Giorgio Armani 1934 - 2025

Giorgio Armani the famous fashion designer and founder of the Armani luxury fashion house, left for the better World on four September at the age of 91, at his home and surrounded by his loved ones.  Giorgio Armani was recovering after an operation, which was kept secret till the very end.  Born in 1934 in Piacenza, Giorgio Armani was studying at the University of Milan for three years before completing a two-year stint at the Military Hospital in Verona. His first footing in the fashion world came from his role as a window dresser and sales clerk at Milan's famous La Rinascente.  From there, the young Armani freelanced for stylists and design houses of Nino Cerruti, Allegri, Bagutta, Hilton, and Montedoro.  The freelancing job will lead Giorgio to befriend Sergio Galeotti, an architectural draftsman that persuaded him to open a design office in Milan.  In 1975, Armani founded Giorgio Armani in Milan, followed by the Giorgio Armani Corporation in 1979. The company became swiftly one of the leading names in international fashion, operating under product lines such as Giorgio Armani Underwear and Swimwear, Giorgio Armani Accessories and Armani Beauty.  Giorgio Armani was an avid sailor, and has owned a 24 meter sail yacht, and two Codecasa super yachts.  The first was the fourth hull of the 50 meter semi custom series name m/y Mariu named for his mother, and the second what was his current yacht named Main, a fully custom 65 meter hull number C.115.  Giorgio Armani's Armani Casa also started a collaboration with Italian Sea Group and Admiral Yachts in 2020, as it designed the interior but also oversaw some exterior details of the 72 meter Project Metamorphosis which was launched this year and will be presented at this years 2025 Monaco Yacht Show.  The second hull of Admiral's S-Force 55m launched in 2023 m/y Silver Star I also featured interiors designed by Armani Casa.  Giorgio Armani has also sponsored since 2022 the Super Yacht Regatta, an event held for super sail yachts over 27 meters, and sailing catamarans over fifteen meters since 2008 in Porto Cervo, and patronized by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

Project: Maiora M30

In the wake of the extraordinary success of the Maiora 30, the shipyard will present a preview of its new project, the M|30, in Cannes, with the first unit due for delivery in summer 2026. The M|30 builds on the legacy and strengths of the Maiora 30 and enhances them further. With a length over thirty meters, the new Maiora M30 come with a two decks and a half layout, for an interior with five suites to accommodate up to twelve guests, with the owner's suite located on the main deck and the four guest suites on the lower deck. Like the entire M line, the M|30 has been designed to convey a sense of fluid dynamism, thanks to a skilful balance between sleek shapes and generous volumes: every curve suggests an intentional and never forced movement, in a harmonious interplay of surfaces that creates an almost coupé-like profile, elegant and with a distinct personality. This is Maiora's third project born from the collaboration between Quartostile studio and Acube Design, which has designed the interiors with an evolved, soft, and welcoming aesthetic language. Already protagonists of the success of the M|36 and the restyling of the 36 Exuma, the creative trio once again confirms its stylistic vision in a masterful proposal that is best in class. The exterior design of the Maiora M|30, by Quartostile, features a more slender superstructure towards the bow, lending elegance and dynamism, consistently echoing the lines introduced by the Maiora M|36. The large full-height windows and the use of glass on the bulwark eliminate visual barriers, creating continuity between inside and outside and an airy atmosphere. The enlarged and more functional stern beach area integrates perfectly with the main deck, providing a large 'alfresco-veranda' area, while the upper deck maintains and refines the popular WalkAround concept, with smooth, step-free passageways, as well as the SunDeck, redesigned to maximize conviviality and freedom on board. The exterior layout is completed by a signature light strip along the sides, which reinforces the family feeling with the M|36, and a bow garage for water toys or convertible into a pool and sunbathing area. The interiors designed by Acube Design, express an organic and sophisticated aesthetic with soft lines, natural materials, and rooms flooded with light thanks to large glass surfaces. On the main deck, the main saloon is designed for maximum flexibility, while the full-beam owner's suite stands out for its brightness, panoramic views, and refined details such as a large en-suite bathroom with windows, a generous walk-in closet, a beauty corner with an illuminated mirror, and a transverse desk that can be used as a breakfast table or home office. The extended upper deck offers additional customizable configurations and an independent pilot house, while the lower deck houses the four guest cabins and a crew area with five berths, with separate access and functional spaces. The design philosophy combines comfort, elegance, and functionality, creating welcoming and refined environments designed to be enjoyed at any time of the day.  The Maiora M30 is to be powered by standard twin MAN 2000hp, for top speeds up to 21 knots.

