-pic of the month- Riviera Exports
Azimut Thinking Ahead
Azimut Yachts chose the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show for the debut in the United States of the new 53, the model awarded "Motorboat of the Year 2010" by a selected team of journalists and the UK magazine Motorboat & Yachting. Azimut will also present the 72S in Fort Lauderdale and the 38 is to be launched at the New York Boat Show in January. Azimut also presents Grande and Magellano: "Made in Italy" enjoys a rebirth, to the USA. The novelty of the season that has just started goes further than the debut of these three new models. Two further collections are ready to cross over the ocean to offer the best of contemporary Italian style to American boat owners. From this year, Azimut Yachts offers its clients Azimut Grande: a range of yachts above 30 metres and a portfolio of services dedicated to owners of megayachts. Innovative services that also include the availability of the Personal Design Team, a unique group of specialists that can reach the client anywhere in the World, to discuss the design, collect the individual wishes and quickly present the proposal that will translate dreams into reality. Furthermore, American boat owners will have the possibility of discovering the Magellano Collection, that is enriched this year with the new 50, presented at the worldwide preview at the International Boat Show of Genova in October. The Azimut range is boosted by a new category with the Magellano Collection and offers products that are market-leading in terms of their minimum environmental impact. The interest shown in the new Azimut Magellano 50 has gone further than the wildest forecasts, with significant commercial success: after only two weeks from its launch, the Magellano 50 was sold out for the whole 2010/2011 season. However, Azimut Yachts can confirm that the boat will be present in the States in the autumn of 2011 at the most important American shows. Azimut also presents three new dealers in the USA: growing its network and improving the service. The official distribution network of Azimut Yachts is increasing. New dealership contracts have been signed to cover Central America. The new dealers are Ever Marine in Panama, IYG in Colombia and the Landon Marine Group in Costa Rica.
Azimut-Benetti Group Extend CMD Agreement
CMD Marine has extended its long-term supply agreement with Italy's Azimut-Benetti Group (ABG) for another three years. The company will continue to provide the Italian motoryacht producer with its full line marine propulsion systems, from sterndrive products to the QSM11-litre 715hp engine, until 2013. The agreement affects production at Azimut's Avigliana yard in Italy, Orhangazi-Bursa in Turkey (where the Azimut Marine joint venture is located) and Atlantis Gropparello in Italy.
Bavaria Nominated European Powerboat of the Year
Only just presented to the world at the ´interboot´ boat show in Friedrichshafen, the new Bavaria Sport 34 has now been nominated to European Powerboat of the Year. The latest model of the innovative Bavaria Sport Series, which was designed in close cooperation with BMW Group DesignworksUSA, a subsidiary of the BMW Group, impresses with its sportiness, dynamic and well-formed proportions. The Sport 34 is nominated in the category motor boats up to 40 feet maximum amongst four other motorboats. Thanks to the well thought-through design, Bavaria concepted a 34-feet yacht that offers much more space for its actual size. Keen onlookers can take place next to the driver on an extra spare seat, whilst sun worshipers relax on the wellness sun lounger behind the windscreen. The treasured award is also known as the ´Oscar of the boating industry´ and is handed out each year at the boat show ´boot´ in Düsseldorf, Germany. Bavaria could already take home two prizes in the past two year: the Sport HT 30 won in 2009; in 2010 the Deep Blue 46 was awarded Powerboat of the Year. The jury is a team compiled of editors and testers, choosing the 20 most interesting models for four categories from all newly released boats. Hereby the team puts special emphasis on safety standards, quality, handling and driving characteristics, space layout as well as the value to price ratio. The list of all nominated boats is a good indication of the trends and innovations on the market today.
Beneteau Plans Brazilian Plant
France's Bénéteau Group, the world's biggest sailboat producer and a leading European producer of motorboats, has announced plans to establish a production facility in Brazil.Bénéteau says it intends to establish a joint venture with businessman Marcos Soares in order to start operations in Brazil. The first plant is planned for installation at Marina Verolme in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. The boatbuilder made the announcement at Sao Paulo Boat Show, which closed this week. The move comes as part of a wave of European interest in Brazil's marine market.
