After three days of racing, the seventh edition of the Perini Navi Cup drew to a close today. The event, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, had gathered 21 yachts from the Perini Navi fleet in Porto Cervo. Overall leader in the Cruiser Racer division was the 50-metre Silencio, while The Maltese Falcon triumphed among the Corinthians Spirit yachts and overall.
The final day of the Perini Navi Cup saw the fleet face a coastal course of approximately 14 miles, accompanied initially by a breeze of 12 - 14 knots from the west. The Perini ships headed south to circumnavigate the islands of Mortorio and Soffi before returning north to a buoy off the coast of Porto Cervo and the finish line of a course that was shortened due to strengthening winds, reaching speeds of 27 knots.
Seahawk, the last boat to start in the Cruiser Racer division under the staggered start formula (which sees individual departures every 3 minutes), immediately accelerated today, leaving her rivals behind after rounding Soffi, and crossing the finish line with twenty minutes to spare, thereby clinching the victory of the day. Despite this excellent performance Seahawk placed second overall, while consistency was rewarded for the 50-metre Silencio - second in today's race - who with two wins out of three races run, was the overall winner in the Cruiser Racer class. Third place of the day and third place in the overall classification went to the 43-metre Victoria A.
In the Corinthians Spirit class The Maltese Falcon, the 88-metre flagship of the fleet, took pole position in the overall standings with three wins out of three, seven points ahead of Tamsen, in fifth place today but second overall. The battle on the water was for the second place of the day: Blush managed to outdistance Spirit of C's to finish second, but didn't manage to claim a podium place as Spirit of C's went on to take third place overall.
YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo declared, "This has been a unique edition, the characteristic Costa Smeralda weather conditions allowed us to complete the full racing schedule with three consecutive days of competition, allowing the Perini Navi yachts to perform at their best. I would like to thank our friends Lamberto Tacoli and Edoardo Tabacchi for this collaboration which has allowed us, in all seven editions, including this one, to organise a highly successful event - the perfect blend of spectacle on the water and ashore. Thanks to the owners and all the sailors who gathered in Porto Cervo over the past few days and thank you to the International Jury, the Race Committee and the staff for their essential and invaluable work."
"I would like to thank everyone who took part in this edition of the Perini Navi Cup, " commented Lamberto Tacoli, President and CEO of Perini Navi, "owners, captains, crews, partners and friends."
On their return to the docks owners, crews and guests took part in the prize giving ceremony in the Piazza Azzurra and went on to attend a grand gala evening at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, celebrating the great Perini Navi family with music, artists and fireworks.
The next sporting event for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will be the final of the Audi Italian Sailing League from 27 to 30 September.
Finland’s boating sector is showing signs of recovery after the decline that followed the pandemic, with registrations and used boat sales both increasing over the past year. As of July 2025, the national watercraft register listed 246,000 boats, an increase of 2,928 compared with the previous year. Of these, 214,000 were motorboats.According to the Finnish Marine Industries Federation (Finnboat), growth has been driven largely by the sale of previously unsold stock vessels, which do not appear in first registration statistics. “According to first registrations, the boating sector would appear to be at its lowest point this year. However, the sale of unsold stock boats has significantly boosted the total fleet size. These boats are not visible in the first registration statistics,” said Finnboat CEO Jarkko Pajusalo.Outboard-powered boats have led the growth, rising by more than 2,200 units. While first registrations of motorboats fell by 17 per cent, the total number of motorboats in the register rose by the same proportion. Pajusalo attributed this to the statistical definition of “new” boats as those built in the current or two previous years. He noted that the anomaly created by pandemic-era unsold boats is expected to resolve itself.The Helsinki In-Water Boat Show Uiva Flytande, held in Lauttasaari, Helsinki, drew nearly 11,000 visitors. Exhibitors reported cautious optimism among buyers, with strong interest in larger cruising yachts. Nine such yachts were on display, from builders including Lagoon, Hanse, Dehler, X-Yachts and Beneteau.Samuli Leisti of Ajola Yachts and Hansail said that 2025 is shaping up to be the strongest year in 15 years for his company, with several deals in progress and one new order signed. His brokerage firm Blue Ocean sold 80 used boats by August, exceeding last year’s total of 67. Antti Saarisalo, CEO of Ajola Yachts, also noted strong interest in sailing yachts, with onboard visits matching those of the larger Helsinki International Boat Show held in February.Manufacturers reported positive developments as well. Linex-Boat, builder of Nord Star yachts, highlighted international interest, with visitors from Estonia viewing the Nord Star 42+. Quarken Boats reported new export market openings and strong domestic activity, securing deals, arranging sea trials and issuing numerous offers during the event.Buster remained the leading brand in new motorboat registrations. According to Mercury Marine EMEA CEO Jussi Sepponen, the Finnish market is beginning to recover in line with European trends. “The marine industry often emerges from recessions later than other sectors. Now, however, it feels like we might even help pull the economy upward,” he said.The show also featured small-scale exhibitors, including sailmaker EfxSails, which presented sailmaking services and recycled sail products. “Sailmaking is a design profession, and part of the designer’s role is to understand the sailor’s true needs,” said EfxSails’s Matti Luhtala.The next Helsinki In-Water Boat Show Uiva Flytande will take place from 13 to 16 August 2026 in Lauttasaari. The Helsinki International Boat Show – Vene 26 Båt – will run from 6 to 15 February 2026 at Messukeskus, Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre.Credits: Yacht Harbour Archive
