-pic of the month- Feadship Finds Mira
Back Cove and Sabre Changes in Sales Marketing Duties
The end of March brought a big change at Sabre and Back Cove: after almost 30 years, Bentley Collins will complete his retirement, and, while remaining on our Management Committee, will relinquish his day-to-day sales and marketing responsibilities to Lynn Beaudoin at Sabre Yachts and Jamie Blomquist at Back Cove Yachts and Jamie Governale.
Benetti Leads Italian Yachting Surge
Under the present Covid 19 restrictions, the nautical market has enjoyed a busy season, originating from the widespread desire for escape, freedom and safety, which can be enjoyed at sea. Benetti has seized this market moment with a wide range of new generation models to consolidate the boom in sales. This success results as much from the strong numbers in the composite megayacht division from 29 to 44 meters, as from the custom steel division, which has sold 15 yachts with a concentration in the 50-70 meter range. Particularly impressive are the successes of the Benetti Oasis 40M, a yacht in such demand that it was necessary to double the number of molds and that soon will be followed by a sistership a little bit smaller in size. Other standout models include the Benetti Motopanfilo 37M, which evokes of the lines of the iconic 1950s Benetti Gabbiano, as well as the Benetti B.Yond 37 meter, a 4-deck explorer under construction that will be the most eco-sustainable yacht available in this market segment. The Oasis line, which heralded a new concept of life on board, with a stern that can be completely opened to the sea and infinity pool, also serves as an example of the success of many of the custom steel yachts that will carry the Benetti stylistic signature, one for all the B.Now 50M. Giovanna Vitelli, Executive Vice President of Azimut Benetti Group, said: “We are deeply grateful for the diligent collaboration between the management, the workers and all the representatives of the supply chain, who have dependably supported us. I am proud that the Azimut Benetti Group represents through the tangible sign of its results an excellence, an outpost of that new Italian Renaissance that we all hope.” Marco Valle, CEO of the Group, added: “Now that we’ve triumphed over the challenging international markets, we must keep our attention focused and continue to pursue the equally demanding work at hand: production continuity in full respect of the health and safety of those who work with us, which has so far been successfully. To all those who work every day to make it possible, I send my heartfelt thanks”.
Feadship Finds Mira
The rich multi-generation-spanning history of Feadship underpins everything we do today as a world leader in high-tech superyacht building. While today’s Feadships are literally and figurately giants of the global fleet, the company also take good care to preserve its heritage whenever possible. Imagine then how much they enjoyed welcoming the 12-metre Mira to the Makkum yard in February, a Feadship with a story or two to tell. Mira is a so-called Express Cruiser, one of a series of 25 mini-Feadships built in the early 1950s as part of the successful brand launch onto the US market. The original build was for a Dutch owner who agreed to let his yacht be exhibited at the New York Motor Boat Show in 1952 as long as we built a new one for him. With her steel hull and mahogany superstructure, this ‘second’ Mira was given the build number 904 and launched in 1953. The boat was found last year on the Dutch equivalent of eBay by Sieger van Kampen, project leader at one of the Feadship training schools. Sieger is always on the lookout for early Feadships as they offer a fantastic way for students and staff alike to hone their refit skills on a yacht that will hold intrinsic brand value. As he looked at the images online the big question of course was whether she actually was a Feadship. Jumping in his car to visit the seller, Sieger found a stripped boat with parts spread all over the place, even in the hayloft. “The owner, who had been unaware that he potentially had a Feadship on his hands, allowed myself and a colleague to search his premises for clues,” remembers Sieger. “There were boxes everywhere, but the big breakthrough came when we found the build number plate 904. We then dived into the archives at Feadship with the help of in-house historian Huib de Vries. Eventually, we found photographs of the boat including the name of the owner and the magic number 904. It was so exciting to be able to confirm that we had tracked down another Feadship.” The students at the Feadship Makkum training school are now giving Mira a complete facelift, including her hull, superstructure, floors and technical aspects. We will share the results in due course but for now the moral of this tale is to keep an eye out when you come across classic boats… You never know where you might find a Feadship!
