December 1, 2023

The Italian American

Vittoria Santarone leverages her deep knowledge of Italian culture to give IYG an invaluable edge.

Vittoria Santarone is the Italian Yacht Group’s woman on the inside. As the only native Italian speaker in the company, she is instrumental for her deep and technical knowledge of Italian boatbuilding as well as her ability to communicate smoothly and efficiently across the Atlantic.

Vittoria began her love affair with the boating industry as a young woman growing up on the famous Lake Como in northern Italy. “I wasn’t an avid student,” she says with a laugh, “but I did like boats a lot, so I thought, ‘maybe I could do that.’” She soon landed her first job in the business with a speedboat company based in the area. In college, she wrote her thesis on shipbuilding, and that combined with her tactical experience on the water soon caught the eye of Sanlorenzo’s CEO Massimo Perotti, who offered her a job in in the marketing department. “Marketing wasn’t my thing, “ says Vittoria, “I always wanted to be in sales.” After six months, she got her shot at it, in large part due to Sanlorenzo’s large inventory of brokerage boats in 2010. Vittoria started out doing specs and brochures for the builder, but her keen talent saw her move quickly to overseeing deliveries and construction in both the U.S. and Turkey. And that’s when her life took a happy turn when she met George Jousma, who was in charge of Sanlorenzo Americas at the time.

“I saw George at the Cannes show in 2013 and told him if he ever needed help in America, I wanted to be the one,” says Vittoria. It would take a bit of time. Vittoria worked closely together with both George and Boomer on many projects over the ensuing years, and shortly after Vittoria took the leap and moved to the United States in 2019 the Jousmas asked her to join them for dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab.

Over heaping plates of crab legs and fried chicken, the Americans made their pitch to their sharp-minded Italian colleague—and the rest is history.

Today Vittoria works as a close team with Boomer. The twosome’s skillsets complement each other well. Boomer typically handles the clients, who usually speak English. Vittoria focuses her energies on the shipyards, where her knowledge of Italian is invaluable.

“Vittoria is able to get things done for us in a way more efficient manner than if it was just me,” says Boomer. “She can speak to the Italians on their level, and she understands the intricacies of the culture. Vittoria’s relationships and knowledge of Italian shipyards give IYG a real advantage. She is one of them, but she is also one of us, and that’s an enormous value that we are able to pass on to our clients.”

As far as Vittoria’s future at IYG, the sky is the limit. She and Boomer are only growing closer and more aware of one another’s strengths, forming a team that is unbeatable when it comes to buying, selling, and building yachts made in Italy.

November 21, 2023

House of Benetti

The venerable builder has been around for 150 years for good reason

Benetti Yachts can best be understood as the King Kong of Italian mega-yacht builders. The company, with shipyards in Viareggio and Livorno, turns out more mega yachts than any other of the country’s boatbuilders. It also produces truly huge vessels, with some models in its Giga-Yacht series cresting the hallowed 100-meter mark. The company’s enormous success did not happen by accident.

Lorenzo Benetti

Founded in 1873 by Lorenzo Benetti, and subsequently taken over by his sons upon his death in 1914 and rebranded as Fratelli Benetti (Benetti Brothers in Italian), Benetti began life as a commercial builder of fishing boats and merchant vessels. Following World War II the Italian economy boomed however, and Benetti stood poised to take full advantage of the La Dolce Vita lifestyle that had become so en vogue with a newly empowered leisure class. The builder began turning out yachts like the iconic Delfino, Tirreno, and Mediterraneo models. By the 1970’s Benetti had landed what must have felt like the white whale to them, in Adnan Khashoggi, the Saudi arms dealer who claimed to be the richest man in the world. Khashoggi commissioned the 282-foot Nabila, one of the largest yachts ever built at the time. But white whales have a way of sinking ships, and Khashoggi nearly did the same, brokering a series of contract clauses that Benetti was unable to meet. By 1984 the yard had gone bankrupt, only to be scooped up by another Viareggio builder, Paolo Vitelli, who owned Azimut.

282-foot Nabila

Vitelli turned the company around completely, making it the goliath it is today. Benettis are known for levels of fit and finish, customization, and design elegance that is unrivaled anywhere in southern Europe. And they have the clientele to prove it, with Sylvester Stallone, Jay-Z, and various and sundry billionaires all favoring the brand.

Benetti works with many of the world’s top mega-yacht designers to produce yachts that are a bit out of the ordinary. The builder has multiple model lines including the B.Now, B.Yond, and retro-inspired Motopanfilo lines, along with others. One of its most popular features as of late is the Oasis Deck, with its trademark infinity pool and fold-out terraces in the cockpit, which form a massive beach club. This feature reflects Benetti’s willingness to build yachts that are more outdoor-focused for an increasingly younger clientele. The builder has also gone to great lengths to reduce its carbon footprint under the oversight of its new CEO, Paolo’s daughter Giovanna.