Bertram New Public Relations Consultant
Acclaimed marine industry photographer Forest Johnson was contracted to facilitate public relations activities for Bertram Yacht. In the late 1970s and early '80s, Johnson was the advertising and sales promotions manager, responsible for festivities during the 20th and 25th anniversary celebrations. January marks the 50th anniversary of Bertram and the marketing team chose to bring Johnson back. He is a veteran with more than 1,500 magazine covers under his belt and his images continue to appear worldwide, earning numerous awards. Johnson is located in Fort Lauderdale and his geographical proximity to Bertram and vast knowledge of the product, sportfishing and the marine industry make him the best choice, the company said. Johnson began his career at Bertram as regional sales manager for the northeast United States. Within two years he was the advertising manager. He resigned in 1986 to pursue a career in marine photography. Johnson will continue to provide photography for clients in the marine industry.
Broom Building Boats Again
Broom Boats Ltd, Britain's longest established boat-building firm, is to start building its power cruisers again after a major re-organization. It is only three months after it changed hands under difficult financial circumstances. The news, which should reassure many boat owners and those in the Norfolk Broads boat construction business, follows actions by new investors who took the company over in July and have since carried out a major financial re-organization. Boat-builder C.J.Broom Ltd., the subsidiary company of 112-year-old Broom Boats Ltd., of Brundall, Norfolk, went into voluntary liquidation two months ago with major debts and redundancies. Tuesday October 19th, 2010 investor Mark Garner, now managing director, said that a total business review, re-organization and a new dealer network has been completed and this has provided Broom with sales worth 1.5- 2.5 million, sufficient to re-employ some of our past talented boat-building craftsmen. The new sales are for up to seven new cruisers being built in the next 12 months and work has already started. The Broom marina and boat service and repair business which always operated under the Broom Boats Ltd banner did not lose money in its own right and is largely un-affected. Mr Garner also announced a new major investor and director to aid development. He is entrepreneur Tony Chancellor of Norfolk. In future, prospective owners will buy only from dealers, not direct from Broom. The new dealer network includes two new firms. One is Norfolk Yacht Agency, a sales organization which moves around 300 new and used boats a year and which has already brought in an order worth more than 650,000 - for a Broom 450, twin engines luxury cruiser capable of 30 knots. Broom has also appointed a new Thames region dealer, Thames Boat Sales of Bray, run by Dominic Smulders. He and the other existing dealers, in Ireland, Holland and Germany, also Newark, have confirmed or have pending, subject to finance, sales worth up to a further 2 million which should keep the reduced building force busy for a year. A new Broom 395 is already in build at the yard and a 450 will start within the next few days.
Ferretti Group Open Brazil Showroom
Italy's Ferretti Group recently inaugurated its new Toys and Tools showroom in São Paulo, Brazil. Located in the Cidade Jardim shopping centre, the 1,000m2 showroom follows the creation of Ferretti Group Brasil in April this year. The new company was set up by Ferretti and Brazilian boatbuilder Spirit to provide sales and aftersales service on the Brazilian market. As a Ferretti Group licensee, Spirit now plans to open a 32,000m2 production facility in São Paulo by the end of 2010. At full capacity, the plant will be able to produce up to 130 yachts of up to 24m (80ft) per year.
Ferretti Yachts Further Acknowledgement in China
Ferretti Yachts, historical brand of the Ferretti Group, producing flybridge motoryachts measuring 15 to 27 metres, continues to expand in China, which has been further confirmed by the many top, high visibility acknowledgements of international importance it has received: the Robb Report Best of the Best Award and the Hurun Report Best of Italian Luxury. Robb Report China, a prestigious magazine devoted to the world of excellence, recently presented Ferretti Yachts’ new 750 with the “Best Of the Best Award”. This award follows the “Asian Marine & Boating Awards” that awarded Ferretti Yachts in May on occasion of the China International Boat Show 2010. During the awards ceremony, held in Beijing at an event held specially for the most representative international brands, Ferretti 750 won the award in the “best mid-size yachts” category. In addition, in Shanghai Ferretti Yachts was awarded by the important Best of Italian Luxury Award assigned to the best expressions of Made in Italy: Ferretti Yachts is the only marine industry brand that received this recognition. The event was organized by Hurun Report magazine and sponsored by the Consulate General of Italy and the Institute for Foreign Trade in Shanghai.
