Monthly News - February 2024

-pic of the month- Centunonavi Lands in Saudi Arabia

American Tug Silver Anniversary

American Tug marks its silver anniversary with a full order book from boaters who want to explore.  For its silver years American Tug was also featured in the March issue of Passagemaker Magazine and the AT 435 was on the cover, with an article on the popular magazine with photography done by West Coast Sales Manager, Jonathan Cooper.

Benetti 24th Yachtmaster

The 24th Yachtmaster organized by Benetti in Budapest from the 21st to the 23rd of February has just ended. The event, involving over 300 guests from all over the world, was a great success with the participation of captains, owner representatives, surveyors, stewardesses and industry professionals.  Modern owners experience the purchase of a yacht as the maximum expression of their lifestyle. Today, the new concept of lifestyle on board involves renewed purpose and layout for the spaces, increasingly informal and convivial, capable of blending into the surrounding nature. The deck extends over the water and the landscape integrates the furnishings through the large windows of the new Voyager yachts by Benetti. The growth of the yacht market is also evidence of this, perfect for those seeking adventure, and not just the most exclusive places. If the yacht is the object through which a lifestyle is expressed, certainly the captain and his crew are the human component that strongly influences the owners' on-board experience.  It is from these considerations that the program for the 2024 edition of the Benetti Yachtmaster was born, introduced by the CEO of Azimut|Benetti Group Marco Valle, who welcomed the guests and emphasized the crucial role of the captains and their skills in building the yachts of the future. 

Bilgin Nominee at World Superyacht Awards

We are proud to announce the nomination of the exceptional explorer yacht “Kaşif” in the upcoming 19th edition of the World Superyacht Awards. Competing in the category “Displacement Motor Yachts below 500GT, 40m to 44.9m,” Kaşif stands out as a testament to Bilgin Yacht's commitment to innovation in the yachting industry. Built in Bilgin's advanced facility within the prestigious Antalya Free Zone, the yacht epitomizes the brand's ethos of boundary-pushing craftsmanship.  The visionary exterior, crafted by Emrecan Özgün of Unique Yacht Design, enhances Kaşif's striking profile and stellar performance. “Kaşif is designed to navigate the toughest conditions with ease while providing unparalleled comfort,” states Özgün. Internally, the yacht's design narrative, envisioned by Enrico Lumini of Hot Lab, Italy, unfolds a story of meticulous collaboration and artistic endeavor. “Kaşif is a modern yet timeless aesthetic, seamlessly blending contemporary geometries with elements reflecting the owners' passions,” Lumini explains. The yacht's living areas showcases a sophisticated blend of contemporary design and personal elements, with varying palettes and themes across its decks, ensuring elegance and comfort.

Centunonavi Lands in Saudi Arabia

In mid-December 2023, Centunonavi was presented to the Saudi world at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The event was attended by a significant number of Saudi royals and a relevant business audience from the Arab world.  The idea behind the new generation of yachts by Centunonavi, a Viareggio-based shipyard founded by the naval engineer Marco Arnaboldi, is to achieve uncompromising performance thanks to refined custom-made construction combined with water-jet propulsion - indeed, all the models in the range can achieve speeds close to 60 knots.  At the end of the event, a dealership agreement was signed by Marco Arnaboldi (representing Centunonavi) and by His Royal Highness Naif Bin Abdullah Bin Saus Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, through his company Durah al Fodah. The company will enthusiastically promote the Italian shipyard's range in Saudi Arabia, managing every technical and commercial aspect of the product, starting with the purchase of a demo boat available to all the people who want to experience the thrill of speeding over water at 55 knots in maximum comfort and in an environmentally friendly way.

Cranchi New 2024 Color Collection

Two new colors from the updated Cranchi Yachts Colour Collection: Grigio Aurora (grey) and Verde Audace (green) are available for 2024.  Grigio Aurora is ideal for accentuating the romantic nature of the yachts, while Verde Audace maximises their sportiness. The customisation program offered by Cranchi Yachts was created precisely for this purpose: to offer owners the chance to give their personal vessel a unique, personalised colour.  The 2024 Colour Collection will soon be available, with an ever-more refined and distinctive selection of recommended colours for customising the vessels’ hulls. Cranchi dealers are ready to provide details and will soon be able to show customers the new colour chart. 