Feadship Yeti Footprint Break Through
Promising developments have been seen recently with a measurement tool designed to allow the entire superyacht industry to objectively assess the environmental credentials of existing yachts and new concepts. Initiated by Feadship’s Bram Jongepier, the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (YETI) has been taken to the next level over the past two years under the auspices of the Water Revolution. The ultimate goal of stimulating technologies which reduce energy demand and enhance system efficiency is now much closer.
Feadship Virtual Yacht World
The global travel restrictions have led to a surge in the number of potential owners wishing to see their ideas for a yacht in digital form. Feadship has therefore teamed up with SuperYacht Times, other top yards and leading designers to offer a virtual world solution to this very real-world challenge.
Ferretti Group Strong Growth in First Quarter
Ferretti Group ends the first quarter of 2021 reporting a powerful growth on both economic and industrial fronts. Compared with the same period in 2020, first quarter revenues rose 40%, from EUR 133 million to EUR 186 million. Geographically speaking, Europe and the Middle East confirmed their strategic importance for the Group, accounting for more than half of revenues. First quarter EBITDA stands at EUR 18 million - vs EUR 5.5 million in the same period the previous year - and new orders, as of today, total over EUR 300 million, a value that represents 56% of the entire 2020 order intake. This last figure in particular points to an extremely positive trend in 2021. From an industrial perspective, Ferretti Group reported a record number of launches: 56 yachts and superyachts launched in three months against 43 in 2020. Almost all the Group’s shipyards and main brands contributed to this record with iconic models in the world of international yachting like Riva 50 METRI - MY “Fifty”, the new Ferretti Yacht 1000 and Navetta 30 Custom Line. The first quarter of 2021 also saw the sale of the forty-eighth Wally full custom sailing superyacht, the first unit sold since the brand became part of Ferretti Group. Over 30 metres long, the yacht has a sail area of 630 square metres and is built entirely from carbon fibre. Wally 101 represents excellence in terms of naval architecture, performance and comfort, presenting itself as a new icon in the world of sailing yachts and confirming the company’s considerable contribution to advances in design and technological innovation in the field of sailing. “Record-breaking first-quarter EBITDA and equally extraordinary new order growth - including an extremely significant order for a large Wally sailing yacht -, tell the story of a Ferretti Group with the wind in its sails and everything points to a very positive 2021”, said Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi. “The launches are like the dates of a successful show, because this record number in just three months attests to the huge appreciation our boats enjoy and the strength of our production strategies. After excellent performance in 2019 and a basically stable 2020, we were expecting to grow, but this fantastic acceleration has beaten all our forecasts and gives everyone who works in Ferretti Group twice the satisfaction and energy”.
Formula Celebrates 45 Years with Porter Family
April 2021 Marks 45th Anniversary of Formula Ownership by Porters. Victor Porter purchased Thunderbird/Formula/Signa on April 20, 1976, from Fuqua Industries. Porter, Formula and Thunderbird offers an intriguing history and fascinating timeline of achievements!
Jarrett Bay Administers Nearly 400 Vaccines
Jarrett Bay Boatworks held a one-day clinic to deliver 395 COVID-19 vaccines for our team members and immediate family, along with other marine businesses in the Jarrett Bay Marine Park and Beaufort and Morehead City area. Twenty healthcare workers from Vidant Health arrived at the Marine Park the morning of Thursday, March 11, 2021, to administer the vaccines. Jarrett Bay Human Resources Director, Stacie Johnson took the helm of the opportunity after Vidant Health reached out to Jarrett Bay President Randy Ramsey. Working together with Eric Johnson of Vidant Health, Stacie was able to secure 400 vaccines – more than enough for Jarrett Bay’s employees and their immediate family members. With a surplus calculated, Stacie and other Jarrett Bay management team members contacted local businesses within the Marine Park and in the local area to offer their employees the vaccine as well.
Mimi Extends Dealer Network Further
The Gozzi Mimì network continues to grow thanks to the agreement with Navis Marine, a Croatian company which has been operating for some years in the sales, brokerage and consultancy sectors. The boats of the shipyard founded in 1975, which are fast gaining in popularity thanks to their combination of modernity and the flavour of Italian and Neapolitan-made products, have thus gone to join the fleets of the numerous Italian brands already imported by Navis Marine, such as Azimut Yachts, Benetti and Pirelli. This new partnership represents another step forward in Gozzi Mimì’s internationalisation strategy, which speeded up considerably in the early months of 2021, after a 2020 marked by strong growth and positive economic performance. Domenico Senese, director of the Campania-based shipyard, commented: “We are acquiring new dealers because we expect a further increase in sales, with the summer season approaching and the ongoing unusual world situation which is favouring the growth of the sector, linked to a demand for safe holidays away from crowded places”. Gordan Zadro, head of Navis Marine said he was satisfied and proud to add Mimì among the brands that his company represents.