Heesen Sign Sixth Contract in 2010
Heesen Yachts is proud to announce the signing of its sixth new-build contract in 2010. Following the sale of two 47-Metre full-displacement yachts, a 37-Metre semi-displacement yacht, and two all aluminum fully customized builds, one of 50-metres and the other of 35-metres. The sale of this 65-Metre fast displacement yacht represents the cherry on the cake for Heesen’s sales department. Following the positive results of tank tests completed at the Wolfson Unit in April 2010, Heesen Yachts announced the revolutionary 65-Metre concept based on the Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF) during the Monaco Yacht Show in September. The FDHF is the result of design studies and tank tests carried out over 20 years by the highly respected Dutch Naval Architects, Van Oossanen and Associates. At the end of the presentation Fabio Ermetto announced the signing of the contract for this revolutionary yacht, which will be delivered to her owners in June 2013. The construction of the 65-Metre Fast Displacement will start in mid-December 2010 at the Heesen shipyard in Oss, the Netherlands. While the aluminum hull will be manufactured in shed number six, the yacht will be fitted out in the dry dock in shed number five, which will be lengthened by about twelve meters to accommodate the 65-Metre yacht.
Intermarine Ends Azimut Agreement
Intermarine shipyard in Brazil, ends the past 12 years agreement with Azimut Yachts building their models in Brazil by license sold exclusively in the South American country. Due to the market needs, where the weather is pleasant during the entire year, the yachts built by Intermarine were different from the Italians, with longer cockpits and swim platforms, more powerful engines and generators, diverse interior layout, and different decoration, even though the exterior looked like an Azimut model. Intermarine also kept building a range of high performance boats of its own during the period of the partnership with the Italian group. In 2009 Intermarine and Azimut Yachts discussed the possible acquisition of Intermarine, after its owner´s death at the beginning of the year. The negotiation did not work out and each company decided to continue with its own strategy. At this moment we are preparing to discontinue all the models built under Azimut´s license, whose contract is valid until 07/31/2011, but Intermarine has declared it will conclude the production months before the contract is expired. Now managed by an experienced board of directors, Intermarine decided to build a totally new product range of its own, projected by renowned design studios: BMW Group DesignworksUSA, Luiz de Basto Designs and Fernando de Almeida Yacht Design. The task given to the talented design studios is to create Intermarine´s new design identity with focus on innovation, premium quality and performance. At the São Paulo Boat Show last week Intermarine presented as pre-launch four new models that, among others, will be on the water on the next year: 55 designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, 60 designed by Intermarine in collaboration with Fernando de Almeida Yacht Design, 75, and 85 both designed by Luiz de Basto Designs. Three other new models will be launched in 2011 and more will come in 2012. Even though projected by different design studios, the new models share a family feeling. When the new models the range will be complete and Intermarine´s new design identity will be strong and unique. Exportation is also included on Intermarine´s strategy for the future. Brazil is one of the most important markets for the nautical industry at the moment and is the shipyard focus but others markets are also part of Intermarine´s target.
Maritimo Appoints New CFO
Maritimo has appointed Garth Corbitt as Chief Financial Officer, taking the reins from Richard Hardie who retires in early November. Mr Corbitt has strong experience in the manufacturing sector having worked with the Thorn EMI lighting division and BTR Nylex where he and a business partner completed a management buyout of the Ontera Modular Carpet division before selling the business to Cavalier Bremworth in 2002. He has a particular interest in merger and acquisition activity and, after he moved to south-east Queensland in 2002, was involved with Neumann Petroleum's acquisition of Matildas Fuel Supplies.