Ferretti Group Approves Preliminary Results as of December 2023

Ferretti Group announced double digit growth of the main KPI’s, announcement of the 2024 guidance and mid-term guidance confirmation.  Net revenue new yachts at €1,110.9 million, up 11.5% from €996.1 million in 2022.  Record adjusted EBITDA margin at 15.2%.  Order backlog reaches €1.5 billion, up 15.1% on 2022.  Net revenue new yachts at €1,110.9 million, up 11.5% from €996.1 million in 2022.  Adjusted EBITDA of €169.2 million, up about 21% from 2022, with margin of 15.2%, up 110bps.  Net income of €83.5 million, up 38% from 2022.  rder intake of €1,120.4 million in line with 2022.  Net financial position of €281.1 million.  The Group announces guidance for 2024 and confirms medium-term guidance.  Mr. Alberto Galassi, Chief Executive Officer of the Group, stated "2023 was an extraordinary year for Ferretti Group in terms of both the results and goals achieved.  I would like to emphasise the great importance of the listing on Euronext Milan in June and its very positive reception from the financial community.  The results we are presenting today highlight remarkable growth in the main economic and financial indicators and two absolute records in our recent history: an order backlog of €1.5 billion and a margin of 15.2%, confirming the solidity of the commercial and industrial strategy announced in March 2022.  These extremely positive numbers will give substance and quality to a further strengthening of our brands, with investments in research, innovation and sustainability. At the Düsseldorf Boat Show we presented Riva El-Iseo, the brand’s first full-electric powerboat that launches the new E-Luxury segment, testifying to Ferretti Group’s commitment to increasingly sustainable yachting.”

Ferretti Group Supports David Beckham 7 Fund for Unicef

An auction organised by Ferretti Group, in support of David Beckham’s 7 Fund for UNICEF, has ended, with the proceeds of the special-edition yacht going towards UNICEF’s work in El Salvador, creating safe spaces for children to learn and play.  The Ferretti Group auctioned a Riva Anniversario boat to raise funds, which will go towards protecting children, particularly those living in El Salvador whose lives are often threatened by violence.  In 2023, the 7 Fund delivered sports, cultural, and artistic activities to over five thousand children and adolescents in El Salvador. These activities aimed to foster inclusion, eliminate gender stereotypes, and strengthen community bonds, all while addressing the problems that that the country faces concerning violence against children. To date, more than 36,000 children in El Salvador have benefited from this programme.  “Providing children with safe spaces to learn and play is key to ensuring their enrolment in education and providing them with opportunities to develop their full potential. This is why we are grateful to Ferretti Group for the donation made to UNICEF through the 7 Fund,” said UNICEF Private Fundraising and Partnerships Director Carla Haddad Mardini.  “I would like to thank UNICEF for the chance to contribute through our boat to such a noble and deserving cause as the one supported by ‘7 Fund for UNICEF’. It is an honour to have actively participated in this project that offers hope and opportunity to thousands of children and their families,” said Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi.  In El Salvador, violence against children and adolescents continues to be one of the country's greatest challenges to the fulfilment of their rights. Social norms and attitudes perpetuate various forms of violence against children and adolescents, including at home and in school. In 2023, the lead institution of El Salvador’s protection system reported 28,779 violations of the rights of children and adolescents, with 87.45% of these violations related to violence and abuse.  To help tackle this issue, the 7 Fund is working in six of the most violent areas of El Salvador to help prevent and respond to acts of violence against children and adolescents. The goal is to help them to attend school by making public spaces safer and child-friendly, and to strengthen child protection services, making them more accessible. The 7 Fund also aims to provide all children in the six areas with the opportunity to play sports safely, so that they can develop resilience and learn life skills. 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund was launched in February 2015 to mark David Beckham’s tenth year as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. The Fund is a unique partnership between David Beckham and UNICEF that is helping to give vulnerable and disadvantaged children the opportunity to reach their full potential.  

