-pic of the month- Hatteras Super Yacht Sidekick
Azimut Atlantis Under the Spotlight in Asia
During the recent Singapore Yacht Show, surprisingly buoyant sales have confirmed just how highly enthusiasts rate the Italian brand owned by Azimut|Benetti Group, and its new models. This exceptional achievement is in part the result of ten Azimut 43 Atlantis orders placed during the last Singapore Yacht Show, confirming the success of one of the top models in the Azimut collections, which was presented to international markets just a few months ago. These incredible market results follow on from another recent success, also featuring Azimut 43 Atlantis. Last April 7th, once again during the Singapore yacht show, the new model introduced by Azimut received the "Best Production Motor Yacht” up to 15 meters award on the occasion of the Asia Boating Awards organized by Blu Inc., publisher of the "Asia Pacific Boating" and "China Boating” magazines. “For us, this model’s commercial achievements and the award represent the successful conclusion of a highly satisfying Singapore Yacht show" said Enrico Chiaussa, Azimut Yachts Area Manager, APAC & MEA. “It is a recognition that reflects the real sentiment in a marketplace that appreciates our brand from every point of view. This success is due entirely to the experience we have gained working for over 30 years in this geographical area and to the efforts we have made to strengthen our network. Recently we started to set up a new dealership network based on local partnerships that are ! fully committed to and exclusively focused on Azimut Yachts, in order to give our customers the best possible service and yachting experience.” “We are extremely proud,” continued Mr. Choppy Tan CEO of Azimut Yachts Singapore, “that our owners have chosen Azimut so enthusiastically and placed such great confidence in us. It is the result of our expertise and an approach to development that fully exploits synergy between projects. Azimut Yachts has a market leading presence in Asia, built over many years of work to establish solid relations and convey confidence to our clients, who clearly repay us by choosing our yachts.”
Baglietto End Relationship
Baglietto spa and Mr Maurizio Cozzani, in his role of Sales Consultant for the company, announce the consensual termination of their contractual relationship. Baglietto SpA wishes to thank MrCozzani for his competence and commitment and wish him all the best for his personal and professional successes.Baglietto informs that a reorganization process is undergoing and Sales Direction will be soon appointed in order to push the brand positioning on international markets.
Ferretti Group New Shareholder Entry
F Investments Sa., holding controlled by the Ferrari family, chose to become an investor of Ferretti International Holding S.p.A. together with Weichai Group by acquiring the 13.2% of the Company. The transaction value has not been endorsed. Mr. Piero Ferrari has been invited by Weichai Group to join the Board of Directors of Ferretti Group and will also continue to preside over the Product Development Committee that is responsible to direct the research, development and implementation of new products through all the Group’s brands. The fundamentals that helped to reach the brilliant results of 2015 were also the achievement of this Committee’s activity led by Mr. Ferrari. “The year of 2015 has rewarded us with economic and financial results over the expectations and the Group has relaunched itself regaining leadership on several markets” - underlined Mr. Galassi. “This achievement would not have been possible without the introduction of innovative and cutting edge products that are the results of significant investments in research & development and of the design and construction capabilities of Ferretti Group. For this reason, I would like to thank Weichai Group that was keen to invest and wise to await the necessary time this sector, free from a speculative approach, requires.” “Today Ferretti Group celebrates another important event” - continued Mr. Galassi. “The entry through F Investments S.A. of a great Italian businessman in the share capital, a nautical expert that already has an active part in the Group’s growth: Mr. Piero Ferrari. He chose to invest in Ferretti Group and to share a challenging business plan with our main shareholder and the management. Mr. Ferrari brings his great entrepreneurial skills by offering his capabilities of style and attention to detail and his international experience not only in the automotive industry, but also to one of the excellences in the nautical sector in Italy.”
