Willie Urbieta, the owner of US-based Sirena Yachts, is set to achieve a remarkable feat as he becomes the first ever owner of two 21.4-meter Sirena 68 vessels.
Having previously purchased a Sirena 58 for use in the United States, the semi-retired oil executive took the plunge and ordered a Sirena 68 for his Mediterranean cruising adventures. Not content with just one, Urbieta made the decision to upgrade his Sirena 58 to a second Sirena 68, scheduled for delivery in the coming months.
This extraordinary move sets Urbieta apart from other Sirena Yachts owners, as he will soon have the privilege of enjoying the benefits of his two spacious explorers in two distinctly different environments. In an exclusive interview, Urbieta shares the reasoning behind his choice of the Sirena 68 model, his personal preference for docking his vessels, and the advantages he derives from his truly unique ownership position.
Urbieta’s first Sirena yacht, the Sirena 58, offered the Fort Lauderdale-based owner and his family the perfect opportunity to take delivery in Istanbul and explore the scenery of the Turkish coast and the Greek islands before taking the yacht home to dock in the US.
However, in order to immerse himself fully into the boating lifestyle in south Florida and make space for his growing family, 65-year-old Urbieta felt it was time for an upgrade, as he explains: “I spent my summers on a boat in the mid 1960s in south Florida, which was just fantastic. I wanted to go back to being part of this very particular boating culture and lifestyle as I absolutely love it, and the Sirena 68 is the perfect boat for this, due to its generous volume, ample indoor and outdoor relaxation spaces and fantastic flybridge. Another factor was size of course: I have my daughter, my son-in-law and three grandkids to consider, so I knew I was going to have to go a little bigger to accommodate everyone.”
Unveiled to the world in 2021, the Sirena 68 yacht was made by Germán Frers, who stands behind its naval architecture and exterior design, and Cor D. Rover, who is responsible for the captivating interiors.
Designed with Urbieta's expanding family in mind, the Sirena 68 offers generous living spaces capable of accommodating up to eight guests. The master suite, positioned amidships, exudes a sense of luxurious tranquility, while the yacht's standout feature lies in its expansive flybridge deck – the largest in its class. Onboard, a crew of two, comprising a capable captain and a dedicated stewardess.
“I have to say, I really do enjoy docking my own boat,” says Urbieta. “Of course, there is always a risk of making a mistake, so I make use of a yacht controller, but once I’m outside the dock and out of the marina, I let the captain take charge so that I can fully relax with my family and friends.”
The Sirena 68 sports a resin-infused hull combined with a lightweight high-tech carbon fiber superstructure and hard top produced by Sirena Yachts’ in-house engineering department, which offer numerous benefits for its performance. These include improving onboard stability, reducing fuel consumption and providing the yacht with a longer range and higher speed.
Urbieta explains that onboard comfort is a priority for any boat in his fleet: “When I buy a yacht from Sirena Yachts, I get as many extras as possible to make the boat as comfortable as it can be. I choose to have gyros, fins, DPS (dynamic position satellites), a yacht controller and an extra station on the outside to help me dock the boat. Spending time on the boat is what makes me happy and my real passion, so I am keen to make it the best possible experience.”
Urbieta also has some substantial travel plans in the pipeline for his new Sirena 68, including exploring Saint Martin, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands and more. Thankfully, the Sirena 68 is well suited for such adventures. Built to CE Category A certification (the highest certification for recreation craft under 24 meters), the semi displacement yacht is capable of reaching top speeds of 26 knots with the 1,000 horsepower Volvo D13s option, and cruises comfortably at 20-21 knots.
When asked to name his favorite areas of his current Sirena 68, Urbieta first highlights his onboard office area. “It is wonderful being able to work on board – my office is right where the windshield of the boat is, next to the helm. I have my computer and my printer there and it is perfect. Every time I go into a different port, I can enjoy a different view from where I am working.”
Secondly, Urbieta also highlights the benefits of the Sirena 68’s famously spacious flybridge for hosting groups of family and friends. “When I was visiting Spain, I had a lot of relatives who I didn’t know very well, so I got them together and hosted all 30 of them together on the flybridge and we just had the most amazing time together. I love the social element of the boating lifestyle which has been enabled by owning these Sirena Yachts. People are drawn to lovely boats, and this brings so many like minded people together who derive pleasure from being out on the water.”
