Perspective

The Big Show

We asked Lorenzo Laurenti from Brenta Design to give us his thoughts of the Genoa Boat Show. Enjoy.

I will pass my comments, which I am happy to share with your community, bearing in mind that is a very narrow prospective (after all I am a designer!) of a much larger event. Having said this only to give an idea there were 2400 boats (70% below 30 ft) and 430 boats in the water. Overall, +10% exhibitors with respect to last year for 324,000 visitors and a 1 billion Euro turnover (30% of the entire Italian marine industry). The biggest sail boat was a Jongert 30 mt, others included Swan, IMX70, Serigi 65 plus all the large production builder with both boats in the water and in the Pavilion B. Overseas observers told me that this maybe one or the largest Boat Show in the world!

All the major players were there: Beneteau group, with all their brands (First, Oceanis, Jeanneau). The new First 50 was on display and I had a good look at it. She is a Briand Design and I have to admit that they have raised the bar in terms of design quality. The boat features a nice coachroof with central flush-deck hatches strip and innovative interiors. Somewhat they have taken pieces and bits from larger boats development but taken down to a very attractive price (300 Euro approx …) The interesting thing still is that for a one First 50 sold, these guys sell 4 Oceanis 50 which is not the sexiest boat on the planet but certainly has a much larger volume…less mast and performance….but, apparently, people buy space and comfort by far.

For the same reason, Dufour has introduced to the market their new 525 Grand Large series. And this boat is the triumph of the Grand Large concept. A generous beam taken nearly all the way back to the transom. Huge interiors and very large cockpit. Not sure about upwind performance…..but everyone tell me that people cruising along simply don’t sail upwind so do not worry about it. Looking at their selling performance they must be right. Walking along, Grand Soleil is keeping their feet in their track. They have introduce the new Botin designed 40ft…nice and easy (pretty sure the Grand Soleil customers may tack a couple of times during the season). Beside Grand Soleil, Italian Comet with a new raised saloon proposal. Hanse showed their new 630 (being the first to series produced 60+ feet). The boat, like all other Hanse, is very volumetric, but still with a proportion. Designed by Judel/Vrolik she features a nice interior layout for an incredible price (approx 850K Euro Vat included). Alongside the big guys smaller Italian yards are climbing up the ladder to fill, I guess, the gap between the dying small custom boat industry, and a number of clients that are ready to pay more to get more (carbon rigs + wider choices spectrum –materials/colours/fabrics and equipment in general) served with a more performance in a stylish package.

One good example is Sly Yachts which being a little over 1 year old, was at the show with 4 boats from 42 up to 53ft including a interesting “weekend sailor” called the 42 Fun which featured a nice built in bimini for typical hot Med summer days. Another one is the Mylius 11 mt or the M37 from 2 Emme Marine. Baltic with their custom 56 where there, Adria Sail with the 59 R&P was also there. Not many cats where there but the Lagoon 420 Hybrid was pretty interesting for the accommodations and the propulsion concept. On the day sailor side the Brenta38 was inside wile the pretty Tofinou 9.5 mt was outside in the marina 1. What else…..a lot more happened there. There was the Maltese Falcon as a special guest, while one of the BMW Oracle was sitting outside. There has been a number of conventions probably the most interesting one was the one held at the Yachting Club Italiano where a number of designers gave their speech (Ken Freivok, Luca Brenta and Odile Decq and Laurenz Schaffer from BMW designwork) to a large audience. All in all a very busy venue and a pretty exciting atmosphere of what still seems to be a pretty booming industry.

10/20/06