yachtstyle2020, Author at Yacht Style

Cannes Yachting Festival, Vieux Port, Azimut, Benetti, Ferretti, Riva, Pershing, Custom Line, Absolute, Sunseeker, Princess, Aquila, Majesty

Cannes Yachting Festival 2025: Vieux Port preview

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Cannes Yachting Festival 2025: Vieux Port preview

September 4, 2025
4:31 pm

Yacht Style highlights the premieres, new models and line-ups to see at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, starting with motorboats, powercats and superyachts in Vieux Port.

Vieux Port

JETÉE

The world premiere of Azimut’s Grande 30M is the highlight of the Italian shipyard’s display along the Jetée in this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival. The Grande 30M is Azimut’s first all-new superyacht with an interior by Milan-based m2atelier, whose work is also seen on hull 30 of the Grande Trideck, the brand’s current 38m flagship, and hull 23 of the Grande 36M.

Azimut’s display also includes the Fly 82’s world premiere, four other Fly yachts (53, 62, 68, 72), the Seadeck 6 and 7, an Atlantis 45, three Magellano models (60, 66, 30M), and Grande 26M and Grande 27M superyachts.

Nearby, the Ferretti Group boasts a large line-up led by six world premieres, featuring four from Riva – the 112’ Dolcevita Super, 58’ Capri, Cento (39ft) and Aquariva Special (33ft) – along with the Ferretti Yachts 800 and Itama 54.

Riva 58’ Capri

For many visitors, the show will also mark the first chance to see the Ferretti Yachts 940 – the brand’s second-biggest Flybridge model – and the Pershing GTX70, which both debuted at this year’s Venice Boat Show.

In Cannes, Pershing models also include the GTX116 and 8X; the Ferretti Yachts fleet includes a 580, Infynito 80 and Infynito 90; while Riva yachts include the 90’ Argo, 82’ Diva, 76’ Perseo Super and Dolceriva (49ft). Ferretti Group’s provisional line-up also includes three Custom Line superyachts – a Navetta 38 and the 106’ and 120’ planing models.

It’s also a big show for Sanlorenzo, which is staging world premieres of three superyachts including the SD132, the brand’s biggest-ever composite model and flagship of its SD semi-displacement series. The shipyard is also staging the global debuts of the SX120, its crossover flagship, and the SL110A, the second-largest model in the asymmetric planing line.

Sanlorenzo’s 10-strong display also includes the SX100 and SX88, SD96 and SD90, SL90A and SL86A, and SP92 coupe. Sister brand Bluegame is debuting the BGF45 alongside a BG54, BG74, BGM75 and a BGX73.

Sanlorenzo SD132

Among British builders in the Jetée, Princess is celebrating its 60^th anniversary by staging the world premiere of the V65, while the F58 appears in Cannes for the first time. The Plymouth builder’s eight-strong cast also includes the Y95, X80, S72, S65, V55 and V50.

Sunseeker models appearing at Cannes for the first time include the Ocean 156, which had its world premiere at last year’s Southampton International Boat Show, and the Manhattan 68 (2025), presented at Boot Dusseldorf this January. The Poole shipyard’s display also includes a 100 Yacht, 90 Ocean, 76 Yacht, 75 Sport Yacht, Manhattan 55, Predator 55 and Superhawk 55.

PANTIERO

In the neighbouring Pantiero, Turkey’s Numarine is showing 37XP and 30XP superyachts. Prestige hosts the global debut of its M7 multihull motoryacht along with the M48 in the Pantiero, away from other motor multihulls in Quai Max Laubeuf. The M8 – the 65ft flagship of Prestige’s M-Line – could be available to view outside the show.

The French brand also expects to show all three models from its refreshed F-Line of flybridge monohull motoryachts, from the F4.3 that debuted at Boot Dusseldorf this year to the F4.9 and F5.7.

Absolute Navetta 62

Absolute plans an 11-strong line-up in the Pantiero including the world premieres of the 70 Fly and Navetta 62 along with five other Navettas (75, 70, 64, 58, 53), three more Fly yachts (60, 56, 52) and a 48 Coupé, the inland shipyard’s first cruiser model.

For the first time, fellow Italian shipyard Apreamare will display its entire Gozzo line, headed by the world premiere of the 48 Cabin along with the 45, 38 Cabin and 35. Filippetti is showing its S55, while Spain’s Maxim Yachts is staging the Cannes debut of the Max 43 Comfort.

Galeon 620 Fly

Galeon stages the world premieres of its 430 Exp – the first model from a new explorer line – and 620 Fly, the latter featuring an interior by Hong Kong-based design studio In Situ & Partners. The Polish shipyard’s other yachts in the Pantiero include the 560 Fly, 480 Fly and 450 HTC, while its GTO (Grand Touring Outboard) cruiser models are on display in Port Canto’s Power Boat Marina.

Beneteau’s motor and sail displays need to be spread across three different sites in Vieux Port and Port Canto.

In the Pantiero, models from the French builder’s Motor Yachts ranges are headed by world premieres of the flagship Grand Trawler 63 and Swift Trawler 37, plus the new-generation Gran Turismo 35 and Gran Turismo 40 Alpine Edition. The French builder’s Pantiero display also includes the Swift Trawler 41 Fly and Swift Trawler 54.

Beneteau Grand Trawler 63

Pardo is hosting the global debut of the P43 from the Walkaround series in a display that also includes the P50, the E72 from the Endurance line, along with the GT52 and flagship GT75. Sister brand VanDutch is hosting the world premiere of its flagship VD 75.

QUAI SAINT PIERRE

On the west side of Vieux Port, De Antonio, noted for its covered outboard propulsion, will stage the world premiere of its flagship D60 in Quai Saint Pierre (QSP). The Spanish builder will also exhibit the D50, its previous flagship, along with a D42, while its D32 and D29 – a global debut at Boot in January – are appearing at the Palais des Festivals.

Invictus ST550

In Quai Saint Pierre, Italy’s Invictus is staging the world premieres of the ST550 and TT550, its two new flagship models, while Greenline, a pioneer in hybrid motoryachts, is exhibiting a Greenline 39 and 45 Fly.

Sacs Tecnorib is showing multiple Rebel maxi-RIBs including the 50 and flagship 55 in QSP, while its Strider models including the 15 and 13, and the Pirelli 50, 42 and 35 are on display in the Pantiero.

QUAI MAX LAUBEUF

In the southwest corner of Vieux Port, Quai Max Laubeuf (QML) is home to the show’s powercats, with the new Power Cat Village set to be one of the most exciting zones in this year’s edition.

100 Sunreef Power

Sunreef plans to flex its muscles by showing a unit of its flagship 100 Sunreef Power and an 80 Sunreef Power Eco. However, many visitors will be eyeing up the Ultima 55, as the first model in the new Ultima line makes its Europe debut following its world premiere at this year’s Dubai International Boat Show.

Global debuts of powercats at Cannes include the WiderCat 92 by Italy’s Wider Yachts, the VisionF 82 by Turkey’s VisionF and the Silent SY80 2-Deck by Italy-based Silent Yachts, which is also showing an SY62 3-Deck.

France’s Fountaine Pajot is staging the world premiere of its Power 80, based on the same hull as the Thira 80 sail cat, along with the Power 67 and MY6 powercats in Quai Max Laubeuf.

Fountaine Pajot Power 80

Leopard, another powercat pioneer, is showing all three of its South Africa-built power models, comprising the 40 Powercat, 46 Powercat and flagship 53 Powercat.

Aquila is hosting the world premiere of its 46 Yacht along with the Europe debut of the 50 Yacht, which had its global unveiling at last year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and its Asia premiere at this year’s Singapore Yachting Festival.

Aquila is also staging the Europe debuts of both its 42 Coupe and 46 Coupe, which were unveiled at this year’s Miami International Boat Show. However, the models on show in Cannes both feature Volvo Penta Dual Propellor Inboard (DPI) engine packages, marking the worldwide debut of the inboard propulsion option on the Coupe series.

Aquila 46 Yacht

Other powercats making their global debut include the Omaya 50, the brand’s first model, while Yot – from the Catana Group and a sister brand of Bali – is exhibiting its Yot 36 and Yot 41, the latter a debutant at Boot this year.

Monohull builders exhibiting in QML include Pearl, whose display includes the new 63 – a premiere at this year’s Palma International Boat Show – alongside the 72 and 82 flybridge motoryachts, while the British brand will also unveil details of the 100 Hybrid superyacht. Meanwhile, Sirena is staging the world premiere of its 60 alongside the Turkish builder’s 48 and 68.