Sirena Yachts is a Turkish yacht brand. The company produces semi-displacement motor yachts ranging from 17m to over 50m.
Credits: Pozitif Studio/Sirena Yachts
Northrop & Johnson has listed the newly delivered 28.63-meter Sunreef Power catamaran Petite Belle for sale. Broker Gabriele Modica Ragusa represents the fifth hull in this series, which features numerous upgrades from standard specifications.The catamaran's 13.5-meter beam accommodates 10 guests across five ensuite cabins. The main saloon features panoramic glazing that opens to the aft cockpit, integrating interior and exterior social spaces. Outdoor areas include forward lounges, a beach club platform, and an expansive flybridge with hot tub, dining area, and bar.Petite Belle incorporates 13kWp of solar panels integrated into the superstructure and hardtop, supporting silent night operation through battery power. The yacht meets European and U.S. compliance standards including Malta Sea Area A1+A2+A3 certification (sCYC 2024).Additional features include a full AV system with DJ connectivity, 20 underwater lights, security cameras, and custom bar installations. The vessel carries a Williams SportJet 625 tender and two jet skis.Construction was supervised by independent surveyors at Sunreef's Gdansk facility. The catamaran enters the brokerage market immediately following delivery, offering availability without construction wait times. Northrop & Johnson will coordinate viewings and sea trials for prospective buyers.Sunreef Yachts was founded by Francis Lapp in 2002 in Gdansk, Poland. Since then, the shipyard has been designing and manufacturing luxury sailing and power multihulls. Credits: Sunreef Yachts
August 28, 2025
Italian yacht builder Lomac Milano has named fashion designer Alessandro Martorana as Creative Director of its Lomac Atelier division. The appointment coincides with the world premiere of the GranTurismo 12.5 AMare limited edition model at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival.Martorana's collaboration with Lomac represents the first product from the newly established Lomac Atelier, a service dedicated to fully customized yacht configurations. The GranTurismo 12.5 AMare features customized colors, bespoke upholstery, sartorial stitching, and matching engine livery. The design emphasizes individualized styling while maintaining the performance characteristics of the base model.The limited edition model is powered by twin Yamaha XTO 450hp outboard engines, maintaining the standard powertrain configuration of the production version. Lomac will display two additional models at Cannes: the GranTurismo 12.0 with triple 300hp Mercury engines and the flagship GranTurismo 14.0 X with triple Yamaha 450hp engines capable of 60-knot speeds.Alessandro Martorana stated: "The boat is the new 'must' for the elegant man. Together with Lomac, we aim to create unique pieces that reflect the personality of their owners, just like a bespoke suit."The Lomac Atelier service launched earlier this year at the Düsseldorf boat show, focusing on complete customization of the company's GranTurismo maxi-RIB series. The Cannes presentation marks the first physical realization of the program, with the AMare edition serving as demonstrator of the customization options available.Lomac's participation in the Cannes Yachting Festival includes three models from its production range, with the Martorana-designed limited edition representing the company's emphasis on personalized yacht design. Lomac was founded in the early 1960s in Milan. Today it is led by Paolo and Fabrizio Lo Manto, the third generation of the family, and offers a production that includes seven different series for 58 models, the result of the union of the highest technologies with careful craftsmanship. Lomac also produces and markets a wide range of original accessories to better customize your boat, and maintenance products created specifically for its models.Credits: Lomac
August 28, 2025
Italian yacht builder Benetti will showcase its complete fiberglass series at the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 9-14, 2025. The display will include the world premiere of the Class 44M model Juno's 7 and an exclusive preview of an undisclosed new model.The Class 44M represents the flagship of Benetti's fiberglass range, measuring 44 meters with exterior and interior design by Cassetta Yacht Designers. The yacht incorporates antique elm wood flooring and mineral resin surfaces with stone powder accents. Design features include extensive glazing and a hull form optimized for long-range cruising.Alongside the Class 44M, Benetti will exhibit three additional fiberglass models:Motopanfilo 37M Angel featuring exterior design by Francesco Struglia with a "Bronze Ribbon" design element connecting hull and superstructureOasis 40M CADA Día with customized configuration including master cabin on upper deckOasis 34M A+ utilizing the Oasis Deck® design with 76 m² stern platformThe Oasis 40M display unit