Versilia Yachting Rendez Vous is the brand-new Italian boat event that will take place from 9th to 19th May 2019 in Viareggio, the heart of yachting industry of Italy and of the world, along the Tuscan coast. After the success of the past editions, the third edition is ready to crowd the Darsena of the seaside town famous also for its Carnival parades.
Viareggio in Tuscany has a long tradition into the yachting industry. This is an important hub into the yachting town. Here is where the Italian nautical district is located, and where about 100 of the 400 (the 25%) superyachts over 164 feet long that glide the seas of the world, are projected and built here by expert artisans of the Made in Italy, able to combine elegance and innovation for international super brands as the ones I found at Versilia Yachting Rendez Vous.
Last year we were invited to visit Versilia Yachting Rendez Vous to directly live the event where “the Internation yachting industry cruises to the Italian excellence“.
The location where the boat show took place, is an apt one, a water mirror of 50 thousand square meters inside the docks of Viareggio. The Versilia Yachting Rendez Vous hosted a total of 72 yachts, the 60% of them all over 20 meters. Walking along the docks where such beautiful boats moored, is always a great emotion to me. I had the opportunity to admire a jewel of the navigation as motor yacht Skyler, Benetti Fast 125, and the beautiful 38 m sailing yacht Dahlak, made by Perini Navi, which is the first shipyard in the world in that market.
The best luxurious superyacht of Versilia Yachting Rendez Vous
Just a few people in the world can afford to buy one of the following jewels made in Tuscany. For all the rest of the people, dreaming is still free, fortunately, so I “virtually” invite you on a board of these superyachts to imagine how you could feel.
M/Y Skyler, Benetti Fast 125
The exterior of Skyler has four distinct areas devoted to the sea and on-board living. The beach area on the lower deck has its own bar and is completely dedicated to enjoying the sea. The laterally opening garage leaves the aft area free for guests and the can accommodate a tender and two jet skis.
On the upper deck astern the owner requested a very luxurious handcrafted teak dining table that is 2m in diameter and has steel and glass details. This beautiful table makes this area one of the most stunning aboard the yacht. Forward on this deck there is a lounge with a custom seating solution that is over two meters long and almost five wide. There is also an area for relaxing with two huge sun pads and a pool.
The sun deck is an area entirely dedicated to relaxing. It’s equipped with a bar with Glyn Peter Machin bar tools, two L shaped sofas and a dining area with custom furniture signed by Minottii.
Skyler’s interior configuration has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 cabins. These include a master suite, 3 double cabins and a twin cabin with a third pullman bed. There are crew quarter for 7 to assure full service for a luxurious on board experience.
S/Y Dahlak, 38 m, Perini Navi
The Perini Navi 38m S/Y Dahlak is a collaboration with French Naval Architect Philippe Briand which features several technical innovations that illustrate Perini Navi’s commitment to providing owners with leading edge technology that enhances performance, sail handling and onboard comfort, including the latest generation of Perini Navi electric captive winches and a Lithium polymer battery system for silent running.
The yacht features three semi-automatic electric captive winches engineered by Perini Navi for optimal performance and safety in all sea conditions. The captive winches and boom are synchronized by the Perini Navi Automated Sail Handling System to dramatically improve furling and deployment speeds.
Perini Navi worked with the designer to raise the height of the superstructure by 15cm for a more comfortable and luminous interior without affecting the svelte exterior profile. The increased space is enhanced by the skylight running the length of the coachroof, which fills the deckhouse with natural light.
Dahlak’s imposing carbon fibre mast is 51.40m, combined with 14m furling boom and composite rigging, with a sail area that exceeds 1,870 m².
Flying Sport 102’, CCN-Cerri
Outside, the 28 sqm fly bridge is extremely flexible and highly customizable. A second pilot station with concealing console can be found here, while at the stern are an extendable dining table, a folding television, a barbecue, a fridge and a large sunbathing area. Besides her fly bridge, this yacht can also boast two pleasant outdoor areas, the cockpit features a comfortable sunbathing area and a dinette with multi-function table, while at the bow is a day area with round sofa that can comfortably seat up to 14 people.
On the main deck, the focus point of onboard space is the fore backlit wall, with bamboo lathwork alternating with serigraphed glass and mirroring surfaces: it was conceived to create a special visual effect that extends the view while also highlighting the overall space balance without reducing the size of the saloon.
The entire lower deck has been used for accommodation, with the master cabin and 3 guest cabins having the same stylistic features than can be found across the entire yacht.
Below deck, a passage room allows for a differentiated access to the night area; aft is the full beam master stateroom, while a corridor runs towards the bow, reaching the VIP cabin, which is also full-beam. On the sides of the corridor, there are other two guest cabins, with separate beds and Pullman beds. All cabins are ensuite with private bath.
Exclusiveness and uniqueness
Exclusivity is one of the features of this boat show, apart yachting and sea lovers. As matter of fact, Viareggio, and the entire Versilia, since the very end of the 800’s has been synonymous of exclusive locations for the holidays of wealthy people, such as nobles, important families, businessmen, people of the international show business. Then, Versilia Yachting Rendez Vous kept the exclusiveness as an important aspect of that exhibition. Therefore, they carefully selected the exhibitors, preserving the importance of the event for quality and design. After the boat show, I had a glance at the events in a program, and I could not miss the art tour organised for the occasion in Pietrasanta, a lovely town also named the Little Athens of Tuscany. Here, I visited some galleries of modern art, and I had a couple of flutes of champagne with some old friends that I met again at the Versilia Yachting Rendez Vous.
Versilia as an exclusive location
In Versilia, the seaside resort of Forte dei Marmi is nowadays an exclusive summer destination for Italian and international rich people and VIP. From June to September, rich, elegant, very well dressed Americans, Arabians, and Russians crowd the streets of this tiny town. They come here because this is the place to be, to have dinner in excellent restaurants, to do shopping in the exclusive boutique of the Made in Italy, to rest in sun in one of the luxury beach clubs of the coast, and to stay in wonderful villas surrounded by shady pinewoods. Here they have their privacy guaranteed far from curious and indiscreet eyes that could disturb their holidays.
Very often it happens to see super yachts moored not too far from the coast. Russian and Arabian billionaires come for few days in Versilia to enjoy the Italian Dolce Vita.
Nicola told me that once, in the 5 stars’ hotel where he was working, an Arab guest booked rooms only to store their luggage and place dresses in the wardrobe while he was spending the night on board of his yacht.
Another crazy story that called to my mind concerned a famous Russian billionaire, businessperson and politician that reached the coast together with his family and entourage, with his yacht tender to have dinner in one of finest restaurant of Forte dei Marmi. He did not reserve any table, thinking that there is always a table available for an important person like him. Unfortunately, the restaurant was already fully booked, and even if the billionaire offered to rent the whole restaurant for himself, the owner declined the offer, preferring to keep the tables for his customers that usually must book in advance to find a free table.
Many other wealthy people come in Versilia on holiday, even out of the season, because it is here that they can find some of the most important and valued shipyards worldwide to build their personal yacht.
All these aspects together are the reasons why Versilia became with the time an exclusive destination chosen by Jet-setters coming from all over the globe.
(Updated on 28.02.2019)
I love boats like that! I would have liked to attend this! Looks like I missed it 🙁
Hey Chandi, thank you for your comment. Next year we can go together if you would 🙂