www.maiora.it

New Model: Prestige F4.3

Main deck re-invented this is in short the Prestige F4.3 which debuted at the 2025 Dusseldorf boat show.  Designed as all Prestige's by Garroni, the F4.3 is an evolution moslty based till the rub rail on the Prestige F420, with the layout becoming totally different and fresh departure to everything we have seen before on the main deck design.  The Prestige F4.3 re-invests the astern galley which looks to the cockpit, thanks to a full opening window, and eliminates the standard astern patio door, for two side door entrances to both port and starboard. The Prestige F4.3 also extends the flybridge to the beam, with this giving a larger L-shaped dinette to the F420.  In the lower deck the Prestige F4.3 is all near identical and similar to the F420 to large cabins, including a midships master stateroom.  The Prestige F4.3 is powered by twin Volvo 440hp for top speeds up to thirty knots and a cruise of 22 will give a range up to two hundred nautical miles. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 13.07 m (42.8ft)

Waterline Length - 11.4 m

Beam - 4.10 m

Draft - 1.19 m

Displacement - 11107 kg light, 15415 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 1170 l

Water Capacity - 330 l

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins, plus two convertible berths

Engines - 2 x Volvo D6 440hp

Propulsion - V-drive line shaft

Speed - thirty knots max, 22 cruise

Range - 200 nautical miles at cruise speed

Project - Garroni exterior, Valentina Militerno de Romedis interior

Certification - CE B

www.prestige-yachts.com

Classic Sanlorenzo Yacht Sinks in Spinut, Croatia

A classic not attended nineteen meter Sanlorenzo yacht titled m/y Seacret with Italian flag partly sank outside the small port of Spinut, Split, Croatia on the early 03:18 time of Wednesday third September.   According to the area harbour master, the yacht drifted its anchor due to the strong winds of the time and ended colliding with the breakwater of the Spinut harbour.  With the collision the yacht penetrated its hull and partly sank bow first.  Unfortunately the yacht has also been reported to have some pollution due to a minor fuel leak, and has been dam protected.  An order to remove the fuel and recover the yacht has been issued to the ownership by the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.

The yacht in this accident is a classic Sanlorenzo 19 designed by Della Rolle to a wooden construction and produced from 1981 to 1984.  The 19 was a replacement to the 18 model, and was replaced by the 57 which started the Sanlorenzo fiberglass era.

Cannes 2025 Boat Show Preview

Europe's fall boat shows start with the most important to the World, Europe and the Mediterranean sea exhibition, the Festival de la Plaisance of Cannes.  The 2025 Cannes boat show addition starts on Tuesday nine and ends Sunday fourteen September. Cannes is a unique venue located in one of the yachting meccas of the world, the Cote d'Azur offering the opportunity to preview new models by many respected European builders with yacht owners and buyers from countries around the world gathering in this show to see the latest models in the Mediterranean play ground of the "Old" Port and the large yacht area in Port Pierre Canto, for this reason the boat is referred to as the Yachting Festival, because it does represent a Festival of Boating. The 2025 Cannes boat show celebrates its 47th edition continuing a trend for a favourite place where glamour and luxury meet.  Last year numbers showed 55000 visitors, 705 boats in water, and 640 exhibitors from all round the globe. Cannes 2025 novelties are the following; AB Yachts 95, Absolute Navetta 62 and 70 Fly, Ad Astra 60, Aicon 50 Audace, Aquila 46 Yacht, Apreamare Gozzo 48 Cabin, Arcadia A80, Aventura 38MY, Azimut Grande 30M, Benetti Class 45M, Beneteau Gran Turismo 40 and Grand Trawler 63, BlueGame BGF45, Cantiere delle Marche One-Off 148.34, Cayman Yachts 560 Sedan, Columbus 42 Crossover, Cranchi A32, Delta Powerboats 72, Dhamma Blue, Evo Yachts R4+, Extra Yachts X90 Fast, Ferretti 800, Focus Yachts 3X, Forte 47 Gran Turismo, Gagliotta Lobster 53, Galeon 430 Explorer and 620 Fly, Invictus ST550 and TT550, Itama 54, Lancia Aprea 42, Marex 390, Novamarine BS200, Ocean King Doge 400, Omaya 50, Pardo P43, Prestige M7, Princess V65, Riva Aquariva Special and 58 Capri and 112 Dolcevita Super, Sanlorenzo SL110A and SX 120 and SD132, Sirena 60, Solaris Power 60 Coupe, VanDutch 75, Wama 26S and probably some more which are not yet announced.