Jarrett Bay Honors Employee Milestone

Recently, our Jarrett Bay General Manager Tate Lawrence and Safe Harbor Regional VP Ron Gift recognized many on employees celebrating major milestones. Most notably, it was the esteemed honor to show an appreciation for the thirty years that Charles Griffiths has been helping Jarrett Bay build and service world-class custom boats. Jarrett Bay congratulates its incredible team of men and women using their trade, skill and know-how to make us proud of all they do.

Kadey-Krogen Group Adds Industry Veterans in Team Expansion

The Kadey-Krogen Group, builder of the world class series of Krogen ocean-crossing trawlers, the performance cruising series Summit Motoryachts, and the coastal cruising brand American Tug, announces the addition of Katie Astras and Jay Christopher to their in-house team as Interior Designer and Customer Care Manager, respectively. Together, they bring more than 50 years of experience in the industry, with deep knowledge not only of The Kadey-Krogen Groups’ products, but with their core customer base as well.  “I started working with Kadey-Krogen in the late 90s, I was the in-house designer for Palmer Johnson working out of their refit yard in Savannah, Georgia, and we did a lot of work with the group,” Katie says. “For the last decade I’ve been working with the team as an interior design subcontractor, so I’m very familiar with the group and I’m thrilled to join the team full time.”  In her role as Interior Designer, Katie will be integral at ensuring The Kadey-Krogen Group owners truly are at home on any sea. “I think the interiors have gotten more sophisticated as the years have gone by,” she said. “Everyone has higher expectations, they desire a higher level of sophistication regarding what they want and need for soft goods and interior amenities, and the team at Kadey-Krogen has met that demand.”  Katie will work with clients throughout the build process, creating a curated package of soft goods and joinery to fit their individual tastes. “We have standard packages of soft goods, countertops, fabrics, things like that, but as a boutique builder we have the capacity to do just about anything,” she says. “We had a potential owner ask us about putting a hot tub onboard, which would be a little atypical on a trawler. But instead of discounting it and saying ‘no’ the entire team put their heads together and figured out if it was possible, how to do it, and what it might cost. And that person hadn’t even signed a contract yet. That’s what I love about this team. The company has a culture of ‘let’s figure it out.’ People are using their boats differently now than they were 10, 20 years ago. We get that. Whether it’s onboard technology or new fabrics, Kadey-Krogen is always at the forefront of the market.”  Jay Christopher, Kadey-Krogen’s new Customer Care Manager, is taking the helm from Gregg Gandy, who held the role of Project Manager for Kadey-Krogen for 20 years. Jay’s professional experience on the water stretches back to growing up on Cape Cod where he worked as a detailer and rigger while giving sailing lessons. His passion for boats led him to boatbuilding school in Maine, then on to the Maxi and America’s Cup campaigns of the early 1990s.  “I was working for Bill Koch as one of his property and marina managers on the Cape, and I got an invite to go sailing with them down in Newport,” Christopher said. “That led to me being one of the permanent crew aboard Matador2 winning the ‘90 Rolex Maxi World Cup then part of the ’92 and ’95 America’s Cup campaigns as shore team. For the ’97 campaign I was sent over to Prada’s team. We showed up in Livorno with two boats and 15 containers, and that’s where I really started managing large projects. I’ve been doing it ever since.”  In addition to his experience in the sailing world, Jay has decades of experience in large powerboats working as a service manager, warranty representative and training captain for marinas and service yards throughout New England including the reputable Oyster Harbors Marine. “It’s rare to love both sail and power, but I really do. My sailor roots combined with years running big powerboats is the perfect blend for The Krogen Group’s expanding line of yachts,” said Chistopher. Recently Jay also earned his credentials as an Associate Surveyor with the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors.  Jay will be based out of Kadey-Krogen Group’s headquarters in Stuart, Florida. In his day-to-day activities, he will manage new boat commissioning, handle warranty issues, and help owners with all their service needs and systems issues. Additionally, Jay will assist with new build customer orientation, helping a new owner get acquainted with their boat and spending time with them onboard while they get comfortable with their new surroundings. “I want to instill confidence in our clients. I’ll walk them through everything from systems operations to docking, then be there to support them throughout the lifetime of their ownership,” he said. “I find with new owners, those first few days together are invaluable to building assurance in their boat and with us.”  “We’re incredibly excited to have Jay and Katie join our team full time,” said Tucker West, President and CEO of Kadey-Krogen Group. “Katie and Jay both bring with them not only a lifetime of experience in the industry, but a deep knowledge of our products, and our owners. Their addition will help us continue to provide the uncompromising level of service that our clients expect.” 

