The Superyacht Online Resource for Captains – Captain's Directory

DUBAI 10 March 2010 - Four new yachts of over 30 metres and a design philosophy entirely at the service of the megayacht owner. With a special equipe of designers who provide services directly at Customer's home, anywhere in the world. All this is GRANDE, or better, AZIMUT GRANDE. The new family encompasses the entire Azimut Yachts offer in the over 100 feet segment and gives a characteristically Italian name to the approach that Azimut has always taken to customer relations: an approach that has made it the favourite shipyard of Megayacht owners throughout the world since twelve years.

“It is pronounced ‘grande’ - points out Ugo Garassino, Deputy General Manager of Azimut Yachts, - this translates as ‘big’, ‘great’ or ‘huge’, but means much, much more.”

“For once we're not talking about the flagship of a fleet, but rather a whole fleet of flagships. - continues Garassino - an exceptional portfolio of Megayachts, which by 2013 will have expanded to include four new models. Over the next few months, work on the Azimut 120 SL will be complete, while the 100ft Raised Pilot House, the 110ft Widebody, and last but not least the 126ft with two and a half decks will be launched in the next three years. These projects are destined to leave a lasting impression on yachting history. This is GRANDE.”

All the attention to detail and stylistic excellence of Italian craftsmanship. This is GRANDE.

All the renown of the Azimut Benetti Group: world market leader in so many ways, not least in economic and financial stability. This is GRANDE.

Freedom to use the most advanced Facilities and the best creative and production capacities within state of the art production establishments. The incredible deluxe shipyard in Viareggio, which has always welcomed Azimut owners. More than 40,000 m2 in which expert shipbuilders work alongside qualified craftsmen and which houses an innovative, rich styling lounge, to give the ultimate personal touch to each vessel. This is GRANDE.”

All the listening capacity of a Shipyard which provides a Personal Design Equipe entirely at the service of its customers. This is one of the new elements of the AZIMUT GRANDE project: a special team to transform dreams into fully operational designs. The Personal Design Equipe is happy to meet the owner anywhere in the world, to discuss his needs, discover his wishes and - in no time at all - present him with a proposal that will transform his dreams into reality. This is GRANDE.

The direct relationship with the customer and the ability to customise a vessel to the maximum is one of the great strengths of Azimut's approach that have always made it stand out, as shown by the experiences of Philip Rinaldi, owner of “Vivere” (116ft Azimut):
“A Megayacht not only represents your tastes, but is also, and most of all, a way to express yourself, to show who you have become over the course of your life. This is why I chose Azimut as a partner in building my latest Megayacht: I wanted the vessel to reflect my personality as far as possible; I wanted it to be perfect, a precise reconstruction of the image I had in mind: or even better. During the months I spent in Viareggio, it was exciting to watch my dream take shape. My blending with Azimut grew day by day, together with my yacht.”

AZIMUT GRANDE is a new adventure in entrepreneurial, design and cultural terms. A grand adventure in ideas and investments, that only Azimut could launch, strengthened by its position as international leader in Megayacht production.

“The fascination of authentic Italian craftsmanship, our customers' faith in our economic and financial stability, the opportunity to customise your own boat: these are the reasons why for the past 12 years Azimut has been the favourite shipyard for Megayacht construction among shipowners all over the world - this is how Paolo Vitelli, President of the Azimut Benetti Group sums it up. – I think that this supremacy, consolidated over so many years, results from the efforts of all the people who work for Azimut Benetti Group. These are people who, on a daily basis, use their passion for their craft to create products which are exceptional and unique, just like our customers, who are the true inspiration for the Megayachts that they create.”

Azimut Yachts
Francesco Ansalone
+39 011 93161
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www.azimutyachts.com 

 March 9, 2010

LUXURY on the sea is set to get even better with a new yacht designed by Wally to resemble a floating Island

Wally Hermes Yachts unveiled the designs for its WHY craft at the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show this week.The French fashion house Hermes teamed up with Monaco-based ship-builder Wally to create the yacht, which will cost around $160 million.The 58x38 metre yacht is designed to offer a more peaceful lifestyle, as well as be environmentally friendly.

“We hope to open a new path, to offer a new lifestyle that is different, serene, contemplative and respectful of the environment, moving slowly on the water, combining the pleasure of sailing and absolute comfort,” Hermes Artistic

Director Pierre-Alexis Dumas said.

In comparison to a yacht of the same size, WHY will save up to 200 tonnes of diesel per year, its designers said.

Wally Yachts

377 93100093

6, av. Albert II
MC98000 Monaco

March 8, 2010

With her Moon stone hull and Stark white superstructure, ISA's magnificent new 63 meter motor yacht is now fully visible outside the shed where she was built. 

This is the largest super yacht ever built by ISA and is the first of three of over 50 meters due to be launched and delivered by the shipyard this year.

This beautiful displacment motor yacht is a masterpiece of technology, design and Italian craftsmanship. She boasts sleek and aggressive lines with an impressively long sloping stern, designs by Andrea Vallicelli in close collaboration with ISA's architects. The interiors have a Key West-style with the clever use of bamboo and natural materials in the finish designed by Patrick Knowles. 

The project was commissioned in September 2007 and the construction has taken two and a half years to complete, employing 310 direct and indirect staff members. 

Launch is scheduled at the beginning of April with delivery, a little ahead of schedule, giving her owners an early start to the summer season in the Mediterranean. 

ISA Yachts

Contact: Francesca Fenucci

071 502191

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www.isayachts.com

 March 5, 2010

Star Sapphire is a custom 117-foot motor yacht launched in 2007. It is a triple-deck, 36 meter, fully equipped, twin engine vessel that is controlled electronically and even by remote. It has a jacuzzi, a gym and carefully designed sun decks. A dining table for eight conveys the owner's feelings for hospitality and dining. The interior decoration is quite elaborate. Vakko Cruise bed linens, appropriately placed statuettes and paintings create a relaxing atmosphere.

2010 - Planned destinations

Eastern Caribbean Islands
Spain
France

The yacht is owned by Jack Sternlieb, one of the most prominent cardiac surgeons in the United States. The Miami based surgeon dreamed of one day constructing his dream yacht. A thorough researcher, Sternlieb started out by hitting the boat fair circuite in search of his own boat. He says there was not a single shipyard he didn't call on, nor a single manufacturer he didn't consult with, from Italy all the way to Thailand. When one day, Jack was in his living room overlooking the blue Miami ocean, he saw a beautiful sail yacht, gracefully cruising into the marina. He quickly ran for the docked ship to inquire as to where it had been built. The surgeon was surprised when he learned that the extraordinarily beautiful boat was the 'Maltese Falcon" a sail yacht built by Baki Ozbayak in Tuzla, Turkey.  The information led Jack to the Bilgin Shipyard, a third generation boat manufacturing company at Kucukcekmece, Istanbul.

"I wanted to be involved in every phase of the construction of my boat, I understood that I didn't want to compromise a single moment of the pleasure of seeing my dreams come true," said Sternlieb. The mariner rented a house near Bilgin and followed ever stage of his boat's construction. 

"Bilgin shipyard did a perfect job in spite of me and with me; and they've helped me realize my dream, the Star Sapphire," he says. 

After sailing around the Mediterranean, Jack decided to go home to Florida, and to have his yacht transported by carrier.  Although it is feasible to move yachts by plane or freighter, the size of the Sapphire made both of these options risky. Dockwise handled the yacht transport back to Florida, and the trip was captured on film for The Discovery Channel's program "Mega Movers

."