Ferretti Group 2015 Results Exceed Expectations
Ferretti Group presented its higher than expected results as of the 31st of December, 2015 today in Milan. Moreover, the Group also announced the entry of F Investments S.A., a holding controlled by the Ferrari family, into the share capital of Ferretti International Holding S.p.A. by the acquisition of 13.2% of the share capital. During the press conference Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group presented the results of the financial year 2015. Nonetheless the persisting difficult market conditions, the consolidated production value has been 410 million euros (+23% compared to 334 million euros of 2014 and also higher than the Forecast at the beginning of 2015 that was established at 403 million euros). The EBITDA turned positive for the first time in the past four years and equals 7 million euros. This result is significantly better than the expectations as the forecast EBITDA was -1 million euro. This achievement means that the loss has been halved compared to that of 2014. The EBIT and loss are respectively -13 and -29 million euros. The CEO has also announced that the first quarter of 2016 will report profits of around 5 million euros. The FY 2015 performance led to a positive review of the 2016 outlook, thus production value by the end of 2016 is expected to transcend 550 million euros, while the EBITDA is foreseen to reach 50 million euros and the Group to be profitable. It was possible to exceed the objectives set by the development plan for 2015 thanks to the implementation of the relaunch, development and growth strategies presented a year ago by the Group, following the capital increase of 80 million euros of the main shareholder, Weichai Group. From this amount, 50 million euros were allocated to the design and launch of 27 new models and to the expansion of sales activity towards both mature and emerging markets. Mr. Galassi confirmed the success of the 6 Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing and Custom Line models presented in 2015 that have been the absolute growth drivers of the year. Furthermore, he announced the arrival of 9 new yachts of the length between 12 and 37 meters that will be ready to debut this year.
Ferretti Group Cheers for Sinan Regatta
Ferretti Group is continuing its active presence in Mainland China market in the new calendar year, now back to Sanya again for the famous SiNan Regatta in its fourth edition since 2013. SiNan Regatta is the only professional sailing race event in China that has the nautical route to Xisha Islands and the furthest off-shore regatta event. With its standard, profession, influence, appeal, popularity and reputation being increasingly improved, SiNan Regatta is reputed to be a pretty sailing business card of both cities of Sanya and Sansha. SiNan Regatta is also the only regatta in China attended by boat owners themselves, gathering hundreds of sail boats and motor yachts owners and social elites who are fond of yachting from all over the country. In the racing course, a series of experience activities, banquets and parties related to the popularization of sailing culture and lifestyle are held in addition to the professional track race and long-distance rally, with a view to forging the most high-end social community for sailing elites. Being the exclusive motor yacht partner, Ferretti Group will bring two of its best-selling yachts: Ferretti Yachts 650 and Ferretti Yachts 690 Hard Top, to accommodate invited VIP guests on board to enjoy the magnificent sailing fleets from no distance, and experience Ferretti Yachts’ comforts, power and performance along the attractive Yalong Bay coast. SiNan Regatta is not only sailing racing, but a multi-platform entertainment lifestyle week for the boat owners and their friends. Apart from daily off-shore sail racing, guests can enjoy sail training, art show, cocktail, gala, Texas Hold’em Challenge and golf tournament every day from morning till mid-night. Ferretti Group sponsors the week’s Ferretti-SiNan Cup VIP Golf Tournament at Yalong Bay Golf Club and Hotel. Estimated 200 guests will join this 8-day tournament for the final top rankings. The champion will win an exclusive Riva motor yacht scale model.
Hattereas Super Yacht Sidekick
The owner of the 147-foot expedition yacht Dorothea III built the Hatteras 45 Express Post One so he and his guests could fish all the hot spots that the superyacht visits on her epic voyages..Designed for targeting game-fish offshore, the quick and nimble Post One has accompanied the superyacht as a tow-behind tender since last year. “We took delivery of Post One in the latter part of the summer,” said Dorothea III’s captain, John Crupi. “Since then, we have towed it nearly 5,000 miles and we’ve put a little over 600 hours on it. We’ve gone to the Bahamas, to Colombia, through the Panama Canal, and to Costa Rica. We’ve been fishing about a week a month in the best places you can imagine.” He gave an example: “On March 18th, we were fishing Isla Jicaron on Panama’s Pacific Coast. At around 4 pm we raised and hooked a 550-pound blue marlin on 30-pound main line. The fish was fought till the early evening hours and released at 7 pm.” On its last fishing trip off the northern coast of Panama, Post One released 33 sails over three days and brought home a nice tuna for fresh sashimi onboard Dorothea III.
