One of the leading brands in the world’s yachting industry, Azimut/Benetti Group, has closed fiscal 2018/19 while celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with value of production standing at €900 million, up about 10% on last year. Furthermore, 260 units were delivered within the period, continuing the excellent performance put in last season.
The leading market for the company is the United States, where Azimut Yachts is the top-selling brand in the segment over 40 feet. Taken as a whole, the Americas represent 50% of the total, followed by Europe (29%), the Middle East and Africa (14%), and Asia Pacific with 7%.
What is more, megayachts have played a central role in Group performance, with total sales of 51 units combined by 35 Azimut Yachts and 16 Benettis. In what is a consolidated strategy now, the company has successfully exploited this trend to extend and renew its range of products, positioning it where itself at the top of the Global Order Book.
38m Azimut Grande Trideck
In the meantime, the company has launched several premieres during the Cannes Yachting Festival 2019. The three new vessels included Azimut S10, S8 and 78 Fly, and a 38-metre trideck.
The latter, 38-metre Trideck, is the largest yacht ever built by Azimut Yachts, of which three units have already been sold off-plan, followed by a 30-meter Magellano collection flagship.
The latest brand’s premiere will feature interior volume under 300GT with a semi planning hull and anticipated top speed of 24 knots.
38m Azimut Grande Trideck
Highlighted by exterior design from Alberto Mancini and interiors from Antonio Salvagni, the yacht will be available for various interior layouts offering either five or six cabins. Other features include an open beach area, a full lounge on the main deck and dining area on the upper deck.
Turning to Benetti, the Group’s Fiftieth Anniversary year saw the record-breaking launch of three giga yachts within just 100 days, with the 108-metre flagship superyacht FB275 delivered to Australian casino tycoon James Packer in July and two others awaiting deliveries.
Benetti sold 10 yachts within last 60 days alone, gearing up to extend its range, adding not only new models but new product families, too.
Meanwhile, the storied and successful Class line will have a new flagship in 2020, the new Diamond 145, as well as being joined by the new Oasis line inspired by a concept based on glamorous luxury. Three units have already been sold of the first 40-metre model in the line, which will be available next year. Among others, one of the recent deals was closed with US powerboat champion, who bought the first 40-metre.
40m superyacht Oasis BO101
What is more, Benetti is ready to start working on a new collection that pays tribute to the brand’s storied past. After two years of project analysis, Benetti rediscovers the appeal and luxury of the 1960s and yachts built from steel, reinventing a product category of timeless yachts that will stay up-to-date for their entire lifetimes. The collection will be made up of three models (30, 37 and 44 meters) with the 37-meter yacht planned for launch in 2021.
In order to implement this ambitious programme, the Group expects to invest €115 million over the next three years to develop new products and upgrade production capacity.
The launch of Benetti FB275
Giovanna Vitelli, Azimut/Benetti Group Vice President, expressed:
This wonderful year has made me both happy and proud, as well as keeping us busy on so many fronts: new collaborations, new products, the Giga Season, our Azimut S6 at Times Square, and so many moments with our customers all around the world, who have testified to their confidence and esteem.