Pearl Announces New Strap Line and Online Configurator
British shipyard Pearl Yachts is beginning a new chapter, building on the unique identity the brand has built over the past 23 years. The new strap line: Boutique Yacht Builder since 1998, is consolidating Pearl’s reputation for attention to detail and the individual customer care, which mass producers cannot match. With no plans to mass produce, the masterful match of Bill Dixon’s coveted exterior designs with living area and cabin detailing by the incomparable Kelly Hoppen MBE places Pearl Yachts as the rarest of the industry stars. Atelier yacht producers, such as Pearl, find themselves in the privileged position to offer innovative features ahead of the industry. The new Configurator allows online visitors to customise their own Pearl 62 as she takes shape before their very eyes. Interested parties can find this exciting tool on the Pearl 62, which offers a wide range of customisations such as: engines; colours; interiors; electronics and other details and upgrades. When the client is satisfied, the brochure for this unique, custom creation can be easily downloaded, with all the details and images to consider and share with friends & family. The range of Pearl Yachts currently features three award-winning Flybridge models from 62 to 95 feet: the new Pearl 62, launched just last year with an unprecedented fourth cabin and the choice of garage or crew cabin, the Pearl 80 and the Pearl 95. This streamlined selection is backed by another industry first: Pearl’s 5-year warrantee. Along with build quality, the total result is a brand image that stands among the leading players in the industry, with unparalleled resale value, and the very finest customer support.
Pearl Launches The Atelier Factory Video
The new video invites us into the oyster, the state-of-the-art production facility that houses the entire supply chain behind each Pearl. The narrator describes Pearl Yachts' unique strengths as an Atelier Shipyard, while a thorough montage takes us through the tooling, joinery, furniture, stainless steel, painting and finally the sea trialing.
Pearl Starts 2021 with Strong Orders and Deliveries
The first three months of 2021 have been ultra-busy for British luxury motoryacht builder Pearl Yachts. Baxter Marine, Pearl’s longest-serving dealer and the US dealer, Atlantic Yacht & Ship Co, have demonstrated the growing international demand for Pearl’s line-up. No fewer than four new-boat contracts have been signed since the new year: A Pearl 95, two Pearl 80s, and a Pearl 62. A similar number of brand-new boats have been handed over to their eager owners: Another Pearl 95 and 4 more Pearl 62s. The slowdowns in global supply chains and new safety restrictions are little match for the experienced Pearl team. Baxter Marine, Pearl Yachts’ longest-serving dealer, has just handed over the third Pearl 95 to her owner in Palma, Mallorca, and Pearl’s US dealer, Atlantic Yacht & Ship Co, has now completed the sale of another Pearl 95 to an American client. The latter boat will be based in Miami, Florida. The next-available Pearl 95 will be ready for delivery towards the end of this year. Two Pearl 80s – the seventh and ninth of this increasingly popular mid-size model – have been sold to clients intending to keep their boats in Palma, Mallorca, and Montenegro respectively. Again, these sales were handled by Baxter Marine and both handover in May. The eighth unit of Pearl 80 is already in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is available immediately and the 10th will be ready for delivery towards the end of this year. Moreover, the year-old Pearl 62 has proved a tremendous success since her world premiere launch at Düsseldorf 2020. The fourth and fifth units are being shipped imminently to France and the USA, the 6th and 7th have British owners and will hand over in the UK this summer and autumn, and the eighth will be exhibited at the Dusseldorf boat show in January 2022. “Despite the pandemic, Pearl Yachts has never been busier,” says Managing Director Iain Smallridge. “There are several reasons why we are experiencing record sales. First and foremost, our model range and designs are so strong, thanks to Bill Dixon’s immensely experience studio, which is responsible for all the exterior lines, naval architecture and space planning, and our stunning and award-winning Kelly Hoppen interiors. In addition, every Pearl model has several unique features, which makes them really stand out from the crowd. Pearl’s high build-quality and keen pricing means we make most owners shortlists and, last but by no means least, we now have an impressive dealer network in the Mediterranean and the USA that not only makes the brand more accessible, but also delivers exceptional after-sales service.”