Leopard Catamaran Mooring 403 PC Wins European Powerboat of the Year

The newest addition to The Moorings growing fleet of power catamarans, the 403PC has just won the prestigious European Powerboat of the Year award. This yacht is expertly designed for small groups or families to explore paradise with ease and in style. From the British Virgin Islands to the Bahamas, Croatia, and beyond, this is the ideal platform for your next vacation on the water.

Pearl Celebrates at Motorboat Awards

Pearl is thrilled to announce its triumph at the Motorboat Awards 2024, the exquisite Pearl 72 was announced as the winner of the prestigious 'Flybridges over 60ft' category. Revealed at an exclusive event held during the recent Düsseldorf boat show this accolade underscores Pearl's team's dedication and craftsmanship in luxury yacht design. Managing Director Iain Smallridge expressed his pride, stating, 'This recognition highlights our commitment to designing and producing the finest motor yachts in the world, solidifying our reputation as industry trailblazers.'  Special thanks to the incredible Pearl Team for their relentless dedication. A heartfelt appreciation to Margaret Whittaker OBE, owner of Pearl, for her vision and support, guiding us to new heights. The Pearl 72, with its stunning design by Bill Dixon and interiors by Kelly Hoppen CBE, sets new standards in luxury and innovation, showcasing Pearl Yachts' dedication to excellence.

Pearl Yachts New Thailand Dealer 

Pearl Yachts proudly announces the appointment of Max Marine Asia as the exclusive dealer for Thailand, marking a significant milestone in bringing the luxury yacht brand to Thailand’s shores. Max Marine Asia, a leading authority in yacht sales and services, has been chosen as the exclusive dealer for Pearl Yachts in the vibrant maritime landscape of Thailand. This partnership represents a commitment to providing clients in Thailand with unparalleled access to the world-class craftsmanship and luxury that Pearl Yachts represents. At the helm of Max Marine Asia is Craig Murphy, a seasoned professional with an impressive maritime background. Craig’s extensive qualifications and experiences are a testament to his expertise and dedication to the industry. Craig Murphy, Managing Director of Max Marine Asia, holds qualifications as a Boat Builder, Shipwrights, Commercial Captain, and Commercial Engineer, showcasing his extensive knowledge of yacht operations and mechanics. Craig managed Marine departments for Aman Resorts across various Asian locations including Thailand gaining a global perspective on the yachting industry. With a remarkable 17-year tenure as a dealer for a renown UK shipyard in Thailand, Craig possesses an in depth understanding of the luxury yacht market, evident in his successful track record in project managing yacht refits and contributions to marina design and installation projects. Max Marine Asia, operates from two strategic locations in Bangkok and Phuket, The Ocean Marina Office, conveniently located just 1.5 hours from Bangkok, offers an extensively renovated showroom with state of art meeting facilities. In addition, the Phuket office houses a fully equipped factory service center, ensuring swift and efficient support for valued clients throughout their yachting journey. As Pear Yachts extends its global footprint, the network of Pearl Yachts dealerships experiences rapid growth, ensuring that enthusiasts worldwide gain access to the brands luxury yachts. The newly forged dealer relationship between Pearl Yachts and Max Marine Asia is poised to precisely deliver this promise.