SUPER YACHTS EXTENSION

East across the swing bridge, eye-catching Wally yachts take up the brand’s usual high-profile position at the entrance to the Super Yachts Extension (SYE) and beside la traversante, where the wallywhy150 and wallywhy100 display alongside smaller models like the wallypower58, wallytender48 and wallytender43X.

Benetti Class 44M

Benetti is staging the world premiere of the Class 44M along with an Oasis 40M, Oasis 34M and a Motopanfilo 37M. The show’s biggest yachts could include Cantiere delle Marche’s 45.7m ‘Project T’, Tankoa’s 45m T450 Singolare and Ocean King’s 40m Doge 400.

Hargrave is showing a 38m Project 125, Dutch shipyard Van der Valk is debuting its 35m Lalabe, while Amer is displaying its 120 (36.5m) and F100 (29m). UAE’s Gulf Craft is staging the European debut of the Majesty 100 Terrace alongside the Majesty 120, before both appear at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Van der Valk’s 35m Lalabe

Lazzara is debuting both the UHV 100 and the LPC 300, a 70ft powercat with 3,200sqft of living space. Other yachts include the Filippetti F100, the Fleming 85 (Europe debut), a Picchiotti Gentleman’s Yacht 24 by The Italian Sea Group, and an FD80 by Taiwanese shipyard Horizon.

Maiora of Italy’s Next Yacht Group is showing a Maiora 30 nearby at the southern end of the Jetée, where sister brand AB Yachts is staging the world premiere of the first AB 95 and showing the second AB 110.

Also in Jetée Sud, Palumbo Superyachts is showing the Columbus Crossover 42 Big Naan (42m) and an Extra X90 Fast, Arcadia debuts the A80new alongside its A96new, Sherpa 80 and Sherpa 60, while Mangusta shows a GranSport 33 and 104 Rev.

cannesyachtingfestival.com

Giovanna Vitelli on Azimut|Benetti’s green focus and APAC expansion

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Giovanna Vitelli on Azimut|Benetti’s green focus and APAC expansion

September 4, 2025
2:39 pm

The Chair of Azimut|Benetti Group explains the shipyard’s expanding array of eco-friendly solutions and its focus on the Asia-Pacific market, in the conclusion of a two-part interview.

Note: To read Part One of the interview, click here

Giovanna Vitelli, Chair, Azimut|Benetti Group

How are you continuing to drive forward with your focus on eco-friendly solutions and sustainability initiatives?

We have believed in this path for a long time and are committed to meeting the targets set by both the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union, both of which we strongly support. These objectives are essential, and it would be disappointing if Europe were to abandon them under pressure from the American government, which has shown little real interest in this area.

While it is true that the European approach – with its ambitious legislative goals and tight timelines – has led some companies to respond superficially or resort to greenwashing, this should not distract us from the critical importance of maintaining a strong focus on reducing emissions.

On one side, our R&D department is focused on the best solution for tomorrow. However, the main approach has been to concentrate on providing the best solutions today, in order not to talk only about the future. We partnered with companies developing state-of-the-art technology, so we can share figures and tell people how they can reduce consumption and emissions, and therefore money.

What aspects are you focusing on?

We focus on three main pillars: reducing weight, developing high-efficiency hulls, and employing innovative propulsion systems. The efforts for reducing weight led to a significant investment in internal production and use of carbon-fibre.

In Avigliana, we have a huge oven to post-cure carbon-fibre we produce in-house. For yachts 60ft and above, all our superstructures are in carbon-fibre, which alone means 30 per cent less weight. Secondly, we’re testing the use of cork instead of teak to also reduce weight. The Seadeck offers the option of cork decking.

The second big element is hull shapes. Our R&D team has focused on designing good, efficient hull shapes that can improve efficiency by 15 per cent or even more. Some of our best designs are the patented hull on Azimut’s flagship 38m Grande Trideck and the one for the latest Seadeck.

Azimut’s Seadeck 7 is the first yacht to feature the hybrid version of Volvo Penta’s IPS technology

The third pillar is propulsion. The discussion here is very similar to cars. Is electrification the best possible solution? Probably not as a whole, but yes during this transition phase. For this reason, our current focus is on combining hybrid architectures with the use of biofuels, and more specifically HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil), as a concrete and available solution.

Can you provide examples of your current propulsion options?

Azimut has continued to invest in electrification and is offering distinct levels of electrification, each tailored to the yacht’s size, market segment and owner’s needs: from Zero Emission Hotel Mode to Mild Hybrid and Full Hybrid.

The Seadeck 7, for instance, is the first full hybrid yacht in its segment, as it features the first installation of a hybrid Volvo Penta IPS propulsion. Thanks to state-of-the-art sustainable solutions, it can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40 per cent over the course of a year of average use.

As a result of the combination of extensive use of carbon-fibre, high-efficiency hulls, and innovative propulsion systems, half of Azimut’s range falls under the ‘Low Emission Yachts’ family, meaning they reduce consumption and therefore emissions by 30 per cent compared to similar vessels featuring a traditional hull and shaft line propulsion. We believe this is a significant, tangible, proven achievement and the most serious approach.

Finally, as part of our comprehensive approach to low-impact yachting, we’ve partnered with ENI – Italy’s leading energy group in biofuel production – to fully transition to HVO, a biofuel derived from agricultural sources that do not compete with the food-supply chain, capable of achieving up to a 90 per cent reduction in emissions on a well-to-wake basis.

Today, we use it for testing, deliveries and transfers to boat shows. We’ve also verified that all our yachts are fully HVO-compliant.

How successful have these options proven?

With the combination of moving to an available fuel, HVO, and by focusing on weight, hull shapes and electrification in general, I can proudly say we’re offering real solutions available today. Hydrogen, methanol, ammonia and alternative fuels in general are technologically possible, but they’re not always applicable to any size of boat, and at this stage are not a widespread option.

Vitelli made a sustainability-focused keynote presentation at this year’s World Yachting Summit in Monaco

They are a fascinating alternative that we’re closely looking at with our R&D department, but not a widely applicable solution for today. I believe legislation might become stricter, so we need to be prepared. We need this technology shift in our yachting world, the same way the car industry needs it, although yachting is a very small player in terms of emissions.

Although some of the current generation of owners are not so concerned about this topic, the stakeholders and the new generation of owners are.

I remember a story about a potential client coming to a boat show with his family and telling me he was thinking about buying a boat from another shipyard, but then the 20-year-old daughter said to the father: “No, we should go with Azimut because they are truly investing in green technology.” That was the sign for me that the new generation are much more aware.

Is the Seadeck 7 Azimut’s most eco-friendly offering?

Yes, it’s the epitome today. The Volvo Penta IPS hybrid technology is not yet for sale because it’s still under testing and will only be available on the market in 2026. It’s expensive, but the hybrid propulsion is only responsible for a small part of the emission reductions. Most of the savings are due to all the other technology and materials, so it’s a good solution even without the hybrid system.

What about Benetti’s eco-friendly advancements?

As Seadeck is for Azimut, B.Yond is Benetti’s most eco-friendly production series, while the 108m Luminosity is one of the world’s largest hybrid yachts.

Overall, all the Benetti fleet can operate with hybrid propulsion, and we currently have 10 yachts under construction with hybrid solutions. However, we’re not focusing only on propulsion, because consumption on megayachts is much more related to onboard systems.

Featuring the E-Mode Hybrid system by Siemens Energy, the B.Yond 37M launched Benetti’s most eco-friendly series

These yachts don’t cruise so much, so the focus is on air-conditioning, lighting and so on. We’re moving towards a new system of air-conditioning that reduces consumption by 50 per cent. We’re doing a lot of studies, including with AI, to improve power management, so that, for example, lights are turned off in cabins when no one is there.

We’re looking at intelligent systems that study your behaviour – such as the temperatures you like in your cabin, suitable temperatures when you’re not in the cabin – to drastically cut your bill.

How do owners know what’s being achieved?

To make all this clear, we’ve been working a lot with indexes. For instance, when you buy a washing machine, you have labels – A+, A++ and so on – that tell consumers the efficiency grade. If you want to buy a car, you open a magazine and you can compare one car’s consumption to another’s.

I believe it should be the same in yachting. Today, there are two indexes, YETI for the big yachts and SEA Index for the smaller segment, and we’ve been using both. We collaborate with Lloyd’s Register and other third parties to certify all our yacht consumptions; this is not marketing. I’ve been inviting the industry to follow this approach, so it becomes like other industries. We need a professional approach, transparent communication and certifications by third parties, so it’s clear for the consumer.