Riviera Invests in Yacht Transporter
The care and efficiency of moving luxury motor yachts on site at Riviera’s 16.8-hectare Gold Coast boatbuilding facility has been enhanced with the commissioning of a new self-propelled transporter. The Marine Travelift TM100 has capacity to move with ease motor yachts of up to 100 tonnes, or 50 per cent more than the weight of Riviera’s flagship 72 Sports Motor Yacht. This is the latest high-technology enhancement for Riviera as the company prepares for the next phase of a $10 million expansion of the facility this year to meet growing demand. The 16-wheel loader is managed by a single operator to efficiently manoeuvre large motor yachts in Riviera’s model range across the company’s expansive boatbuilding site. In the past, Riviera’s team would move motor yachts using cradles that were specifically designed for each hull. “The new transporter enables our team to consolidate our workflow, creating greater efficiencies in the process of building luxury motor yachts,” says Riviera’s Supply, Planning and Production director Kyle Davison. “It provides a lot more manoeuvrability, enabling better access to existing and new facilities and, by employing this state-of-the-art technology, the team can take advantage of improved efficiencies and safety on site.” The first stage of Riviera’s expansion last year involved an enlargement of the final fitout building to accommodate larger yachts and the new transporter system. Operated through a remote panel, the Italian-made TM100 offers complete control to easily transport Riviera motor yachts, that can weigh as much as 68 metric tons, from one location to the next at each stage of the boatbuilding process. The open-ended design of the transporter allows the operator to position the device under a parked boat or around a cradle to lift it. This is done after the placement of pads on either side of the hull using hydraulic cylinders which safely stabilises the motor yacht once in position. “The commissioning of the new marine transporter is part of our ongoing investment in new technology to enhance our overall boatbuilding operations,” says Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst. “Plans are currently under way for the next phase of expanding our boatbuilding facilities on the Gold Coast, and this is an important step in this program as we continue to create bigger, more advanced and sophisticated luxury motor yachts.” Riviera builds over 100 luxury motor yachts a year from its facility on the Gold Coast, the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Riviera Expands Team Through Training Initiative
Australia’s largest builder of luxury motor yachts, Riviera, has expanded its recruitment program for 2021 through a new initiative with the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) that will employ 30 additional craftspeople for its boatbuilding team on the Gold Coast. In a first for the marine industry, the collaboration uses the combined resources of DESBT and the Federal Government’s Department of Education, Skills and Employment to help trainees fast-track their careers in boatbuilding. More than 200 potential marine craftspeople have expressed interest in participating in the Riviera-led program which is aimed at enhancing the company’s capabilities to train new professionals in the essential skills needed for building world-class luxury motor yachts. “This is an important step in ensuring that Riviera has access to the best possible talent to fill the opportunities we currently have available,” said Riviera’s Safety and Training Manager Adam Houlahan. “Through this collaboration we have been able to secure a shortlist of quality people with varied work experience, some of them mature-aged who can be trained in the skillsets that we require.” Riviera plans to immediately employ 30 new trade assistants from the program with these new craftspeople participating in a newly created practical training course at TAFE Queensland, which is administered by DESBT. “This program will allow trainees to develop the skills they need in a timely manner to take up various trade assistants’ roles at Riviera,” said Adam Chanter, the Maritime Senior Project Officer, a position co-funded by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. “The trainees will undertake a non-accredited training program that focuses on developing practical skills to meet the needs of both Riviera and the industry. “From a broader perspective, this collaboration is a model example of multiple government departments working together to achieve positive employment outcomes for all concerned.” The latest recruitment initiative coincides with Riviera’s expansion program to meet the largest forward orders for luxury motor yachts in the company’s 41-year history. “Our long-term commitment to training plays an integral role in our ability to create motor yachts that are admired globally for their innovative design, engineering and the most luxurious of interiors,” said Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst. “We are proud of our ongoing collaboration with DESBT and, in conjunction with our on-site training initiatives, Riviera is not only enhancing the skills excellence of our team, we are also creating the master craftspeople of the future for our industry.” Riviera is ready to commence the next stage of a $10 million expansion of the company’s Gold Coast boatbuilding facility. This follows the welcoming earlier this year of a record 41 new apprentices into Riviera’s award-winning training program to continue enhancing the skills of the company’s 600-strong team.
