühel, Austria.


Outer Reef Giving Back

The best gift Outer Reef Yachts received this holiday season is the gift of giving back. Outer Reef raised money and bought gifts for homeless children younger than one, through 17 years of age - their joy and appreciation will warm hearts for years to come. Outer Reed was so grateful for the opportunity to meet them and their families, and thank the wonderful staff for helping facilitate this for us.


Princess New Representative in Egypt

Princess Yachts International has extended its brand representative network with the appointment of a sole Distributor for Egypt, Alkhalil Trading L.L.C. which will trade as 'Princess Yachts Egypt'. The company is based at Abu Tig Marina in the resort of El Gouna, which is located in the Hurghada region of the Red Sea, a popular destination for leisure marine pursuits. For the last 7 years Alkhalil Trading has been successfully servicing and distributing luxury yachts in Egypt and the addition of the Princess brand complements the current range of boats for customers who seek an outstanding first class yacht. 


Riviera Celebrates 2015 Milestones

Proud, passionate and positive; these three words perhaps best describe the vibrancy of the worldwide Riviera team as the renowned luxury motor yacht marque recaps a year of significant milestones and memories and prepares to enter 2016 with a number of superb new model releases. Riviera chairman and owner Rodney Longhurst said the outstanding 2015 highlight for Riviera has been welcoming 85 members to the global family of Riviera and Belize luxury motor yacht owners. In 2015, Riviera was honoured by being awarded the prestigious Australian Marine Industry Exporter of the Year for 2015, in addition to Large Exporter of the Year for 2015. Riviera was also named as a finalist in two categories of the international IBI-METS Boat Builder Awards – the Retail Marketing and the International Dealer Development categories. Notably, 2015 marked the World Premieres of four impressive new models: 77 Enclosed Bridge, 57 Enclosed Bridge, 52 Enclosed Bridge, and 525 SUV. Additionally in 2015 Riviera announced three projects; 5400 Sport Yacht, 575 SUV, and 67 Sport Motor Yacht which also represents a new collection. Additional 2015 highlights included: The Riviera Festival of Boating in May; the largest and most successful festival of fun and learning yet has us busily preparing to raise the bar from 19-22 May 2016, The Gold Coast International Marine Expo; Riviera is a proud founding partner of the Expo which was named the Australian Events Industry’s coveted 2015 Best Exhibition award. Expo 2016 once again coincides with the Riviera Festival of Boating from 19-22 May 2016. Reel Torque Yachts, Singapore joined the Riviera and Belize network Servicing Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. R Marine Port Stephens, Australia joined the Riviera and Belize network Servicing the NSW Central Coast. Riviera’s new Stuart office, Florida, USA commissioned and manned by a dedicated team of boating professionals servicing the Americas, European, Middle East and North African markets. Boating Partnerships syndication service launched for Australian Riviera and Belize owners with a passion for boating but who find their time to spend out on the water is limited. This is the only syndicated boat ownership program that carries Riviera’s endorsement. As 2015 draws to a close, Riviera is continuing its recruitment drive, through which the marque is building its talented team of designers, engineers and master craftsmen. Riviera today has 480 dedicated team members on-site at the Coomera manufacturing facility on Australia’s Gold Coast, including some 36 school-aged, workforce entrance-aged and mature-aged apprentices. This number will grow to over 50 in 2016.

Riviera Movember Challenge

The fun-loving team at R Marine Crawley are keeping a stiff upper lip this week after a month of sporting wonderful whiskers, although in some cases that’s most certainly a more-than-slight exaggeration. On Tuesday, the ‘haute handlebars’ finally got the chop, so to speak, and some would say it was certainly not before time. In fact, as the fundraising month of Movember came to a close, a few members of the team were found struggling to mark the milestone moment with anything resembling a meaningful moustache. Of course there was a serious side to the tongue-in-cheek trend – the R Marine Crawley team was helping to raise funds for a movement that has made a tangible difference for the health of men right around the world. Dealer Principal of the Riviera and Belize dealership based at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast, Ben Crawley, at one stage resembled what many might suggest was a ‘Mexican pool man’. Ben admits there was a real sense of purpose amongst the team to assisting the great Movember cause. The rest of the participants in the R Marine Crawley Movember challenge team; luxury boat brokers Ben Leigh-Smith and Jason Kowalski along with warranty manager Nick Westh, were spared the light-hearted digs from Ben, but it was a close shave. However, Mo-Sista Lauren Dayberg-Muir, the dealership’s creative and marketing manager, didn’t miss. Jokes aside, the R Marine Crawley team managed to raise an impressive $2738 for the Movember cause, including donating a percentage of profits from all boat purchases settled throughout the month of November.