Riva at International Concurs de Elegance in St. Moritz

When elegance, style and tradition arrange to meet, it wouldn’t be the same without Riva and its iconic boats. The Sarnico-based brand is one of the partners of the keenly awaited 2024 edition of The I.C.E. St. Moritz - International Concours of Elegance, the renowned and exclusive automotive event held from February 23 to 24 on the magnificent frozen lake in the Swiss Alps.  Created as an automotive concours d’elegance, The I.C.E. St. Moritz has become a space for culture, lifestyle and tradition that every year attracts lovers of beauty from around the world. The backdrop for the over fifty competing vintage cars will be provided by The I.C.E. village, where visitors will be welcomed by some of the most iconic design and automotive brands, including Riva for the first time, which will be bringing the inimitable appeal of its fine boats and other products to St. Moritz. A Riva Lounge will also be set up in the village, where visitors can enjoy the unique atmosphere around the brand and discover a corner devoted to the Riva Boutique, with exclusive clothing, home accessories and collectors’ items designed by Riva. Riva Classiche will also have a presence at the event, where it will be showing an Ariston on the frozen lake, while visitors to St. Moritz town centre will have the chance to admire the new Riva El-Iseo – the brand’s first full-electric powerboat, which was given its world debut at Boot Düsseldorf.  At this event too, Riva will be joined by some outstanding partners: Ferretti Group automotive partner Range Rover, Lavazza with an exclusive coffee experience created especially for the event, combining premium quality coffee with the elegance of supremely sophisticated Italian artistry, and Flamigni.

Riva Celebrates Italian Excellence

Riva, a symbol of Italian boatbuilding know-how and excellence for over 180 years, has been chosen by the Italian Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, along with 100 other leading Italian companies, to take part in the exhibition “Identitalia The Iconic Italian Brands”. The event dedicated to brands that have left their mark on the history of Italy celebrates the 140th anniversary of the creation of the Italian Patent and Trademark Office.  The exhibition is held from February 13 to April 6, 2024, at the Ministry’s head office in Palazzo Piacentini, located at Via Veneto 33 in Rome. Designed as a journey through the most influential Made in Italy brands, the exhibition had its official opening on Tuesday February 13, 2024, with an event attended by Italian Minister of Business and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, Unioncamere President Andrea Prete and Historic Brand Association President Massimo Caputi.  Riva is telling the time-honoured story of its game-changing contribution to the art of Italian boatbuilding by exhibiting the scale model of one of its most iconic powerboats, the Aquarama, and the book ‘Riva Aquarama by Assouline (Special Edition)’ about the famous runabout, published to mark its 60th anniversary.