Maritimo Online Tour
Now you can get a close-up look of every Maritimo in the fleet anytime you’re in front of a computer. Maritimo presents a new 360° virtual tours which give you a box office view of the things that make its cruisers and yachts. However Maritimo notes that nothing compares to stepping on board the real thing. So when you’ve decided which model is for you, visit your Maritimo dealer.
Maritimo Sales Success
Maritimo is gearing up for the US boat show season following success through Europe over the past two months. The company's Manager of Europe Sales, Steve Boerema, said he was delighted with the results over three recent shows, culminating in the Genoa International Boat Show which closed on Sunday. The recent show season has been Mr Boerema's introduction to the Maritimo team. Maritimo will have a strong four-boat display at the first major US show at Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Maritimo Calls Sydney Boaters Cruise for a Cure
Sydney boaters are needed for a great cause, to help put a smile on the faces of children battling cancer and their parents. Luxury boat dealer SBM Maritimo Sydney has joined forces with the Cure Our Kids Foundation to organise its Cruise For A Cure on Sunday, February 27 next year. We are calling on everyone with a boat over about 30 feet to help give these young people a great experience said Maritimo Dealer Principal Steve Batton. Mr Batton said the idea is to allow the children to decide what they want to do for the day. Mr Batton said the Cruise would also aim to raise funds for the Foundation by offering boat sponsorships. Boat owners and potential sponsors can contact SBM Maritimo Sydney Cruise.
Moonen Breakfast in Fort Lauderdale
Due to the success of the Brokers Breakfast in Cannes Moonen follows this at the Fort Lauderdale show in the Bahia Mar Face Dock 18 location. Here will also be able to enjoy a tour of the largest Moonen to date, 124 Northlander which will be fresh from her first Atlantic crossing. At the Fort Lauderdale breakfast we'll talk in an informal atmosphere about the growing complexity of our business and the need to cooperate and share information. A delicious American breakfast will be served while we give a short presentation of the latest news from Moonen. This will include the latest details on a brand-new Moonen 97 that is due for launch soon.
Nordic Tugs Restart Production
Nordic Tugs said that it will restart production to fill orders for spring deliveries. The builder of small expedition boats announced the shutdown of its facility on September 1, 2010. But the company said in a statement that its dealers have seen a great deal of interest in new boats during the autumn boat shows. The current plan by management is to restart production to provide products for spring deliveries said the statement. The builder, based in Burlington, Washington, has six US dealers and three international dealers.
Princess Rise in Top Track 250 Companies
Luxury motor yacht builder Princess Yachts have moved up the ranking in the Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 league table. Included for the second year running, Princess Yachts have risen from 174 to 137 in the prestigious league table, which lists the highest achieving British mid-market private companies. The Table is compiled relating to sales turnover as reported in latest published accounts, and the 2010 result was published as a supplement within the Sunday Times Business section on Sunday 17th October. This improved position for Princess reflects a year of growth for the Plymouth-based brand which has enabled continued investment into its development plans. Princess Yachts are expanding their portfolio into the 100 feet plus territory with the launch of their 32M long range cruising yacht, to be unveiled at the 2011 London Boat Show. This is to be followed in 2012 by the Princess 40M, a 130 foot tri-deck yacht and both new models are being built to their owner’s personal specifications at the company’s new 15 acre South Yard site, a vast facility which the subject of a £45million phased investment programme.