represents the twentieth hull in this series, with exterior design by RWD and interiors by Bonetti & Kozerski. The model emphasizes social spaces and connection to marine environments through its layout and design features.Benetti's participation demonstrates the shipyard's continued development of its fiberglass product lines, which range from 34 to 44 meters in length. The company emphasizes customizable interior configurations across all models while maintaining standardized hull forms and engineering systems.The Cannes presentation follows Benetti's strategy of introducing new models at major European boat shows. The company maintains production facilities in Viareggio and Livorno for its fiberglass and steel/aluminum yacht divisions respectively.Founded in 1873, Benetti is the oldest Italian shipyard specializing in luxury yachts. Benetti designs, builds and sells composite vessels from 29 to 44m and steel and aluminum boats from 37 to over 100m. The fleet consists of five categories: Class, Oasis, B.Yond, B.Now and Custom to meet all the needs of the market. Benetti belongs to the Azimut|Benetti Group, the largest privately owned luxury yachting group in the world.Credits: Benetti
August 28, 2025
Italian yacht builder Dolomia Yachts has introduced its inaugural power catamaran range, developed in partnership with design firm Centrostiledesign. The initial models include the 22-meter D100 and smaller D70, designed to provide monohull-equivalent volume with reduced hydrodynamic resistance.The D100 model offers approximately 300 square meters of interior space, comparable to 30-meter monohull yachts. Configurations include four-cabin layouts with full-beam master suite or five-cabin charter arrangements with crew accommodations. The design incorporates 66 square meters of solar panels generating 15kWp of power.Construction utilizes non-toxic resins, FSC-certified wood, and renewable cork materials. Propulsion options include Volvo diesel engines with IPS or straight-shaft transmission, alongside hybrid and fully electric system alternatives. The yacht features photovoltaic panels and semi-solid-state battery technology.Design elements comprise a flybridge with active spoiler, retractable tender garage for 5-meter watercraft, and 18-square-meter beach club area. The company emphasizes reduced fuel consumption and environmental impact through hull design and sustainable technologies.Dolomia Yachts founder Alessandro Righi stated the company is "very close to achieving the highest technological quality" while maintaining aesthetic appeal. Construction of the first D100 unit is underway with scheduled delivery for 2027, while development continues on the smaller D70 model.The company has established partnerships with four Italian marine suppliers and contracted NSS Charter for yacht management services, including luxury charter operations in Sardinia's Costa Smeralda region. The yachts will be constructed in facilities utilizing established Italian shipbuilding expertise.Credits: Dolomia Yachts
August 27, 2025
Italian marine engineering company West Navaltech has launched Forte Yachts, a new yacht brand focused on aluminum vessel construction. The debut model, the Forte 47, is currently in development at the company's Ameglia facility near La Spezia.West Navaltech operates from a 1,300-square-meter covered production area with 1,800 square meters of hard standing. The company has previously specialized in constructing steel and aluminum workboats ranging from 14 to 50 meters, including fire department vessels, electric catamarans, and tugboats. The company also supplies aluminum components to shipyards in the Miglio Blu district.Livio Franchini, Technical Manager and partner at West Navaltech, stated: "The creation of Forte Yachts marks a strategic expansion. We wanted to separate our workboat production from our leisure brand, keeping both worlds independent but complementary."The Forte 47 measures 14.3 meters in length with aluminum construction emphasizing interior volume. The design includes two full-height cabins and two bathrooms, with ceiling heights exceeding two meters below deck. Naval architecture was developed by Umberto Tagliavini of Marine Design.The vessel will be offered in both outboard and inboard engine configurations, with layout variations depending on propulsion choice. The design targets coastal cruising itineraries such as Monaco to Porto Cervo or Miami to the Bahamas.Fernando Moricca, co-founder of the new brand, described the venture as "a response to the desire to reinterpret the sea with respect, competence and style." The brand name references both strength (from Italian "forte") and the coastal town of Forte dei Marmi.Production continues at West Navaltech's existing facilities, with the Forte 47 representing the company's entry into the premium leisure boat market. The company's industrial capabilities provide the technical foundation for the new yacht brand.Credits: Forte Yachts
August 27, 2025