Sanlorenzo Confirms Second Position

The American magazine Showboats International has just released the Global Order Book 2016, the annual world ranking of the top international superyacht builders above 80‐foot (24 meters). Despite an exclusive production of unique models, each one made to measure according to each owner’s requests, Sanlorenzo confirms its second position in the world ranking, right after the Azimut‐Benetti Group and still above the Ferretti Group, which Sanlorenzo overtook in 2014. The Global Order Book has been the leading guide of the superyacht industry since its launch in 1992. It is updated annually, giving the exact scope of construction activity within the superyacht industry, based on its comprehensive data of the vessels currently in build. The global map of luxury yacht builders (755 total units under construction) remains the same as in 2015 where Italy dominates all the other builder nations with 286 units (35.784 ft), the Netherlands are in second position with 68 units (12.657 ft) followed by Turkey with 71 units (10.909 ft). Surprisingly, Taiwan reaches the fourth position for the first time ever with 74 units under construction (7.375 ft), overtaking the USA with 57 units (6.689 ft) and the UK with 64 units (6.414 ft), respectively at fifth and sixth position in the ranking. Sanlorenzo has been maintaining a steady increase in construction for the past few years, switching from 37 units in 2011 (3.898 total feet) to 54 units in 2016, for a total length of 6.204 feet (1.891 meters). Italy confirms its absolute leadership in the superyacht business and Sanlorenzo has proven once again to be one of the most stable and well‐established manufacturers in the luxury marine sector.


Storm Yachts Masters of LXRY

The Masters of LXRY event took place in Amsterdam from 10 to 14 December and was very well received by visitors and exhibitors alike. The exhibition welcomed a record number of 46,000 visitors who came to see the latest trends in luxury. StormYachts also participated in this largest premium lifestyle exhibition in Europe. This reflected our conviction that, as a Dutch builder of luxury, top-quality yachts, we were a great fit for the event. This impression was certainly confirmed by the many positive reactions we received from both visitors and our fellow exhibitors. Especially for nautical exhibitors, the show featured a theme ‘island’ called ‘World of Yachts’. This section was beautifully designed and spoiled the guests with top-notch catering. All in all, Storm Yachts felt very much at home during the event, and we hope to participate again next year.


Sunseeker to Recruit New Staff

Sunseeker International has announced that it is looking to recruit over 100 new skilled staff to support the introduction of several new models planned for 2016. The new roles will be based at its manufacturing operations in Dorset, covering construction trades including Carpentry, Plumbing and Electrical, plus Engineering trades including Mechanical Engineering, and Composites - GRP Laminating and GRP Finishing. 


Wider Financial Strength

As any businessman knows, there is far more to running a successful company than just having a great product. Robust financial management is essential for the success of any business and that has never been more true than in the yachting industry in recent years. Wider was founded with just such a sturdy financial management in place in the person of Paolo Favilla, Partner and Executive Director with responsibility for Financial and Corporate affairs. An experienced player in the complex world of shipyard finances his history with Tilli Antonelli goes back to 2009 when he was appointed as CEO of Pershing but even before then Paolo had forged valuable experience as CEO of a private investment bank, Banknord Corporate Finance, as member of the Board of Directors of Grimaldi Holding from 2004, and CEO of Grandi Navi Veloci, a shipping company leader in the Med ferries industry. This experience was put to good use in 2012 when agreeing the deal with Malaysian Billionaire Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay that allowed him to become a partner and shareholder in Wider. As Chief Executive of Genting Group, his business empire stretches from casinos to cruise liners, and from biotechnology to palm oil plantations. The association of Wider with Genting Group along with Paolo Favilla’s attentive and experienced financial supervision creates a synergy that gives potential buyer’s comfort and reassurance, knowing that they are buying a top quality product from a financially solid company with an exciting future ahead.


Viking Cream of the Crop

Captain Norm Welker led the Viking 66 Sandbob to a win at the recent Jeb Bush Florida Classic in Fort Lauderdale. The team on Bob Moss's Viking released eight sailfish to climb to the top of the leaderboard. Sandbob angler Ted Bohne was the top angler of the event with five releases. Six sails put the Viking Debaitable in third place.

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