Princess Expand Into UAE
Princess Yachts International is delighted to announce that Chehab Marine Ltd, the sole distributor of Princess yachts in the Lebanon, has recently expanded their distribution to cover Dubai and the UAE. Operating under the trading names of Princess Yachts UAE and Princess Yachts Middle East, Mohammad Chehab and his team have established a network of sales and aftersales offices to represent Princess across the region in Beirut, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait and have now opened a new Dubai office from which they will cover the UAE. This new Dubai office opening is in addition to the Princess Yachts Middle East offices in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon and further strengthens the sales and aftersales support for the Princess brand across the Middle East
Riviera Exports across the Globe
Riviera, Australia’s most awarded pleasure boat builder has just completed, wrapped and shipped three of its newest 5000 Sport Yachts across the globe. All three will be a first for the Americas, Turkish and Croatian markets. Riviera dealers Navtika Centar Nava in Croatia and IVI Yacht Sales in Istanbul, Turkey sold both Sport Yachts sight unseen to the new owners who will no doubt be cruising the Mediterranean during the summer months, while the third 5000 Sport Yacht has been shipped to Florida where it will be on display at the annual Fort Lauderdale Boat Show which starts on October 28. Riviera’s dealer relationship manager Curt Goldring said the 5000 Sport Yacht was a favourite among European owners for its classic styling, one level living, generous three cabin, two bathroom accommodation and exhilarating performance.
Riviera Qld Fraser Island Experience
A fleet of 21 Rivieras ranging from early model Flybridges through to the latest model 5800 Sport Yacht embarked on a 350 nautical mile round journey from the Gold Coast to Fraser Island earlier this month for R Marine Queensland’s annual Great Sandy Strait experience. R Marine Queensland dealer principal Randall Jones said every year they chose a marine theme to give them safe travel and this year it was the Starfish. Mike and Jan Bolton on board their 40 foot Open Flybridge, Relajar, which means relax in Spanish, were among the fleet of 21 Rivieras. This was the maiden ocean voyage for the Brisbane couple who purchased their Riviera nine months ago. Mike said highlights of the five-day trip included the beach party where Riviera owners and their families enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres near Kingfisher Bay Resort, cruising into Tin Can Bay, the parties on board and the Seafood Festival. Although this was not the first time Mike and Jan had been to Fraser Island, it was the first time by boat. Mike said it was a totally different experience with views of the island rather than the bush and ocean. On the journey north, the fleet moored at Mooloolaba in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for the first night where the crew went ashore to enjoy dinner at the Hogs Breath Café before a dawn start the next day.
Riviera Continues US Dealer Expansion
Riviera is continuing to expand its Americas dealer network with the appointment of Yachting Experts International Brokers in Miami Florida, making this Riviera’s third new Americas dealer appointment in the past four weeks. Representing Riviera from the Broward/Dade county line south to Key West and Columbia, Yachting Experts International Brokers has 25 years combined maritime experience. Dealer Principal Frank De Varona brings extensive marine knowledge and experience to the Riviera brand. His interest in boating began as a child in Puerto Rico and he later became a Dive Master for the Search and Rescue Team attaining a 100-ton Masters license. His wife, Betty, was born and raised in Miami and has a background in advertising sales. Together they form a unique team offering professional sales and service of new and pre-owned vessels. Riviera Yachts USA Inc Director Chris McCafferty said Yachting Experts International Brokers had extensive experience over 25 years in large power boats as well as motor yachts and sport fish boats.
San Lorenzo Wins La Belle Classe Award
Massimo Perotti, chairman of Italian superyacht builder Sanlorenzo Spa, has won the 'La Belle Classe' award for environmentally friendly practices at the company's Ameglia yard. The award was presented by Bernard d'Alessandri, secretary general of the Monaco Yacht Club, at last month's Monaco Yacht Show. Built in the Montemarcello Reserve near the Magra River, Sanlorenzo's Stefano Boeri-designed complex in Ameglia has attained ISO 14001 certification and will have plant fibre walls, phyto-filters and photovoltaic panels among other eco-friendly features. The 'La Belle Classe' award was established by the Monaco Yacht Club at the instigation of club president H.S.H. Prince Albert II. Its aim is to promote technological innovation in the ongoing quest to improve boats; to safeguard the environment and the sea by acting responsibly; and to have respect for etiquette.