We’re in a transition phase but eventually I can say that Seadeck is eligible for the SEA Index three stars. It can give you a clear, immediately recognisable parameter. Benetti’s 67m Kasper has a three star index. Little by little, if such a rating becomes part of a customer’s request, it will push shipyards in that direction. There will be a common, independent rating instead of shipyards just saying they’re green.

You have an extensive network of dealers across Asia, but no regional company headquarters. Is this a deliberate choice?

Actually, we do. Our long history in Asia was due to the vision of my father. By the 1990s, we had a Hong Kong-based Benetti customer buying a minority stake in the group. From early on, Asia was a focus and that partnership with a Benetti client helped accelerate our entry into markets in Asia.

Vitelli in Tokyo with Italian Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti, Yasuda Shipyard CEO Takayuki Nozawa and Azimut|Benetti CEO Marco Valle

It’s a long-established venture. With Azimut, we have about 10 dealers covering the whole of Asia from Japan, mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia in Southeast Asia. We cover the whole spectrum of opportunities in Asia, as we believe in a strong dealer network.

Our dealers are headed by entrepreneurs, such as Mr Takayuki Nozawa, President and owner of Yasuda Group in Japan. Our dealers are deeply rooted in the local economic and cultural environment, providing services for their covered areas, so it’s a very diverse organisation with key people that are not only managers but entrepreneurs. They talk to our prospects and customers at the same level. We believe in this model, which is why we’ve been supporting long-time dealers and establishing new dealers.

Tam Son Yachting in Vietnam is a relatively recent appointment and doing very well. More recently, we appointed Europa Yachts for Indonesia and Short Marine for all of Australia, so we believe we have a good mapping as they complement existing distributors.

On top of this framework, we have dedicated people based in Asia, coordinating the sales and marketing network and supporting local dealers including for after-sales service. Being in a region that’s so spread out, we have an on-site, mobile regional structure for both Azimut and Benetti.

We used to have offices in Shanghai for Azimut and in Hong Kong for Benetti. We kept the people, but we didn’t feel the need for offices. We still have the people based in the region, but travelling around because they support the network.

How would you describe the Asia-Pacific market and its importance to Azimut|Benetti Group?

It’s key. The overall Asian market is very fond of Azimut flybridges. Clients here like the design and the volume that the flybridge provides, with a lot of interior space and different socialising areas. Azimut’s Grande range has been doing very well and it’s a fact that the average size of yachts sold in Asia has been growing.

Compared to decades ago, when the Asian consumer was asking for a dedicated layout – such as our Azimut Dragon series – today I see a new generation of more cosmopolitan customers. They don’t necessarily want a completely different product, but are more inclined toward international design and lifestyle, while still appreciating some layout customisations.

Tokyo hosted the inaugural Azimut Asian Rendez-Vous in late May 2025

Very often, they don’t want a saloon and a dining area but an all-in lounging area, maybe with low tables, so more socialising areas. Unlike in the US, we don’t sell open galleys in Asia because the kitchen should remain separate.

In terms of layout, there are still specific requirements and customisation, but I’d say there’s a move towards contemporary global aesthetics. ‘Made in Italy’ is very much appreciated, especially how it evolved. It’s now cleaner and more harmonious, which is typically Asian, especially Japanese, but with a little bit more decoration and ‘warmth’ than the minimalistic approach.

How does the Asia-Pacific market compare to others?

We launched the Seadeck 7 in Asia at this year’s Singapore Yachting Festival and although we already have parameters from the rest of the world, it’s still very fresh in this region. The trend towards bigger boats is like the rest of the world. When we talk about Asia, there are many different countries and facets.

Chinese customers overseas remain active, but mainland China is still not a big market due to culture, infrastructure and coastline regulations. A few years ago, when some of our competitors sold partly or fully to Chinese groups, they announced they would start production in China for the local market. This never happened.

In Asia, all of us should work on fostering the yachting culture, which has moved forward but not as much as Russia, for example. From the time Russia opened to the Western world, it instantly jumped into the marine lifestyle. More time is needed in Asia and probably better crew quality. There’s a great opportunity for well-paid jobs in this sector and I believe the area has the manpower, but high-quality training is needed.

Is your current focus on Asia influenced by the US-led trade war?

We’ve been experiencing an interesting position in recent years. The fact we could organise this year’s Azimut Asian Rendez-Vous in Japan, with 10 yachts on display, was very encouraging. We’ve seen an increase in sales and interest, so we want to boost it.

Hopefully, we won’t have to substitute the US, because it represents 25-30 per cent of our global market. A major part of our sales in the US are 24m-plus yachts that aren’t normally US-flagged, so it’s not such a big issue.

Vitelli cuts the ribbon at the opening of Azimut’s new headquarters in July

In the smaller segment, fortunately, we are a truly premium brand in the US, so we believe this perception will make the difference. It’s like a Ferrari car or an Hermes bag: customers will be ready to buy even if there’s a 10 per cent increase in price.

Can you give us an update of Azimut|Benetti Group’s facilities and any changes?

We recently made some acquisitions. We expanded in Tuscany, around Pisa and Massa. We created a hub for building fibreglass and another for building small yachts in steel and aluminium. Previously, these were normally purchased externally or outsourced. The decision was made not to buy suppliers but to control quality by transforming those areas into production sites.

We’ve invested in 100,000sqm close to Avigliana, Piedmont, to be ready for potential new activities. Even in the boom years, the strategy was to expand our facilities. Whenever it was possible, we enlarged all our production sheds in Avigliana, Livorno and Viareggio. We believe in organic, internal growth by building on what we have.

Refit is another focus and area of expansion. In Livorno, we’ve invested €12 million for Lusben to become one of the big refit players in southern Europe, competing with France and Spain, including in the 100m-plus yacht segment and sailing yachts, due to the addition of a dedicated shed for the booms in Lusben’s Livorno facility.

azimutyachts.com

benettiyachts.com

AB Yachts debuting 50-knot sport yacht

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AB Yachts debuting 50-knot sport yacht

September 4, 2025
2:22 pm

Part of Italy’s Next Yacht Group, AB Yachts is staging the world premiere of the AB 95 at the Cannes Yachting Festival.

AB Yachts is hosting the global debut of the AB 95 at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival (September 9-14), where the motoryacht builder will also show the second unit of the AB 110. Both motoryachts will also be on display at the Monaco Yacht Show (September 24-27).

According to the shipyard, the AB 95 is capable of 50 knots due to a total thrust of 6,000hp from three 2,000hp MAN V12 engines operating with two MJP steerable waterjets and an MJP central booster. The first unit was launched in July at the shipyard’s production site in Viareggio, also home to the Next Yacht Group’s headquarters.

Designed by Archea Associati, the 28.5-metre flybridge motoryacht has a 6.8m beam and accommodates up to 10 guests on the lower deck in two full-beam suites and two guest cabins, as well as four crew in two cabins.

The only helm station is on the main deck and has a reverse windscreen, while the yacht’s sleek overall styling benefits from a flybridge with a low windshield that benefits aerodynamics. The flybridge can be accessed from the cockpit by two external carbon staircases and is helm free, meaning the whole top deck is dedicated to socialising, with sunbathing areas fore and aft of two seating areas on both sides.

Aft, the fully equipped beach area includes an integrated sea-facing sofa, while there’s still space for a tender and storage for water toys.

“The AB 95 expresses the shipyard’s vision, combining the excellence of sports technology that has always distinguished the brand with generous and elegant spaces, designed to offer an on-board experience that combines comfort, style and adrenaline,” AB Yachts stated.

“The atmosphere on board is that of a sophisticated retreat, where elegance and functionality meet. Every room, from the owner’s suite to the guest cabins, is designed to ensure comfort, privacy and well-being, thanks to fine materials and a design that enhances natural light and visual contact with the sea.”

The second AB 110, also on display in Cannes and Monaco, has an overall length of 33.7m and includes a carbon flybridge, high-tech wheelhouse and three-waterjet propulsion system that delivers a top speed of 43 knots while still allowing for a shallow draft.

abyachts.com

AB 110S “merges comfort with adrenaline”

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AB 110S “merges comfort with adrenaline”

September 4, 2025
11:33 am

Part of Next Yacht Group, AB Yachts has developed the AB 110’s Sport version, packed with special features and designed to reach 48 knots.

AB Yachts has announced the addition of a new model to its portfolio of high-speed motoryachts: the AB 110S. An evolution of the AB 110 that debuted in 2024, the AB 110S – S stands for sport – also has an overall length of 33.7m and a beam of 6.8m.