Riviera Return to Roche Harbor Rendezvous

A gleaming fleet of 42 luxury Riviera motor yachts and some 155 guests turned out for the annual Roche Harbor Rendezvous in the pristine Pacific waters of the San Juan Islands, US, hosted by Emerald Pacific Yachts. Even a dash of overcast weather couldn’t keep people’s spirits from shining brightly during the Hawaiian-themed weekend in June last year.  Recently joining the Riviera family were Curt and Robin Pryde, who said they loved the social event and also the chance to meet Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst and his family.  The Prydes acquired their 505 SUV, Amanti Mare,  last year and the summer of ’23 was their first full season aboard. “It’s great to meet the Riviera family and learn about what people have done on their boats. I really enjoyed hearing people’s stories about where they’ve travelled to and marinas they’ve stayed in – it’s been great travel advice and we’ve used it. Owning a Riviera is a really nice way to enter the boating world,” says Robin. “I enjoyed a delightful balance of meeting new people and getting to know this new Riviera family, but also the valuable information gathering and the series of educational seminars, including with the owner, Rodney,” says Robin.  Husband Curt agrees: “Rodney was really interested in what we owners are looking for and what support we’d like for a better and safer boating experience. Since then, our local dealer [Emerald Pacific Yachts] has implemented a new 24-hour help line with hired techs who are on call to address owner questions when needed. That’s a real positive in my mind because Riviera and their dealerships actually want to support their customers and make the after-service experience excellent,” says Curt. “Riviera and their dealerships care about long-term relationships; that comes through loud and clear.”  Cocktail hours, pickleball and classy and competitive pot luck dinners rounded out the weekend’s entertainment, all wonderfully organized by Emerald Pacific Yachts.  “It was ironic that it rained for the Hawaiian-themed weekend, but we had a lot of fun at the luau on Saturday night with hula dancing, great music and so many people got into it,” says Robin. “Plus, mimosas and donuts on a Saturday morning is always fun!”  Long-time Riviera owner Tim Nemeth’s three-year absence from the San Juan Island’s Rendezvous made his ’23 return so much sweeter. “When I got there, I realized just how much I’d missed it and how much we enjoy getting together with other Riviera owners,” says Tim. “It was our first time back after Covid restrictions and we’d missed the ’22 Rendezvous so it was wonderful to be back.”  Tim and his wife Michelle have been Riviera supporters for nearly 20 years and currently own a luxury 6000 Sport Yacht. As always, the relaxing time of socializing was punctuated with organized activities for the energetic. In addition to pickleball, golf and cornhole made their traditional appearance at the Rendezvous. “Michelle and I did get involved with the cornhole tournament … actually, we took first place. We ended up beating Rodney’s sons by one point. They were really good and competitive and we’re not regular players, so we just got really lucky, though we played as hard as we could.  “It was great to catch up with friends we know and meet new faces and the weekend was fun! It’s also beautiful the way the Rivieras are all lined up at the dock and you can walk by and see them all and say ‘hi’ to everyone. It’s a great bonding time.”  The 2024 Roche Harbor Riviera Rendezvous dates have been set for June 7-9 and, this year, Emerald Pacific Yachts said they were expecting the largest attendance and number of Rivieras. This will also be the first year a catered sit-down dinner will take place in the Roche Harbor Pavilion. Of course, all of the other fun events will take place plus a few new ones!

Sanlorenzo Partners With Axpo Energy Italia

Sanlorenzo has established three new photovoltaic plants at its production sites in Ameglia, La Spezia and Viareggio. In partnership with Axpo Energy Solutions Italia, the effort aims to reduce Sanlorenzo's carbon emissions by more than 600 tons per year.  In addition to the Group's existing capacity, the new plants supply a further 1.5MW of installed energy capacity between them. Sanlorenzo also stated that it plans to raise this figure to 3.1MW by the end of 2024.  With sustainability at the core of Sanlorenzo's growth strategy, this project represents a "significant step forward" for the Group, as explained by Ferruccio Rossi, general manager and president of the yard's superyacht division. "The transition to renewable energy underscores our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of production activities. By harnessing solar energy, we contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable energy supply," he said. "For Sanlorenzo, this is a strategic investment aligning with the company's social and environmental responsibility goals, demonstrating a long-term vision oriented towards sustainability."  Meanwhile, general manager of Axpo Energy Solutions Italia Marco Garbero expressed his delight to be helping Sanlorenzo leverage photovoltaic technology in the brand's products and processes. "As AESI, we aim to continue in this direction, promoting the adoption of renewable sources and energy efficiency as drivers for the development of the country's system," he said. "We believe that the collaboration with Sanlorenzo is a tangible manifestation of this vision, showcasing the potential of the green economy as an opportunity to generate unprecedented synergies between companies in different sectors."   The news follows the release of Sanlorenzo's 2023 financial results, in which it reported net revenues of €840.2 million and an order book totalling €1.04 billion.

Sunreef Continuous Growth

Sunreef Yachts has witnessed an exceptional growth over the past few years, cementing its position as a pioneer in the realm of responsible yachting. The company's innovative approach, coupled with its unwavering commitment to sustainability, has resonated deeply with clients worldwide, driving remarkable demand for Sunreef Eco catamarans.  In 2023, Sunreef Yachts experienced a remarkable 89% increase in the number of units delivered compared to 2021, with a significant portion coming from loyal customers. This surge in demand translates into a substantial 40% growth in revenue.  With two shipyards in Poland and an emerging facility in the UAE, the company has the prefect infrastructure for continuous growth. The company's Gdansk manufacturing hub covers 125.000 m²  and is equipped with build halls including in-house carpentry, upholstery, stainless-steel workshops, and one of Europe's largest computer numerical control (CNC) machines. The facility continues to evolve, with a high-tech paint shop added last year as well as upcoming investments including a 5.000 m² warehouse and production area in the coming months.  Developed on a 65,000 m²  land reserve, the new facility in Ras Al Khaimah incorporates the latest technologies in luxury yacht building and meets the highest standards of sustainability and energy efficiency. Sunreef Yachts' remarkable growth has not only fueled its industrial expansion but has also generated numerous employment opportunities. The company is actively recruiting in both Gdansk and the UAE. With a projected workforce increase of 15% in 2024 in Poland and double increase in Ras Al Khaimah, Sunreef Yachts is dedicated to fostering a team of skilled professionals.

