Benetti launches 65m build during Yachtmaster

alt="Benetti launches 65m build during Yachtmaster"/>

Marco Valle, CEO of Azimut-Benetti, at the launch of the 65m custom build

Benetti broadcast the launch of a 65m custom build during the Italian builder’s annual Yachtmaster, which this year was held in a ‘phygital’ version over two days. Marco Valle, CEO of Azimut-Benetti Group, hosted the launch, which was held on the morning of the first day’s session.

Now in its 21st year, the Yachtmaster is an annual event organised by Benetti for captains, crews and yacht industry professionals involved in the life cycle of a superyacht. This year’s event featured a virtual platform specially created in collaboration with Live Forum.

Attendees could watch and interact in online meetings, seminars, workshops and three editions of a Virtual Trade Show, which featured event partners showcasing their products. The full programme ran from 9.45am-6.00pm Italy time on both days.

David Seal moderated the event, which featured the theme Next Generation Yachts, focused on advanced technology and design excellence.

Moderator David Seal (left) and Benedetta Moreno (centre), Azimut-Benetti’s Marketing Director

Giovanna Vitelli, Vice President of Azimut-Benetti Group, opened the event with a welcome speech before Marketing Director Benedetta Moreno spoke from the Benetti Museum Lounge about the shipyard’s history, which dates to 1873. Toby Walker, Benetti Area Sales Manager, introduced the novelties in the Benetti fleet before a meeting entitled ‘The impact of IMO Tier III on the Benetti fleet’.

Owner’s Team Perspective featured Captain Frank Hesse talking from the bridge of the 63m Metis about his experiences, career milestones and life on board, before the live stream moved to the galley where chef Italo Bassi staged a cooking demonstration.

The afternoon featured three workshops: Deep dive on SCR installation opportunities; Certification process for inventory of hazardous materials (IHM); and State-of-the-art bridge consoles and NAVCOM systems for improved control, monitoring and safety at sea. Two stewardess workshops were held in parallel.

The second day started with a yoga session streamed live from the main deck of the 108m Luminosity. Then, in a live link from the bridge and the engine room, Benetti CCO Sebastiano Fanizza and Project Manager Michele Bechelli talked about the yacht’s hybrid propulsion system.

Federico Lantero, Azimut-Benetti’s Product Marketing and Communication Director, later accompanied guests on a tour of the B.Yond 37M now under construction in Livorno. In the ‘Yacht propulsion systems: present and future’ meeting, Marco Coiatelli, Benetti Custom Basic and Executive Design Manager, presented an analysis of the pros and cons of the two yachts’ propulsion systems: traditional, diesel-electric, hybrid, electric.

The second day’s Owner’s Team Perspective featured Clinton White, captain of Masquenada, which is currently undergoing a refit at Lusben’s facilities in Livorno.

After a lunch break, the programme included two workshops on low-environmental-impact refits and antifouling coatings, in parallel with two stewardess workshops focused on taking care of owners and guests including onboard well-being in relation to a healthy lifestyle and yoga. Seal and Moreno made a closing speech before Australian Jim Jefferies hosted a live, interactive comedyshow.