She’s a true sports yacht, as the AB 110S is one of the first boats on the market to be equipped with the all-new MAN V12X-2200 engines. Three units complemented by comfort-enhancing waterjets deliver a total of 6,600hp and a predicted top speed of 48 knots.

The AB 110S also marks the builder’s first collaboration with Exe Design, with the Turin-based industrial design studio bringing in fresh ideas from its experience in the automotive and appliance worlds.

The flybridge motoryacht accommodates up to 10 guests in four guest cabins on the lower deck, while there’s also accommodation for four crew. However, it’s a series of new retractable features that are among design highlights on the AB 110S.

Top of the list is a retractable or ‘pantograph’ hardtop, which can be set low within the flybridge when in the forward position, offering the most streamline option. Reminiscent of convertible sports cars, it’s yachting’s equivalent of being able to “put the top down”.

When guests want to use the flybridge, the hardtop can be raised to cover the forward half of the flybridge or, depending on where the sun is, set further back to cover the aft half of the top deck.

There’s further versatility in the flybridge’s central helm station, which features a folding dual technical seat or ‘retractable command throne’ as Exe Design describes it.

A concealed valve system enables the double helm seat to fold forward and be cushioned against the helm display, which helps reduce visual obstacles between the fore and aft sunbathing areas, and can also create an even more streamlined appearance when the hardtop is down.

An extendable cockpit cover is another hidden surprise, with a sliding-slat system emerging from the flybridge overhang to provide full cover over the C-shaped sofa and the sculpted bar area to port. Inside, there’s a retractable sunroof above the lower helm and forward end of the saloon, as well as a transparent companionway that further increases natural light and ventilation.

In the bow, the foredeck features what Exe Design describes as the ‘flying couch’. The raised, wraparound sofa offers a panoramic sea view and, according to AB Yachts, “allows guests to fully appreciate the yacht’s dynamic nature and experience the thrill of the sea from a privileged vantage point”.

Exe Design stated that “introducing innovative solutions for life on board” and “merging comfort with adrenaline” were among the challenges of designing the AB 110S.

“This project was born from the fusion of automotive design language – developed to highlight the performance of the Sport version – and an in-depth understanding of the technical and functional requirements of yachting,” said co-founder Stefano Bedoni.

“Exe Design has its roots in car design, one of our core areas of expertise, while we also boast over 20 years of experience in naval architecture. It’s from this dual competency that a yacht emerges where the two worlds blend harmoniously and coherently. This cross-sector approach is the real added value of our work.”

The AB 110 and AB 110S are the second largest models by AB Yachts, which delivered the first AB 130 (39.65m) earlier this year. The brand’s portfolio also includes the AB 80 (25.4m), the AB 95 (28.45m) – a world premiere at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival – and the AB 100 (30.45m).

abyachts.com

nextyachtgroup.com

Benetti to premiere Class 44M at Cannes

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Benetti to premiere Class 44M at Cannes

August 29, 2025
10:49 am

The Italian shipyard will debut the 145ft flagship of its fibreglass models among a four-superyacht display at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival.

Benetti is hosting the world premiere of the Class 44M at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival (September 9-14), with the shipyard’s fibreglass flagship represented by hull one, Juno’s 7.

The Class 44M was designed inside and out by Cassetta Yacht Design, which collaborated with Benetti’s architectural team on the exterior lines, interiors and décor. The 144ft 7in superyacht is the successor to the Diamond 44M and is based on the same hull as the former model, which first launched in 2020 and was also designed by Giorgio Cassetta’s studio.

At the Super Yachts Extension in Vieux Port, Benetti will also show units from three of its most popular fibreglass models: the Oasis 40M (Cada Dia) and Oasis 34M (A+), as well as the Motopanfilo 37M (Angel), while also revealing an upcoming model.

Cada Dia is the 20^th unit in Benetti’s successful Oasis line, with both the 40M and 34M featuring exteriors by UK-based RWD and interiors by New York studio Bonetti & Kozerski. Among customisations on Cada Dia, the master suite is situated aft on the upper deck, “transforming it into a true private apartment with panoramic views”, while two spacious VIP cabins are located forward on the main deck.

The Oasis 34M is Benetti’s only sub-300GT model to feature the exclusive Oasis Deck®. On A+, standout features are the fold-down wings at the stern, which create a 76sqm flush platform integrated with the main saloon, “transforming the entire area into a true terrace overlooking the sea, usable at any time of day”.

Inspired by Benetti’s heritage, the Motopanfilo 37M features an exterior by Francesco Struglia in collaboration with Benetti, notable for the bronze ‘ribbon’ that connects the hull to the superstructure. Lazzarini Pickering Architetti handled the remarkable interiors, which are characterised by a ribbed structure running through the yacht, “reinterpreting classic nautical elements in a contemporary way”.

benettiyachts.com

Singapore Yachting Festival 2026 signals a new direction for Asia’s marine industry

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Singapore Yachting Festival 2026 signals a new direction for Asia’s marine industry

August 29, 2025
9:29 am

Organisers of Asia’s leading boat show are “placing more emphasis on real business outcomes, curated buyer engagement and cross-industry integration”.

The Singapore Yachting Festival (SYF) returns to ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove from April 23-26, 2026, with an amplified direction to be the regional platform for business, innovation and serious engagement across the marine and lifestyle sectors.

As the Asia-Pacific yachting market gains global prominence, SYF 2026 is evolving to reflect the region’s rising influence, not just as a growth market but as a strategic buying centre and a vital bridge connecting global yacht manufacturers with Asia’s investors, dealers and owners.

The Festival is expected to feature over 90 vessels and 200 brands, and attract more than 13,000 visitors from Singapore, Asia and beyond. The showcase will span both land and water, featuring on-water displays, floating exhibition booths, and a dedicated onshore pavilion, offering brands diverse opportunities to activate their presence, showcase innovations and engage directly with visitors.

Jonathan Sit, Singapore Yachting Festival’s Show Director, said: “SYF 2026 isn’t just another boat show; it’s the pulse of Asia’s rapidly growing yachting economy. This is where deals are closed, market trends are shaped, and the industry’s most influential players converge. Brands and buyers serious about this market can’t miss this.”

As global brands continue to launch their latest products at shows in Cannes, Monaco, Fort Lauderdale and Düsseldorf, SYF has emerged as the definitive Asia-Pacific venue to present these prestigious vessels to buyers and dealers in the region. For many local clients, it is the only time they can view new yachts in person without travelling abroad.

In 2026, SYF goes further, placing more emphasis on real business outcomes, curated buyer engagement, and cross-industry integration through highly targeted zones and experiences.

What’s new at SYF 2026

Ultra Experience: A premium hosted programme for qualified buyers, complete with personal yacht walkthroughs and superyacht events.

Superyacht Lounge: Returning and enlarged as a dedicated space for interacting at another level, strategic conversations, and family office engagement.

The Mariner’s Market: A new zone focused on marine hardware, lifestyle products, and merchandise, from day-to-day essentials to personalised merchandise.

Future of Marine Showcase: Live demonstrations of AI capabilities, robotic hardware production, 3D printing pieces and marina-based automation.

Cross-Sector Luxury Integration: Expanded involvement from private aviation, luxury travel, coastal property, and high-net-worth services that complement the lifestyle and aspirations of discerning yacht owners and boating enthusiasts.

Pre-event promotion across Asia

To build year-round engagement, SYF 2026 will launch a series of round-table sessions and partner events across Hong Kong, Indonesia (Jakarta), Thailand (Bangkok) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), offering regional exposure to exhibiting brands and deeper engagement with potential clients and partners before the Festival.

Complementing these efforts will be collaborations with leading influencers across Asia to create bespoke content from these activations, broadening the Festival’s reach, generating interest and attracting high-net-worth audiences from across the region.

SYF will also secure continued coverage from international business outlets like CNBC and Bloomberg, alongside top-tier regional media in luxury, travel and marine sectors. This multi-channel strategy ensures the Festival stays visible among key decision-makers, industry stakeholders, and lifestyle consumers well before the main event.

For enquiries, contact Wade Pearce at syf@one15marina.com or +65 9051 9774.

singaporeyachtingfestival.com

Parmigiani Fleurier Unveils Chronograph Ultra-Cermet with a New Material

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Parmigiani Fleurier Unveils Chronograph Ultra-Cermet with a New Material

August 28, 2025
8:30 pm

Discover the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph Ultra-Cermet with its innovative ceramic-titanium case and refined craftsmanship.