www.cannesyachtingfestival.com

The Cannes boat show debuted in 1977, with the event starting as a rather intimate local exhibition, becoming more successful over the years, and since the noughties is one of the most important boat shows in the World.  From the nineties, Cannes started to grow, with some of the Italian yacht builders helping in shaping the event as they started to preview World first of some models at the show.  An important show in this respect was the seventeenth 1994 edition which was a turn around event, as Cannes expanded its spaces.  In the noughties the show also added Port Canto to its Vieux Port exhibition spaces.  Port Canto debuted first as an area for super yachts and then in 2018 it became the sailing yachts area.  The Cannes Boat Show was cancelled in the 2020 and 2021 COVID years.

1994 edition of the Cannes Yachting Festival

Engine: Seatek 900 CR 900hp

Seatek presents a new line of six cylinder engines with this 900 CR and its 900hp being the largest of the trio.  This new trio of Seatek engines are all based on the Common Rail technology of the high performance engine specialist, using the 10.3 litre block with a bore of 127 mm and a 135 mm stroke, as used from the legendary Plus series as available in 620 and 800hp and produced since 2001.  With 900hp, the Seatek 900 CR is also the most powerful engine in its six cylinder range, suited for a variety of used from military, recreational, but also racing use.  The Seatek 900 CR is compliant to CE 2013/53/UE rules.

www.seatek-spa.com

New Yacht Capsizes and Sinks After Launch in Eregli, Turkey

A new 24 meter yacht titled Dolce Vento rolled to its port side and sank about fifteen minutes after touching the water for the first time, near the Medyilmaz shipyard facilities, in Zonguldak, Eregli, Turkey at about 14:30 of Tuesday second September.  The owner of the yacht, his captain and two crew members were onboard at time of the rolling, though they made it out unscathed as they jumped in the sea.  The Turkish Coast Guard came to the scene to investigate the accident, with initial reports stating the yacht sank for a stabilization issues.  Social media and various news outlet jumped on this story, quoting a one million price tag on the yacht, which is very low even if made in Turkey, known to be price competitive to the Western competition. 

M/y Dolce Vento is the second and largest motor yacht from Medyilmaz, a 24 meter hull number NB65 fully build of steel.  Medyilmaz was founded in 1974, starting as a repair shop to fishing vessels, with the yard expanding in 1985 and then again in 2004.  Besides the three yachts Medyilmaz has build Chemical and Container Ships, Tug, Ferries and Cruise Ships, Fishing Boats, Pilot and Police Boats, Mooring Boats, and Catamaran.

New Model: Viking 50 Convertible

Viking has launched the first unit of its new third generation 50 Convertible.  To be presented in the fall 2025 Fort Lauderdale boat show this new 50 Convertible represents the first of three other models using the same hull platform which will be presented in the coming months.  The new Viking 50 Convertible comes as a replacement to the 48 Convertible after an eight year production run from 2016 and 55 units sold, what is an evolution of the same hull, identical beam but extended in length.  Viking used this length extension for more accommodation in the lower deck, with the 50 Convertible offering an owners stateroom to port side at midships, VIP forward which can be ordered in a three berth; single and double configuration, and third bunk guest cabin cabin to starboard.  A second guest head with double door; guests and forward cabin completes the lower deck layout.  The main deck is classic sportfish yacht configuration; L-shaped lounge on entry, with galley and dinette forward all in a  flush floor no step comfort.  The Viking 50 Convertible is powered twin Man 1000hp as standard and or twin 1200hp engines.  Speed numbers are not yet announced.   