Sunseeker Says Peters and May are Transport Experts
The official magazine of Sunseeker, recently distributed at the prestigious Boat Show in Southampton, England recognized marine journalist, Julian Gollogly, noted the trusted relationship that has developed between Sunseeker, the leading motor yacht builder and international boat shipping leader, Peters & May. The two companies have worked together for over a decade and now, as Sunseeker's Official Worldwide Logistics Provider, Peters and May ships the majority of Sunseeker's new boats from its manufacturing center in Dorset, on England's South Coast, to ports from Hong Kong to Miami and from Dubai to Australia. Since 2008, as its Approved Freight Forwarder, Sunseeker credits Peters and May as a company that "Knows no Bounds" despite the challenges created by Sunseeker's growing number of yachts, and their growing proportions, including the newest 40 meter (130') yacht seen at Southampton. Peters and May ships approximately 300 new Sunseeker yachts annually of all sizes, to all parts of the world. Peters and May's in-house professionals efficiently handle "minutae" notes Gollogly, from customs clearance and specialist shipping documentation, customs, insurance and legalities, providing dedicated boat loadmasters, surveyors and equipment including shipping cradles. While Hong Kong and the Mediterranean are considered regular service areas, less frequent routes are planned individually with painstaking attention to detail to provide the best service at the best price. Planning particular sailing dates, surveys, and customized shipping covers, arranging delivery skippers and personnel en route and at the destination, ensuring smooth operations at both export and import, as well as providing proper loading and unloading are all a part of Peters and May's services. In addition to shipping its yachts, Peters and May also supports the entire Sunseeker network in the delivery of spare parts and after-market items to customers and dealers worldwide. Earlier this year, Peters and May shipped a new flybridge Sunseeker 88 Yacht from Rotterdam to Hong Kong in just 25 days.
Sunseeker Chooses Raymarine as Standard Fit
The UK's Sunseeker International has announced that Raymarine products will now be fitted as standard on Sunseeker's entire yacht range, from the Portofino, Manhattan, Predator and Superhawk yacht models up to the 30 Metre Yacht. The agreement will see Raymarine's C Series Widescreen, E Series Widescreen HybridTouch, HD Digital Radar, instruments, autopilots and VHF radios fitted on all of Sunseeker's new boat builds. The breadth and range of Raymarine's products was a key reason for the decision, said Sunseeker, offering everything from onboard safety, entertainment, electronics, navigation and communication products, all of which are fully integrated. In addition, Raymarine's comprehensive systems enable owners to personalise their boats, choosing their own configurations and upgrades as required.
ZF Marine Group introduces a revolutionary new approach to Pod drive and joystick control technology in small pleasure craft applications, which extends its availability to a larger segment of the pleasure boat market. In conjunction with SeaVee boats, ZF Marine has developed a complete propulsion system solution around a center console sport fishing application that will offer joystick control and maneuverability while employing the pleasure craft industry’s first single Pod drive line. The heart of the propulsion package from ZF Marine incorporates 3 main components. The ZF 2800 Series Pod drive rated at 480hp. This Pod has been redesigned to offer 180 degrees of total movement, 90 degrees of rotation to both port and starboard from the cent reline. The ZF 185 AC Thruster that introduced to the market at last year’s Fort Lauderdale show. The ZF 185 Thruster is designed to offer proportional thrust, 30 minute continuous duty cycle, and smooth, quiet operation thanks to a patented thruster tube design. ZF Marine’s proven SmartCommand controls with Joystick. The joystick system is engaged when the Easidock feature is activated via a button touch on the SmartCommand control head. During normal at sea operation the 2800 Pod drive is restricted to 30 degrees of movement in either direction from center. This restriction of movement is released in Easidock mode and the POD now has full 180 degree movement. The ZF 185 AC Thruster is also brought online at this time. As the vessel operator directs the joystick in any direction or combination of directions the joystick system incorporates POD thrust and varying amounts of thrust from the bow thruster. Proportional control of the thruster means smooth engagement, and only as much thrust as needed to move the vessel in the desired direction. Proportional thrust, combined with an electronic compass tied to the main JMS control unit means there is no vessel yaw during sideways movement. ZF Marine’s patented iAnchor station keeping functionality is also included in the Single Pod System. With the press of a button, iAnchor will compensate for wind and current holding the vessel’s position to as little as a 3 foot radius. 
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