August 21, 2025
The 25-meter motor yacht African Wild Dog has been sold in-house at Ocean Independence, with broker Bob Friscia representing both the seller and the buyer.Built in carbon fibre composite and delivered in 2018 by Pershing, part of the Ferretti Group, African Wild Dog is the 18th hull of the Pershing 82 series. She is a Pershing 82 VHP (Very High Performance) model, designed by Fulvio De Simoni with naval architecture by the Ferretti Engineering Department.Accommodation is arranged for up to seven guests across three cabins, including an owner’s suite, a VIP double cabin, and a twin with an additional Pullman berth. Crew quarters allow for three staff. Interior features include a lower-deck media room and an open-plan main saloon with a sit-up bar forward, located just behind the triple helm seats.Exterior deck spaces include a sundeck with a secondary helm station, foredeck lounging and sunbathing areas, and a large aft sunpad. The aft deck connects to a swim platform and a transom garage.Powered by twin 2,638hp MTU engines, the 108GT yacht can reach a top speed of 52 knots and maintains a cruising speed of 40 knots.African Wild Dog was last asking €3,400,000.Credits: Yacht Harbour Archive
August 21, 2025
The Dutch Royal yacht Piet Hein was officially welcomed into the Feadship Heritage Fleet during a ceremony held Tuesday evening. The event brought together representatives from the National Maritime Museum, SAIL, Stichting Piet Hein, Feadship, and members of the Feadship Heritage Fleet board.Representatives of SAIL included Chairman Mr. Woltering, Treasurer Mr. Parmet, board member Mr. Stunnenberg, and Adjutant Mr. Soetendaal. Stichting Piet Hein was represented by Vice-Chairman Mr. Post and Secretary Mr. Kodde.The Feadship Heritage Fleet is an association of owners of classic Feadships that are at least 30 years old, aimed at preserving historic vessels, sharing knowledge, and organising joint sailing activities.The 31-metre motor yacht Piet Hein was gifted by the Dutch people to Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard in 1937 on the occasion of their wedding. She was designed by naval architect Henri W. de Voogt, a key figure in early Dutch yachtbuilding and in the history of Feadship. Since 1980, the vessel has been managed by Stichting Piet Hein, which has maintained her in operational condition with the support of volunteers.Membership in the Heritage Fleet was confirmed through the signing of a certificate and the placement of the Feadship Heritage Fleet insignia on board. Wim van Kampen, Chairman of the Feadship Heritage Fleet, highlighted the fleet’s mission of preserving Dutch maritime heritage, stating: “This is the unifying mission of the 85 members of our fleet: to safeguard these unique vessels for future generations.”Recognising her historic and symbolic role, Piet Hein was named flagship of the Feadship Heritage Fleet and led a fleet of 35 yachts into Amsterdam during the Sail-in of SAIL.Credits: Feadship
August 21, 2025
Camper & Nicholsons has been appointed central agent for the sale of the 40.05-meter Sunseeker motor yacht Berco Voyager. Built in 2018, the vessel is offered at €13.9 million with VAT paid. Sales advisor Maël Fiolet is handling the listing.The yacht represents one of the final hulls in Sunseeker's 131 series, featuring upgraded interiors and specifications exceeding standard models. The current owner has maintained the vessel with additional custom features distinguishing it from sisterships.Berco Voyager accommodates 10 guests across five cabins with crew quarters for seven personnel. The yacht has demonstrated charter operational capability and includes extended engine warranty coverage.Currently located in Sardinia, the vessel will relocate to Southern France for the upcoming show season. The listing presents a rare opportunity to acquire a 40-meter Sunseeker with proven charter history and comprehensive maintenance records.Since 1969 Sunseeker Yachts has built composite semi-custom yachts from 12m to 47m. The shipyard's main facility is located in Poole.Credits: Camper & Nicholsons
August 20, 2025
American shipyard Hargrave Custom Yachts has unveiled a new 36.5-meter design in its 120 Series, featuring exterior and interior styling by Italian designer Patrizio Facheris. The raised pilothouse model represents a departure from the yard's typical in-house design approach.Constructed in carbon-reinforced E-glass epoxy composite, the yacht meets RINA Pleasure classification standards. The vessel accommodates 12 guests and 7 crew members, with a 7.6-meter beam and 1.9-meter draft. Light displacement measures 130 tons.Performance specifications include twin Caterpillar C32 engines producing 1,900 horsepower each, enabling a maximum speed of 21.5 knots and a cruising range of 945 nautical miles. The electrical system incorporates twin Northern Lights 56kW generators with 120/208 VAC power distribution and 24V DC engine starting.Exterior finishes feature hand-laid Burmese teak decking with non-skid paint options. Hull and superstructure coatings utilize AWLGRIP and International products for durability.Hargrave includes a six-month management package with each sale. The vessel remains available for inspection ahead of its Cannes showing.Credits: Hargrave Custom Yachts
August 20, 2025