Technical Data:

LOA - 15.75 m (51.8ft), 17 m with bow pulpit

Waterline Length - 13.6 m

Beam - 5.21 m

Draft - 1.47 m

Displacement - 30,224 kg loaded

Fuel Capacity - 3785 l

Water Capacity - 681 l

Accommodation - six, or seven berths in three cabins

Engines - 2 x MAN V8-CRM 1000hp, V8-CRM 1200hp

Propulsion - line shaft with class S propellers

Construction - resin infused with isophtalic gel coat and Vinylester resins, end-grain balsa and Airex Cores

Hull Shape - modified medium Vee with 11.7 degrees deadrise aft

www.vikingyachts.com

7 Injured In Power Catamaran Ferry Collision On East River, New York

 

Seven persons were injured as a power catamaran of twelve meters in length titled m/y Let's Live II collided into a tourist party ferry m/v Cabana on the East River, near the FDR Drive, between 23rd and 25th streets, New York at about 14:00 of Sunday 31st August.  The smaller power catamaran fled the scene after the collision, as video footage of the accident show the vessel with no one at the helm on impact, as the skipper is seen rushing to pilot the boat after the impact.  The smaller vessel was later retraced by the US Coast Guard, as New York Police Department is investigating the collision.  Five persons were taken to hospital for minor injuries; three from the bigger vessel and two from the smaller catamaran.  The persons on the bigger Cabana which was carrying three hundred passengers got injured from shattered glass on impact, with the smaller pleasure boat sustaining damage to the port side hull.

The power catamaran in the collision is a Fountaine Pajot MY4.S as designed by Andreani with naval architecture by Daniel Andrieu and produced since 2021.  The MY4.S was a replacement to the Fountaine Pajot MY37.

Original and Successful BlueGame

It was a revolution from the start, when BlueGame unknowingly arrived in 2001 with its sixteen meter Luja prototype, a center console walk-around custom made sport yacht which was way ahead into the future, for concept and its large size.  Its maker Luca Santella will take Luja to the Monaco yacht show a year later to generate interest as a chase yacht for super yachts, catching the eye of Italian engineer Carlo Bonomi, founder of the Seatek high performance diesels.  This sparks Blue Game as it officially debuts in 2005 with the fourteen meter BG47.  Four years later to this in 2009 Blue Game was picked by Sanlorenzo.  

Till 2018 BlueGame was half alive; with little promotion and build to order models.  In 2019 though it gets interesting when the BGX70 arrives for its next revolution, a new style of yacht as invented by BlueGame.  From unique looking center consoles sport cruisers and yachts, the BGX shows a new kind of yacht, tug looking, it will bring some of the Sanlorenzo SX crossover series which Luca Santella concept directed, and add new ideas into it, for first a midships lower deck located saloon, which can be also specified as a stateroom, this also serving the large free aft deck which becomes a large beach club bathing platform.  The BGX is so a success and becomes a two model line with the smaller BGX60, that BlueGame will rewire some of the features into the standard BG line, with the exception of the small BG42.  BlueGame act two has arrived and since then it has stormed the market.  

In recent times visiting some of the famous central Mediterranean marina's in Corsica, Sardinia, Italy, and South of France BlueGame dominated them in the sixteen to twenty meters sporty side.  There is something unique about BlueGame second act of models, and the interesting part is that six years down the line no one has exactly dared to copy them.  Some copy of the BlueGame ideas, have been made like extending the length of the stern area. Down-under Maritimo have updated its models in this way for example, and the Dutch made and designed Van der Valk Beach Club series did bring similar BlueGame concept's in a different recipe in 2019, the year the BGX70 actually arrived.  BlueGame closest rival actually in concept and design arrived in 2023 from Italian builder MandaYachts who debuted with two models on that year.

If that was not enough, BlueGame re-challenges itself and the market with the fourteen meter fast power catamaran BGF45 arriving this fall, again a project which lays the foundation for un-edited boating.  As a proverb says there is no two without a three, with BlueGame again re-writing new rules of forward thinking pleasure boating and yachting in this decade.