Leave it to Parmigiani Fleurier to make material innovation an exercise in restraint. While the practice of borrowing high-tech materials from aerospace or automotive industries is not new to watchmaking, it is often accompanied by aggressive posturing – all wild colours and boasts of virtual indestructibility. Not so at Parmigiani Fleurier. When the brand announced it had become the first to use cermet (a composite of ceramic and metal, covered below and in our materials special elsewhere) extensively in a watch case, it did so with quiet refinement. Meet the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph Ultra-Cermet.

Cermet is a composite popular in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and other high-performance fields, prized for combining the best qualities of ceramics and metals. It offers the scratch-resistance of ceramic while maintaining the toughness and ductility of metal, making it less brittle, more durable, and pleasingly lightweight and cool to the touch. There are all manner of such ceramic and metal blends, some of which are composites and others not quite. In the case of the Fleurier brand, it is a blend of ceramic and titanium, resulting in a cool anthracite shade with a subtle metallic sheen, enhanced through alternating brushed and polished finishes.

The Tonda PF Sport Chronograph Ultra-Cermet’s 42.5mm by 13.3mm case, fluted bezel, crown, pushers, and pin buckle are all made from this composite. It took the brand three years to develop the material, and the case alone requires a full day to assemble it 72 distinct components.

The dial continues the theme of understated sophistication. A satin-finished black or (a 9k gold-nickel alloy) gives the surface a grey-black hue that harmonises with the case. Delta-shaped, open-worked hands track the hours and minutes, while a central second hand marks the chronograph function. The gold indices are hand-applied, plated with black or, and filled with lume for nighttime legibility. Two dial variations are available – one with subdials in “London Grey”, the other in “Milano Blue”– each paired with a matching rubber strap.

Turn the watch over and you will find the in-house PF070 calibre, first introduced in 2021 for the brand’s 25th anniversary and the launch of the Tonda PF Chronograph collection. A high-frequency movement beating at 5 Hz (36,000 vph), it measures elapsed time to 1/10th of a second and is COSC-certified. It features a column wheel and vertical clutch, while its bridges are open-worked, satin-finished, and hand-bevelled. The 22-carat rose gold oscillating weight is skeletonised, sandblasted, and polished. Fully wound, the calibre offers 65 hours of power reserve.

In an industry where cutting-edge is rarely quiet, the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph Ultra-Cermet is refreshingly modest, without losing presence. As CEO Guido Terreni puts it: “Our timepieces are created for those who value silence over noise, craftsmanship over spectacle, and meaning over affectation.”

This story was first seen as part of the WOW #79 Summer 2025 Issue

For more on the latest in luxury watch reads, click here.

Boat Lagoon Yachting sells pre-owned Ferretti flagship

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Boat Lagoon Yachting sells pre-owned Ferretti flagship

August 28, 2025
4:47 pm

The regional dealership has completed the sale of a Ferretti Yachts 1000 brokerage model based in Hong Kong.

Boat Lagoon Yachting has sold a pre-owned Ferretti Yachts 1000 in Hong Kong to a long-standing client. The sale of the 2022 model, the flagship of the Italian brand, adds to Boat Lagoon Yachting’s track record of over 35 transactions of both brand-new and pre-owned yachts in the 25-40m segment in recent years.

“The Ferretti Yachts 1000 is a planing superyacht whose size, performance and Italian elegance make it perfectly suited for Asia’s cruising lifestyle,” Boat Lagoon Yachting stated.

Cindy Li, Boat Lagoon Yachting’s Asia Business & Sales Manager, acted on behalf of the buyer, while Ivy Yu of China-based Speedo Marine represented the seller. The new Ferretti Yachts 1000 owner, a long-time customer of Boat Lagoon Yachting, has also entrusted the company with management of the flybridge motoryacht.

“We are very proud to have delivered this exceptional yacht to one of our most valued clients. What sets Boat Lagoon Yachting apart is the combination of technical advisory expertise and cultural understanding,” Li said.

“In this case, our knowledge of Chinese expectations, together with our ability to manage the entire process in Hong Kong, from local formalities and administration to technical services and ongoing management, ensured a smooth and successful outcome.”

The transaction illustrates Boat Lagoon Yachting’s strength in delivering comprehensive regional support, encompassing licensing, crewing, technical oversight, and after-sales care throughout the region.

Headquartered in Thailand with another major office in Singapore, Boat Lagoon Yachting has an international team that includes staff fluent in English, French, Dutch, Russian, Thai, Indonesian and Malay, as well as Cantonese and Mandarin, allowing the company to guide clients from Greater China and Hong Kong.

“This ensures every aspect of the yacht acquisition process is handled with both precision and cultural understanding, offering peace of mind and a seamless ownership experience,” the company stated.

boatlagoonyachting.com

Giovanna Vitelli outlines the success of the family-owned Azimut|Benetti Group – Part 1

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Giovanna Vitelli outlines the success of the family-owned Azimut|Benetti Group

August 28, 2025
1:28 pm

Having succeeded her father as Chair of Azimut|Benetti Group, Giovanna Vitelli explains how the company maintains its leadership in the yachting industry, in the first of a two-part interview. Interview: Gael Burlot; Photos: Azimut|Benetti Group

Giovanna Vitelli, Chair, Azimut|Benetti Group

How has Azimut|Benetti Group managed to top the Global Order Book for 24m-plus yachts for 25 years in a row?

First of all, I believe in a privately owned, family-led company. This is a business model where we have the pleasure and privilege to look at long-term vision and not have to make short-term decisions. We don’t have to answer to a private equity fund or the stock exchange. I believe this is key, especially in this industry where investments and decisions might impact in a medium or long term. Consequently, we have three main strategy pillars deriving from this framework.

To start with, we have a very wide product range. Again, this is a very long-term vision because there are times in the market where you have more success with a certain size of yachts and others when smaller boats are the answer. We’re a group, but we are two companies with Azimut and Benetti, even three, if we take Lusben [refit company].

For each, the management, marketing and sales approach are very different, but the fact we have such a wide portfolio covering all the high-end motoryacht segments has been one of our keys to success.

Second is geography. Our presence is very capillary, with a very widespread presence in the Asian markets, for instance. We manage the whole world with a clear strategy, by never depending too much on one market. We are well spread between the Americas, Europe and the rest of the world, which in many cases has proven to be successful.

Benetti launches XWave, a new hull from the B.Now 50M series

For example, when there was the Russian issue, some Northern European shipyards faced major problems, as the market was their number one customer. I believe we applied a clever strategy. The sales network is completely different between Azimut and Benetti. Each brand has its own sales model.

Azimut has exclusive dealers, which we believe in when we see other companies switching to direct sales. This can look attractive in terms of apparently higher margins, because you don’t have to pay a commission, but we believe there’s nothing stronger than a local entrepreneur who’s absorbed in the local scene, interpreting the brand with the local culture and therefore adding value to the sales proposition. Also, even though we coordinate it from both Italy and locally, aftersales services managed by the dealers provide an immediate and very local answer to customers’ needs.

On the Benetti side, it’s a different story because we have Area Managers based in the different regions. Either we sell directly or we sell through a broker’s network, not through dealers. This strategy, which has been very clear and consistent, is also obvious for our people in terms of where we are heading – to the helm and to keep our leadership.

What else is key to the Group’s success?

Another essential element is product innovation. With reference to our large product range, in this business, you win if you have the right product and you lose if you don’t. In other luxury businesses, if you’re good at marketing, you might be able to get away with it, but in our business, a good yacht is a good yacht.

Giovanna worked with her late father Paolo at Azimut|Benetti Group from 2000, succeeding him as Chair in early 2023

From my father’s vision, we are a product-based group, and this is a key element of concentration. I’d say we had an interesting journey in this respect. Over the decades, innovation has had different interpretations. At the pioneering time of my father, it was more concentrated on pure technology and materials.

For example, the Azimut Targa was the very first yacht with an opening roof on top of your head. In early 2000, we had the first windows in hulls. The approach was to blend function and beauty. However, the challenge there was how to put a piece of glass in the hull, a structural element.

Nearer to my time with the company, innovation has not been forgotten on the technological side but there has been a switch, an evolution of the market. Over the last 10 years, our winning approach has been technology but combined with lifestyle, so we’ve introduced different concepts and ways of living onboard. This has been the key element of our success. It’s not me saying this: the sales speak for themselves.

Think about beach clubs. Up to the 1990s or even 10 years ago, remember those boxes down some steps we used to call ‘beach clubs’? They were ‘caves’! The idea was to completely revolutionise that concept, with a platform open on every side, and the connection between indoor and outdoor becomes completely different with windows surrounding you.