Sunreef Wins Best Power Multi Hull at Asia Boating Awards
Held during the Singapore Yacht Show, the twelfth edition of the Asia Pacific Boating Awards was a great success for the Sunreef Yachts shipyard. At the evening gala, the remarkable Sunreef 70 Power Blue Berry launched in 2015 was awarded as the Best Motor Multihull in the World. Boasting generous, custom-designed living spaces along with a lofty open saloon, this 70 Power can host up to ten guests in the luxury of her interiors including a front-placed master suite with a panoramic view. With her aft hydraulic platform, spacious flybridge and a large cockpit opening onto the saloon, she proudly represents the Sunreef 70 Power as a model known to combine the best of comfort, performance and offering oceanic range.
Sunseeker to Star in BBC Two
After 10 months of filming, Sunseeker International is pleased to announce that the exclusive BBC Two documentary ‘Britain’s Biggest Superyachts: Chasing Perfection’ will be airing this Friday 15th April at 9pm. The programme sees the BBC film crew follow the build of Sunseeker International’s new 131 Yacht through to its launch. For the first time ever, the film crew filmed fascinating behind the scenes footage to capture the journey of the new 131 superyachts from concept to build at the manufacturing facility in Poole, and then through to final delivery. The 131 Yacht enables its owner to tailor every element of the interior design and layout to their personal preferences via Sunseeker’s unique ‘Bespoke’ service, which is highlighted in the documentary. As well as documenting the build in its Dorset shipyards, filming also took place during the boat shows in the latter half of 2015 and at the London Boat Show this year, with several people from Sunseeker’s world-class team appearing in the one hour program.
Viking 52 Years Ago
Fifty-two years ago today, brothers Bill and Bob Healey opened the doors to a small building with dirt floors that would eventually evolve into the world's leading manufacturer of semi-custom convertible sport-fishing yachts. Starting with wood, Viking built a fleet of 37-foot cruisers, which gained a reputation along the waterfront and served notice that this local South Jersey builder was in it for the long haul. The Healey brothers built the company with a captivating phrase to "Build a better boat every day" and the fleet soon expanded to include motor yachts to broaden its horizons in the growing marine marketplace. By the early 1970s Viking had made a sea change to fiberglass and in 1972 launched the 40 Sedan Fisherman with a unique engine mounting system featuring structural steel web frame I beams, well-suited for diesel installations. The Viking 40/41 would remain in production in various configurations for 16 years and over 600 were built during this amazing run. The 1980s was a significant decade for Viking with ten boats added to the product line from 35 to 50 feet in convertible and motor yacht models. Viking was on a roll and every competitor knew it. The 1990s started slowly. A federal luxury tax in effect from 1991 to 1993 caused the marine industry to run hard aground as buyers abandoned the market. Viking buckled down, took on Washington with protests and demonstrations with Bob Healey in the lead, while Bill Healey and a skeleton crew kept the doors open and worked on new designs. By the time the tax was repealed the buyers returned and Viking was ready with new models. Business picked up but the game changer was the 1997 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and the introduction of the 55 Convertible. This boat was the turning point for Viking with a host of custom boat features including increased bow flare, an unbroken sheer-line, frame-less salon windows, flush-mounted engine-room vents, a helm pod with single lever controls and a massive cockpit. It marked a new future for all Vikings that would follow as they would share many of these attributes. The roaring 2000s saw larger models like the 70 Convertible demonstrate that large convertibles were perfect tournament contenders and would lead their anglers to the Winner's Circle. At the 2014 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, a new flagship, the 92 Convertible premiered. In the same year Viking also returned to the motor yacht market with the launch of the 75 MY. In 2015, the Viking 80 launched to critical acclaim. As Viking enters into its 52nd year it continues to move forward and maintain the position as the world's leader in luxurious convertible sport-fishing yachts.