Sunreef and Rosberg Racing Renewed Partnership

Sunreef Yachts is thrilled to announce its renewed partnership with Rosberg X Racing (RXR) for the 2024 Extreme E season. Building upon the success of last year's championship win, Sunreef Yachts will continue to support RXR's mission to push the boundaries of electric motorsport and sustainability.  ​The team is energized by the return of the dynamic duo Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson, who will pilot the RXR car in its quest to defend its championship title.  The 2024 season kicks off with a double-header event in Saudi Arabia this weekend (17-18 February). The Desert XPrix promises to be an electrifying start, with a new sporting format featuring increased competition, gender equality, and exciting changes to the points system.  Sunreef Yachts is particularly proud to support RXR's chosen legacy program for the Desert XPrix – Coral Protection. This initiative highlights the critical role of coral reefs in maintaining biodiversity, protecting coastlines, and sustaining communities. Sunreef Yachts is deeply invested in ocean conservation efforts and commends Extreme E's commitment to raising awareness about this vital issue.

Viking 2024 VIP

Another successful Viking Yachts and Valhalla Boatworks VIP Boat Show is in the books. Guests, dealers, vendors and media gathered at the Viking Yacht Service Center on February 2-3 for the 28th annual event. The finest sportfishing yachts and center consoles in the world were on display under sun-drenched south Florida skies. Sea trials were held, and the vendor village featured a record 60-plus preferred business partners.  The lineup consisted of Vikings from 46 to 90 feet and Valhallas from 33 to 55 feet. “This is truly a unique event – a wonderful two days where we can show you how we are building a better boat every day,” said Viking President and CEO Pat Healey. “Nothing in the industry approaches the product that we have here.”  

Viking at Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament

With more than 40 boats in the mix, the Viking and Valhalla fleet rose to the occasion at the Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament. Charles Brogdon’s Viking 50 Two Daze Off claimed 2nd Place Overall Release and 2nd Place Dead Bait Boat with seven sails. Captain Scott Fawcett put Victor Ferrato on four of those releases, which earned him Top Angler. Captain Ryan Higgins led his team on the Valhalla 55 to 3rd Place Overall Releases and 1st Place Live Bait Boat. The team released 10 sailfish.  Jeff Feuerman’s Viking 55 No Mercy was the 2nd Place Live Bait Boat and also weighed the Heaviest Meatfish, a 26.4-pound kingfish. Catch 23, a Viking 80, was the 3rd Place Live Bait Boat. The 3rd Place Meatfish was caught on Frank Mazza’s Viking 72 Tami Ann.

Viking Tenth Key West Challenge

Registration is open for the 10th annual Viking Key West Challenge. If you have a Viking or a Valhalla, and like to have a great time book your slip at your favourite Key West marina then sign up for the event via the Reel Time app. It kicks off on Wednesday, April 3, and runs through Sunday, April 7, with four fun-filled days that include fishing, food, family and friends. The roster is filling up so register your boat today. 

Wajer Approved Days in Heeg

Pre-loved, but brand new. Come and experience the pre-owned collection during the Wajer Approved Days at the facilities in Heeg. All of these pre-owned yachts are meticulously maintained and refitted at the Wajer yard, and their impeccable condition is guaranteed. A visit is a great way to see and compare different Wajer Approved models, from the Wajer 37 to the 55, and everything in between. Sea trials are offered on all models, with snacks and drinks on offer during the event.