CGI of Benetti’s B.Loft 65M, which includes an enormous waterside beach club

Benetti’s Oasis Deck embodies this, while Azimut’s Grande Trideck offers another interpretation. Other design innovations include Azimut’s Grande 26M with its deck-to-deck terrace, the Seadeck Series by Azimut, or the Veranda Deck in Benetti’s upcoming Motopanfilo. Benetti’s B.Loft is another interpretation of the beach club.

Would you say Azimut|Benetti Group was a pioneer in this area?

Absolutely, we’ve reinterpreted the on-board experience by ensuring that the joy of being close to the sea is built into the very essence of the yacht. There’s no need for the crew to reconfigure spaces or move furnishings. Thanks to innovative solutions, the connection with the sea is always there, effortless, immediate and deeply immersive. That’s the true value of our approach.

For instance, when the sides are up on a Benetti Oasis Deck, there are descending terraces, an infinity pool in front of you, the social life around that pool. In the evening, even if you’re sitting in a port and sipping your cocktail right there, you’re enjoying a certain lifestyle. In other examples we see, the beach club needs to be cleared of toys or a tender, or you have the presence of cranes or other stuff, so the area requires a total transformation.

CGI of Benetti’s B.Now 67M with the Oasis Deck option

Again, having a family owned or privately owned company can make a difference. The Oasis series did not sell for two years – from the initial renderings presented to the market to when the boat was ready – before becoming one of our major international successes. These are the risks and investments you can take if you’re free to decide yourself.

Do you agree that your self-confidence and stability is linked to your family heritage, which we also see in such long-serving staff, including a CEO who has been with Azimut|Benetti Group for almost three decades?

I think this is a very big compliment and I believe it has always been the signature not only of my family but the spirit of the company. This is about touching the people.

I’ve been offered huge amounts of money to sell the company, which I decided not to pursue because I would like to give continuity. I feel I learned from the best mentor in this industry and can rely on a solid company foundation that has grown with me and involved many key people. This is certainly a strength.

My wish would be to succeed in something that is not common in Italy, and certainly not in this industry. Yachting is a big passion for many entrepreneurs. It’s a world where we have very good entrepreneurs, but in most cases, it’s a one-man show. It’s difficult to pass it on or to transform it into a more professional, managerial, team-led structure.

The aft ‘Fun Island’ on Azimut’s Seadeck 7

However, I believe this is not an industry where you can easily manage without a clear vision, so that’s why I still act as an Executive Chairman. I believe the family needs to steer the strategy, but we’re a company heading towards €1.5 billion turnover with an order book valued at €2.6 billion and 2,500 employees. We’re playing in the ‘big league’.

Most of my colleagues in the industry didn’t succeed when the company size reached a point where one person was no longer enough to direct it. This was a message from my father. The founder and owner normally has the company in their heart, so often they never leave the company until the very end.

My father’s succession plan started 20 years ago by building up how the company should grow, even after me. In fact, long before his passing, he had given the helm to me and the management, which was an extremely good thing. It was seamless.

What are the most important words of advice your father gave you?

One of his great mottos was ‘rich company, poor family’, which means every profit must be reinvested in the company. In a way, the family is at the service of the company, so the wealth should be used to grow the company. This remains a strategy of the Group. Staying humble, not getting full of oneself, and working hard to keep success going are other principles.

Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez have focused on natural and sustainable materials for Azimut’s Seadeck Series interiors

Among the many messages I received when he passed away, one called him ‘the humble giant’, which I like as a definition. Many people recall him not only as the greatest in the industry but also as somebody always listening, always sharing some teachings and as a gentleman. I think this is generally part of the company: not to be arrogant, not to overdo it and work hard.

You created the Paolo Vitelli Foundation, which has been renovating the Asilo Picco Nursery in Avigliana, a kindergarten used by children of many Azimut employees. What other such initiatives are you behind?

There are some we started together and others I’ve been working on during this recent period. The Foundation was active two years ago and has promoted areas where we have group activities and supported local communities. Local associations can bid for support. The Foundation’s committee – including my son, who was involved during my father’s time – looks at all the bids we receive and chooses the project to sustain.

The founding idea was that there are already many volunteering associations, so there was no need to add one more but rather support the best ones in place. This is the focus of the Foundation.

The kindergarten in Avigliana was ready to close its doors because there was not enough support, but will be reopened for the children of the local area and of our employees. Also in Avigliana, we’ve acquired 100,000sqm in front of our shipyard for future developments. One idea is to possibly develop an area for social activities, for people.

Fabio Fantolino started collaborating with Azimut on the interior of the Fly 72

In Tuscany, the company already supports employees by providing support for the kindergarten, social welfare and scholarships for employees’ children who get the highest marks in school. We also organise cancer-awareness visits at the shipyard and arrange visits for employees’ children.

This year, we added a unique element by giving supplementary health insurance to all employees, not only at the top level but to all blue-collar workers. This has been quite an investment, but we really wanted to share a little of the company’s success over these years by providing true support where people need it.

Can you outline your journey to becoming Chair of Azimut|Benetti Group?

I started as a lawyer working in Milan in a major Italian law firm (Bonelli Erede Pappalardo), specialised in M&A transactions. In 2000, as I was about to leave for New York and join a partner firm, my father told me: “Ah okay, you’re going to do your own career. I’m happy for you. In that case, I might consider selling the company.” I asked why and he said he had a good offer from a repeat Asian customer, so I said: “Wait a minute … ”

That’s why I moved back home and started my career in Azimut|Benetti Group, and was appointed a Board Member in 2000. At the beginning, I was assigned to a marinas division, which was still a small company in a big Group. I had the chance to see everything. We then built up the legal department due to my background and subsequently we both agreed that product development was key, the essence of this business.

Vitelli has worked for Azimut|Benetti Group since 2000

I then joined Azimut, fully responsible for the Magellano range, then the Atlantis range and key functions of the brand. I eventually moved to Benetti.

About a decade ago, I became Head of the Product Development Committee. My father told me: “I’ve been the pioneer in the past. I could see new trends and even anticipate them, but I feel I don’t have that freshness anymore. Now it’s your time.” He gradually gave me full responsibility for that aspect. I think it was also a smart way to see if I could manage, while supported by key people in the company.

How did you respond to the increase in responsibility?

We did well. Actually, there were extremely good years. One of the first big changes was considering a shift in the lead designer for Azimut after 25 years of cooperation with Stefano Righini. One of my very first decisions was to appoint Alberto Mancini, which was a good step in refreshing the Azimut range and make it evolve.

I started considering interior designers from outside the industry, before anyone else. We moved from Carlo Galeazzi to Achille Salvagni, who was mostly in retail. That was a shock to the industry, to see a designer being a bit disruptive, with interiors being completely different.

CGI of Azimut’s upcoming flagship Grande 44M, with exteriors by Alberto Mancini and interiors by m2atelier

As Azimut and Benetti both have many series of yachts, my clear idea was to grow those brands while making the ranges very distinct, to appeal to different customers. That’s why, as in the case of Azimut, while different Series may share the same exterior designer, each has its own dedicated interior designer.

I think we played a big role in switching the interpretation of luxury on board, as each range has its own personality, its own style. The interiors of Azimut’s flybridge motoryachts were designed with Salvagni, but are now with Fabio Fantolino for Fly models (below 80ft) and to m2atelier for the Grande Series (above 80ft). These are different to a Magellano model, which needs to be cosy, more like ‘home’ because these yachts are for long cruises.

They’re also completely different from the Seadeck Series, the contemporary interpretation of wellbeing and harmony. These interiors are very ‘zen’, almost with an Asian touch, so we chose Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez, who were pioneers of eco resorts, interpreting the idea that interiors and systems should focus on low consumption and recyclable materials.

I think their interpretation – which is proving very successful in terms of sales – is a good mixture of this contemporary approach with an elegant, yachting touch.

Benetti works with Lazzarini Pickering on Motopanfilo models, introducing the Veranda Deck on the Motopanfilo 45M (CGI above)

In Benetti, we chose the incredible duo of Bonetti/Kozerski for the Oasis interiors to broaden the brand’s appeal and capture a younger demographic. They are based in New York, therefore acquainted with the American market, but also have an Italian and British blend as they came from the Peter Marino Architect studio, with a fashion and retail background.

For the Motopanfilo line interiors, we work with Lazzarini Pickering Architetti, again giving a modern interpretation of the historic navettas, so the design language must be focused on yachting. These are just examples of how much we’ve benefited from the design world outside of yachting.

As a woman, would you say your mindset and vision helped open these external influences?