Riviera Escape to Moreton Island
R Marine Jones, representative for Australia’s largest luxury motor yacht builder Riviera, recently led a flotilla of 34 Riviera yachts on an extended long weekend of fun and adventure to the natural wonders of Moreton Island. With challenging access and a deluxe reputation, the Riviera motor yacht owners jumped at the chance to join the veteran R Marine Jones crew for their annual Kooringal Experience. At 6am on January 28, the fleet set off from the Gold Coast Broadwater, led by Randall and Melinda Jones with their son Jack at the helm. Tucked in the south-west tip of Moreton Island, Kooringal is a couple of hours from the Gold Coast and yet it may as well be another world away. Shifting sandbars fringe the tiny town and make a permanent channel marker system impossible. For those who dare navigate the half mile between the end of the Island’s buoyage system and safe anchorage, the rewards are plentiful: total serenity, abundant wildlife, a rustic beachside bar and freshly shucked oysters from the local farm. For their first Experience event, Bret and Leasa Lashmar joined the flotilla in Moreton Bay at Peel Island, having cruised south from the Sunshine Coast on their recently acquired Riviera 395 SUV, Protector. “Kooringal isn’t the easiest place to get into, which is part of its allure,” said Mr Lashmar. “The trip there with the team was great and we learned a lot including some of the better anchoring techniques.” By 10am, all 34 Riviera luxury motor yachts had entered the passage on high tide, guided by markers laid out by the R Marine Jones team. While the arrival of over 100 Riviera adventurers more than tripled Kooringal’s resident population (45 in the 2016 census), the sheltered anchorage offered plenty of space for everyone.
Viking Key West Challenge
Eight minutes after lines in was called, Rosalie Apostoleres released a sailfish on the Viking 50 Roenick. One minute later, Captain Casey Hunt reported a sail for her husband Nick. And team Roenick never relented, dominating the 7th Annual Viking Key West Challenge from start to finish. Roenick covered the leader board and took home both Top Boat and Top Angler (also Top Lady Angler, Top Sailfish Boat, 3rd Place Angler and 1st and 3rd Sailfish Angler), with Rosalie hanging 18 flags and Nick adding six over the two fishing days. In addition to their hardware, they also walked off with a Spot Zero mobile unit and Switlik Coastal Passage Raft. Game Changer, Robert Boyce’s Viking 80, had a strong Day 2 with 10 releases, sealing their 2nd Place spot in the Sailfish Release category with a total of 15 fish. Matthew Boyce claimed five of those sails and accepted the Top Junior Angler honours. Jack Sheehan and his team on the Viking 72 Manna Ray rounded out the sailfish category in 3rd Place with 11 sails. A 52.6-pound wahoo, caught by Chad Moss on Bob Moss’ Viking 72 Sandbob, took 1st in both the angler and boat categories. David Raisbeck’s Viking 92, Raiser’s Edge, was the Top Tuna Boat, and Bill Raisbeck took Top Tuna Angler with a 24-pounder recorded at the ASEA Weigh Station. The Viking Key West Challenge, presented by Christi Insurance and Spot Zero, saw records both on the leaderboard and with a 50-boat fleet which included four Valhalla center consoles. Keeping with the “More Than Just Fishing” theme, participants enjoyed a festive Captains’ Meeting cocktail party, Welcome Dinner under the stars, lay day barbecue pool party, kid’s dock tournament, bar crawl poker run (with no cheating!), al fresco awards dinner with a sunset view and – oh yeah – two days of awesome fishing fun. “I’ve never seen so many smiling faces and happy people,” said Viking President and CEO Patrick Healey.
Viking Advance in Marlin Madness
Viking 80 Krazy Salt’s…they’ve advanced in Marlin magazine’s Marlin Madness. The Salt’s gang is battling in the Florida bracket, while the Viking 60, Hubris, is seated in the East Coast Bracket. The 74 Draggin’ Up and Walk West, a Viking 55, are still holding strong in the Gulf Coast Bracket.
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