The 85m explorer yacht Victorious has been launched at the AK Yachts facility in Turkey. This explorer, whose building process had been postponed for 14 years, can accommodate up to twenty guests in ten cabins and has a 200-square-meter beach club, gym, hammam and massage room. Powered by two Caterpillar (3512B) 1,495hp diesel engines, Victorious is capable of a top speed of 15 knots and cruises comfortably at 13 knots. Her interior was designed by the famous H2 Yacht Design (UK), andJonny Horsfield, the company’s founder noted “From starting a project to delivering some drawings and information to the shipyard could take 12 months on a normal build… we had to redesign the whole boat in three or four months.” AK Yachts was founded in 2017 in Turkey. Their main focus is building exceptional quality yachts with uncompromised value. Credits: H2 Yacht Design
April 9, 2021
Ocean Eco 90 Explorer is solar-assisted electric long-range cruiser with the added feature of extra space on the upper deck. At 27.5m, this yacht has an impressive 14m beam; the lower deck houses four cabins for guests and three for the crew.Her estimated cruising speed is 8–10 knots and top speed is 16–18 knots. See new images of the interior below.OE 90 main saloonOE 90 main saloon OE 90 master cabin OE 90 master cabinOE 90 master cabin at nightAlva Yachts was founded in Germany in early 2020 by Mathias May and Holger Henn. It was built on the former PICA yachts, which has launched more than 40 boats. Credits: Alva Yachts
April 9, 2021
The 300m scientific exploration vessel Earth300 has been presented by Iddes Yachts' founder Ivan Salas Jefferson and is equipped with 22 state-of-the-art laboratories and a “science sphere” on the aft deck. This giga yacht can accommodate more than 400 people, including 160 scientists, 20 experts-in-residence, 20 students, 40 VIP guests and 165 crewmembers.Of course, this futuristic yacht was designed for emissions-free sailing and will be powered by nuclear tech known as molten salt reactors (MSRs).The project is supported by an impressive number of partners, including IBM, RINA, Triton Submarines and EYOS Expeditions.Iván Salas Jefferson, the Iddes Yachts founder and naval architect, has worked for leading Dutch naval architecture studios such as De Voogt (Feadship) and the Oceanco bespoke superyacht builder. Iddes Yachts was founded in 2012 and offers experience project management services supported by the design and naval architecture studio.Credits: Iddes Yachts
April 9, 2021
The 52m Amels 180 Limited Editions Grace is going back to the shipyard in the Netherlands where she was originally built for a refit. Grace was delivered in 2009. Eleven years on and Grace is now returning to Vlissingen for a four-month refit which will see a number of works take place, including a technical upgrade, a complete hull respray and interior modification.“It’s wonderful to see Grace back at the yard,” says Damen Yachting Sales Manager Michel Coens, who knows the yacht well from her time at the yard during the original build. “Being able to welcome yachts and their crew from the fleet back to our yard is always a great honour. There is a real sense of pride in welcoming back one of our own and also having the opportunity to once again shape a yacht to the owner’s wishes.”Damen Yachting, a division within the Damen Shipyards Group, was created in 2019. The division combines the pedigree and heritage of Amels yachts with a growing portfolio of SeaXplorer yachts and Yacht Support vessels.Credits: Damen Yachting
April 8, 2021
The latest Pearl 62 has been delivered to its new owner in the UK. This unit, hull number 4, is the first with Kelly Hoppen’s Luxury interior design style. The Pearl 62 is available with either Luxury or Modern interior styles, both composed by world-class interior designer Kelly Hoppen MBE. The Pearl 62 is a family yacht. She has four guest cabins. The full beam owners’ cabin is accessed via a private stairway and features a large, centrally placed bed, a desk, a reading corner and his and hers closets. Two twin cabins can both convert to doubles. The VIP cabin is fore and has a large, centrally placed bed, a dressing table, his and hers storage and an en-suite with a walk-in shower.The saloon has large glazed areas that sweep upwards so that the interiors are bathed in natural light.The full-length flybridge is accessed via a staircase on the starboard side of the aft cockpit. This large and versatile space has a helm station with joystick controls and Garmin touch screens with controls for everything from the yacht’s anchor to its Fusion entertainment system. Next to the helms there is comfortable seating that can convert to become sun pads. A hardtop with an opening central section is optional, but a wet bar with a cool box, sink and BBQ grill is standard. Volvo IPS propulsion gives the Pearl 62 optimal performance and efficiency characteristics, while joystick controls with dynamic positioning system and an integrated Garmin touch-screen display make helming and accessing all of the yacht’s systems easy and intuitive.UK-based Pearl Yachts was founded in 1998 with the aim of designing a range of luxury motor yachts offering voluminous interiors, combined with opulence and design excellence. Pearl’s fleet consists of the all-new Pearl 62, the Pearl 80, and the Pearl 95.Credits: Pearl Yachts
April 8, 2021