I’m passionate about this field and very attracted to it. I’ve been called ‘The Queen of Contest’ within the company because every now and then I’ll say, “let’s start a contest again”, to bring new fresh air.

Not every designer or every interior architect is suited to yachting, because you can’t interpret it like a house or a Milan loft. It still needs to be a boat. We declined some famous talents, but I think it has become part of our DNA, our new style evolving from the past.

azimutyachts.com

benettiyachts.com

SilverLining sailing yacht built for adventure

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SilverLining sailing yacht built for adventure

August 28, 2025
12:02 pm

A 104ft Sparkman & Stephens based in Southeast Asia, the aluminium-hulled SilverLining has sailed over 50,000nm and is for sale with Fraser, awaiting a new owner to continue her journeys around the region and beyond.
Words: Olivia Michel; Photos: Fraser

Silverlining has a carbon mast and boom, and Harken sailing system

From the very beginning, SilverLining was destined to be a world explorer. The brief from her first owner was to build a superyacht that could be used by him and his family to circumnavigate the world on a multi-year expedition, with his children being home-schooled while on board.

Designed by Sparkman & Stephens in collaboration with the owner, the result was a 31.6m, 120GT aluminium sailing yacht, constructed at the Phithak shipyard in Thailand, built to ABS class and launched in 2011. Her broker describes the layout of the S&S 104’ RS (Raised Saloon) as “tailored to tropical cruising”.

SilverLining’s entire coachroof and cockpit hardtop are covered by solar panels

The covered cockpit has two spacious helm stations, each with a huge yet stylish steering wheel. Forward of the port wheel is an alfresco dining area illuminated from above by four rectangular skylights in the hardtop.

SilverLining’s interiors, designed by Chris Lenz, are finished in classic-style wood panelling and offer light, cooled entertaining spaces. Entered via large sliding doors, the interior starts with a high-tech, semi-cocooned helm ‘pod’ opposite a dining table arranged lengthways.

A 16ft Williams diesel-jet tender is among water toys

Six steps down leads to the lounge, where a pair of attractive, curved wooden chairs face a coffee table, stools and an L-shaped sofa. Aft of the lounge are the four guest cabins, which include an ensuite VIP facing a double cabin with sliding-door access to a room with bunk beds.

At the end of the lobby is the full-beam master suite, where there’s a window-facing desk and a showpiece bathroom with a bespoke, hand-crafted wooden bathtub. The crew area is forward of the lower lounge and includes the galley, crew dining, laundry area, captain’s cabin and two twin cabins.

BUILT FOR THE LONG HAUL

However, it’s SilverLining’s performance at sea that makes the superyacht stand out from the crowd – and what attracted her second and current owner to purchase the superyacht in 2018. “SilverLining is a remarkable vessel with a host of sophisticated systems and an impressive layout,” he describes.

The covered cockpit offers good sight lines from each helm

“During the first visit, the width and high freeboard of SilverLining were immediately striking,” he recalls, adding that these details together with her weight “have been beneficial in maintaining comfort and stability through the waves”.

On a technical level, the owner notes that the carbon mast and boom by Italy’s Maxspar, along with Hundeberg steering and Harken sailing systems powered by hydraulics “contribute to her exceptional performance”.

Despite not having a spinnaker or gennaker on board, SilverLining can reach speeds of 11.5 knots under sail, though her owner attests that “she has not been pushed to her absolute limits yet”.

Each outdoor helm has an L-shaped bench and attractive SL-branded wheel

He details that SilverLining has cruised comfortably in windspeeds of up to 35 knots and in waves of up to 4m. “At no point did the crew and guests feel endangered by wind or sea state, even during the numerous squalls typical of Southeast Asia”.

When conditions are not suitable for sailing, SilverLining can rely on her 480hp Caterpillar engine and large fuel capacity of 10,000 litres to help her reach far-flung destinations.

“SilverLining’s performance under both sail and power has proven to be reliable and efficient, making her well-suited for destination cruising,” her owner declares.

There’s alfresco dining forward of the port helm

EXPLORER’S SPIRIT

Following in the spirit of the original owner’s intentions, the second owner of SilverLining bought her to sail extensively across tropical destinations. Throughout his ownership, he and his family covered 16,500nm, spending as much as 10 months on board each year.

To date, SilverLining has an impressive 50,000nm of cruising under her belt, much of which has taken place in Asia-Pacific’s warm waters.

Before putting her up for sale, her current owner extensively sailed SilverLining across the region, exploring Indonesia in depth with visits to Bali, Lombok, Komodo, Flores, the Anambas Islands, the Riau Archipelago and even West Papua.

Sliding doors open to the indoor helm and dining area

Other adventurous destinations on the SilverLining itinerary included Thailand, Malaysian Borneo, as well as Palawan and its surrounding islands in the Philippines.

A large garage with a fold-out platform and a fleet of water toys – including a 16ft Williams diesel-jet tender, dive gear, kayaks, paddleboards and game fishing gear – also contributed to the creation of memorable experiences for the owner and his family.

Recalling his years spent on the superyacht, the owner states: “Life aboard SilverLining is filled with unforgettable moments and cherished routines”.

Aft view of the upper saloon

He specifically pinpoints watching sunrises and sunsets from the deck as standout memories from his time aboard. And when not being enjoyed by her owner, SilverLining was also a successful charter yacht in the region.

TIP-TOP CONDITION

The owner adds that “SilverLining is in top shape”, following a major refit during 2022 and 2023. The project featured upgrades made to the navigation and communication systems, alongside a complete rigging replacement and full engine overhaul.

Interiors were also refreshed during the refit, with the installation of a Starlink Wi-Fi system throughout the yacht, the replacement of all cabin TVs, and new appliances added in the galley. To ensure additional safety during long stretches at sea, a full MCA Category A medical kit (MSN 1905 compliant) was also brought on board.

Steps down to the lower lounge

Her eco-conscious owner further enhanced the yacht by installing custom-made solar panels on the roof, providing a sustainable power supply for SilverLining’s domestic, navigation and emergency needs.

“All these upgrades have added at least €1 million to the investment, significantly improving SilverLining’s value, safety, performance and comfort, making her a standout vessel,” he states.

After many years of exploring Asian waters, her current owner is now ready to spend more time with his extended family back on shore.

Aft view of the lower lounge

He is searching for a new custodian who will continue to use SilverLining to her full potential, as a yacht that “offers a unique opportunity to explore the world, experience the beauty of the ocean, and find peace and reflection in the process”.

Although Southeast Asia may be familiar territory, her owner confirms that SilverLining has the potential to go even further afield. He notes that her hull and topside possess the necessary “durability and strength” for more tasking voyages to locations such as Alaska and Antarctica.

SilverLining is listed for sale with Fraser, with an asking price of US$3.5 million. She is currently stationed in Phuket, with plans for one last exploration to Raja Ampat Marine National Park, until she meets her new owner.

The full-beam master suite is one of four guest cabins

“The ideal owner for SilverLining would be someone who appreciates the vessel’s sophisticated systems, formidable layout, and the extensive upgrades and customisations that have been made,” the owner states.

“This person would likely value the comfort, performance and safety features that SilverLining offers, and have a passion for cruising and exploring beautiful destinations. I trust that the next owner will find as much joy and fulfilment in SilverLining as I have.”

fraseryachts.com

Boris Diaw living the life aboard his Lagoon

Leave a Comment / Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Boris Diaw living the life aboard his Lagoon

August 28, 2025
11:28 am

An NBA champion and former France captain, Boris Diaw is living the dream, spending half of each year as General Manager of the men’s national team and the other half aboard Babac, his Lagoon Seventy 7 catamaran.

Diaw set up Babac for scuba diving, with an advanced compressor and dedicated tank storage

It’s easy to think that Boris Diaw is truly living the dream. A former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, the 43-year-old now spends half of each working year as General Manager of the France men’s team, having represented and captained Les Bleus during his exceptional playing career.

At last year’s Paris Olympics, the current team delighted home crowds by reaching the final, although their dream of gold was ended by the hot favourites, an all-star US team featuring Lebron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. But don’t feel too sorry for Diaw. The Frenchman spends the other six months of each year aboard Babac, the customised Lagoon Seventy 7 he has owned since 2018.

Diaw’s original plan for the yacht was a 13-year tour of the world. Babac spent its first year in the Mediterranean then crossed the Atlantic to spend two years in the Caribbean as well as Central and South America. For the past four years, the boat has been based in the South Pacific, where Diaw has travelled around the likes of French Polynesia, Fiji and Bora Bora.

Babac, Diaw’s customised Lagoon Seventy 7

“It has been perfect so far. I really feel like I’m at home when I’m on the boat,” says Diaw, who is a qualified diving instructor and sailboat skipper, complementing his former role as capitaine of France.

“We do a lot of exploration and we’re able stay for weeks at a time at remote islands, away from civilisation. The boat was principally made for me to enjoy, so it only charters when I’m not using it. We could charter it more, but I use it a lot!”

BIG LEAGUE

At 6ft 8in, Diaw towers over most of us and comes across as the archetypal ‘gentle giant’ – relaxed, with an easy smile and seemingly happiest when talking about his darling Babac. But he’s no pushover.

The 6ft 8in Diaw is a French basketball icon

The son of Issa Diaw, a Senegalese high jump champion, and the former France centre Elisabeth Riffiod, herself 6ft 2in, Diaw had athletic genes and international-calibre sport in his blood. Born and raised in Bordeaux, he was 21 when he moved to the US to play in the NBA, one of the world’s most high-profile and competitive sports leagues.

His ambition to reach for the top drove the power forward to compete in the league for 14 years, initially for Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns – where he won NBA Most Improved Player in 2006 – and Charlotte Bobcats. His career peaked at the San Antonio Spurs, where he spent four years as teammates with superstar Tim Duncan and close friend Tony Parker, Diaw’s long-time France teammate. Diaw had even been best man at Parker’s wedding to actress Eva Longoria.

In Diaw’s first full season with the Spurs, the team reached the 2013 NBA Finals, eventually losing 4-3 to a stacked Miami Heat side starring Lebron James, Ray Allen, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. However, when the teams met again in the Finals a year later, Spurs ran out 4-1 winners, with Diaw leading the assists table and ranking second in rebounds across the best-of-seven series.

Babac’s itinerary included periods in the Mediterranean and Caribbean before the South Pacific

Diaw was also a long-time captain of France, making 247 appearances for the national team and helping Les Bleus win EuroBasket in 2013, plus silver and two bronzes in the biennial event, as well as a bronze at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. Off the court, he was President of JSA Bordeaux and Metropolitans 92 basketball clubs, during and after his NBA career respectively.

BIRTH OF BABAC

Diaw eventually called a halt to his competitive basketball career at the age of 36 in 2018, the year he took delivery of Babac. However, the self-confessed perfectionist had been carefully preparing for his retirement for several years before that.

For much of his NBA career in the US, Diaw’s base in France between basketball seasons was in Arcachon Bay, where he made the most of his love of the sea and water sports by enjoying many days out on his RIB, diving and fishing. However, his decision to buy a yacht to enjoy after the end of his playing career was prompted by a diving trip aboard a friend’s Lagoon 420 sail cat in Martinique, part of the French West Indies.

Diaw is a qualified dive instructor and boat skipper

“I was only on the boat for a couple of days, but it was like a life revelation,” Diaw admits. “I was still playing basketball, and played for another five or six years. However, I realised in the future that I could buy a boat and have the freedom to travel the world and go diving whenever I wanted, so I decided to get into boating.”

Despite his positive impressions of Lagoon and having been raised in Bordeaux, where the Groupe Beneteau brand builds its 50ft-plus models in the Construction Navale Bordeaux (CNB) facility, Diaw is adamant that Lagoon wasn’t an automatic choice for his first yacht.

“I was a perfectionist when I was playing, so I also wanted to be a perfectionist at retirement! I had a long career, so I wanted to have the best retirement I could,” Diaw smiles.

“I didn’t know much about boating and owning a yacht was a new world for me, so I wanted to make sure I had the right one for what I wanted to do. I did a lot of my own research and looked at many different builders. I also learned boats are very expensive!

Babac is equipped with a 16ft Williams DieselJet 505 tender, plus a wide range of water toys

“However, I fell in love with Lagoon and the brand, visited the CNB shipyard, and learned more about how they make the boats and their focus on ecology. I also managed to see some older Lagoon catamarans that had aged well, and this was important to me because I was in this for the long run.”

EXPLORING THE BIG BLUE

When Diaw was looking to buy a sailing catamaran, the 620 was Lagoon’s largest model, which led him to consider a custom version, although he was ultimately looking for something bigger.

He was then alerted to Lagoon’s plans to build bigger yachts, with a model provisionally entitled the 720 eventually expanding into the Seventy 7. The new flagship premiered at the 2016 Cannes Yachting Festival and was the brand’s biggest sail cat until the Eighty 2, which will debut at Cannes this September.

During his research period, Diaw even travelled with Lagoon Brand Director Thomas Gailly to the Monaco Yacht Show with the mission to find a submersible, but was soon made aware that a sub-80ft sailing catamaran would struggle to carry and deploy a 5-tonne sub! However, the Seventy 7 did have more than enough space and headroom for a man standing 2.03m tall, with Diaw only requiring one change due to his size: the lowering of the shower floor by 15cm.

An avid traveller and explorer, Diaw says he feels “like I’m at home when I’m on the boat”

Diaw had Babac set up for long, autonomous diving trips. Customisations included the installation of a scuba compressor, including for Nitrox and Trimix, while the forepeaks are dedicated to storing tanks and other diving equipment. A qualified diving instructor, Diaw soon learnt to sail and became a qualified skipper after taking ownership of Babac.

“I wanted a boat that’s functional for diving because a lot of the cruising programme and itinerary is about diving,” he says. “And although Babac wasn’t made for a charter programme, I think it fits perfectly for charters and Babac has a lot of returning clients, which is the biggest compliment I can pay to the boat and Lagoon.”

Just past the halfway mark of his 13-year circumnavigation, Diaw seems truly happy with his purchase, which has maintained its condition as well as he hoped, an aspect commented on by charter guests. “The boat has aged really well and people that come on don’t believe that it’s seven years old,” Diaw says. “So far, so good.”

catamarans-lagoon.com

Pacific High delivers 36m Sanya

Leave a Comment / News / yachtstyle2020

Pacific High delivers 36m Sanya

August 28, 2025
10:46 am

The phinisi build and charter company has expanded its fleet in Indonesia with the addition of the 36m Sanya.

Following 16 months of construction in Bira, Pacific High has delivered Sanya to private investor Alur Biru Pariwisata (ABP), the dedicated tourism and hospitality arm of Alur Biru Maritim (ABM). Available for charter through Pacific High, the striking 36m phinisi has a remarkable main-deck master suite and a second guest cabin, and is served by a crew of 11.

Matthieu Lavoine, CEO of ABM and ABP, said: “We see Sanya as a strategic investment in the future of high-end tourism in Indonesia. She reflects our ambition to deliver an exclusive yachting product that meets growing demand for luxury, privacy and authentic experiences in this remarkable region. Partnering with Pacific High allows us to bring together traditional Indonesian craftsmanship and modern comfort to create a truly distinctive offering.”

Sanya will spend her inaugural season charter in Komodo National Park, where guests can experience the dramatic landscapes and legendary dragon encounters that define the UNESCO World Heritage site.

From October, operations will shift to Raja Ampat, arguably the world’s most biodiverse marine environment and a destination increasingly sought by experienced yacht charterers seeking authentic wilderness experiences.

Sanya has a navy blue hull and is fitted with a 280hp engine that delivers a seven-knot cruising speed, suited to Indonesia’s island-hopping charter style, while modern navigation and safety systems integrate discreetly within the yacht’s traditional aesthetic. The yacht was designed by Yann Martinie de Maisonneuve, Pacific High’s co-founder and Executive Chairman.

“Sanya is designed for those who crave genuine escape, privacy and the freedom to explore Indonesia’s beauty without compromise,” he said. “She’s not just a yacht; she’s an intimate retreat crafted to offer transformative experiences.”

Sanya’s social spaces include elegant indoor lounges, a shaded aft dining area for alfresco meals, and expansive deck spaces that invite relaxation under the sun or stars. Like other yachts in the Pacific High fleet, Sanya’s accommodation prioritises intimacy over capacity.

Sanya’s standout feature is its exceptionally spacious main-deck master suite, where floor-to-ceiling doors frame panoramic ocean views, while the king-sized bed and en-suite bathroom with dual vanities create a hotel-suite atmosphere. Direct access to exterior lounging areas allows guests to step from their bedroom to an open deck.

A second guest cabin on the lower deck provides flexible accommodation for additional guests, children or crew.

Pacific High’s charter fleet also includes the 32m Nataraja, 31m Senja and 33m Dewata. For a sample two-week charter itinerary, visit: yachtstyle.co/charter-indonesia-pacific-high-komodo-sumbawa/

pacifichighcruise.com

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