IYG is intimately familiar with Benetti as the builder is nearly synonymous with the Italian marine industry. If you are looking to buy, sell, or build a Benetti, there is no one better suited to walking you hand-in-hand through the process. We are proud to aid our clients as they deal with one of the most prestigious names in yachting.

SEE OTHER BENETTI LISTINGS

2017 Benetti 108 Tradition Supreme
Varvara
location icon Split, HR
Year 2017
Cabins
Builder Benetti
Length 108.2 ft/MM
2007 Benetti Tradition 100
location icon marmaris, TR
Year 2007
Cabins 4
Builder Benetti
Length 99.08 ft/MM
November 9, 2023

2023 Sanlorenzo SD126 “AKULA” SOLD

It is with great pleasure that we announce the recent sale of the Sanlorenzo SD126, AKULA. This sale signifies another milestone deal where IYG has closed on a yacht over 30m within the past 30 days. The deal was facilitated at the IYG office in Ft. Lauderdale, with Boomer Jousma representing the seller.

Sanlorenzo’s SD126 Line

Sanlorenzo is one of the most sought-after brands for yacht owners looking for the finest in Italian craftsmanship, and with AKULA – only one of nine SD 126 models – it is clear to see why.

The SD126 model is recognized for its intelligent design, which maximizes interior volume and functionality without compromising its sleek profile. AKULA stands out in her class with a gross tonnage of 311 GT, and in terms of interior volume, this is typically found in yachts in the 140-foot range. This remarkable achievement in space optimization ensures a level of comfort and luxury that is exceptional for a yacht of her length, offering her new owners the experience of a much larger vessel while maintaining the advantages of a more humble size. She can accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 cabins

The SD126 is designed to bridge the gap between the classic motor yachts and the more modern lines that are becoming prevalent in yacht design. These yachts typically exhibit a timeless elegance with modern amenities and technology.

Distinctive Features of AKULA

AKULA is made to full U.S. specs.

  • Innovative Design: The SD126 model is a brilliant expression of Sanlorenzo’s semi-displacement range, designed for optimum performance without compromising on luxury.
  • Custom Craftsmanship: True to Sanlorenzo’s ethos, AKULA has been tailored to the individual preferences of its original owner, boasting tailor-made fittings and finishes throughout.
  • Luxurious Accommodations: Her interior configuration has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to ten guests overnight in six cabins with the second master being on the sky deck, two jacuzzis, and an updated refrigeration system.

We celebrate this next chapter for AKULA with her new owners and look forward to continuing success as the year concludes. For those seeking to navigate the luxury yacht market with industry experts, whether purchasing or listing, we invite you to experience the IYG difference.

November 4, 2023

Baglietto: A Legacy of Italian Yacht Building Excellence

When it comes to unmatched heritage, pedigree, and the level of boatbuilding expertise that comes from nearly 200 years in the industry, there is only one name in the Italian yachting sector: Baglietto. Founded in 1854 by Pietro Baglietto, the builder originally specialized in building smaller craft, but soon found its way into shipbuilding and eventually yacht building. Today it is one of the most sought-after brands in Italy. And no one knows it better than the Italian Yacht Group.


“Baglietto really is an expert at what it does,” says Boomer Jousma. “Their customization is high level, they pay a lot of attention to fit and finish, and they offer a standard of luxury that is a cut above a lot of their competitors. They can do all of that because they don’t mass-produce hulls. They work in aluminum and steel and they are some of the best in the world with those materials.”


The La Spezia-based builder largely focuses on long-range vessels that can handle the challenges Mother Nature throws their way, no matter the environment. The peace of mind a Baglietto offers her owners is second to none, and that’s a quality that IYG is proud of. “These are structurally sound, safe boats built by true shipbuilding experts,” says Jousma. “Of course they look great too, that’s obvious from just a glance. But we really feel confident in the way they perform as well.”


IYG has recently sold a Baglietto T52, the builder’s latest launch. The T52 stands out for her leggy range and an available hybrid propulsion system that is at the top of her class. This model enjoyed a plum spot at the mouth of the harbor at the Cannes Yachting Festival where it wowed showgoers, builders, and journalists alike.


Baglietto also has a new 115 in its DOM line. That yacht is a full-displacement vessel with a design by Stefano Vafiadis. She is the little sister of the popular 133 DOM of which nine hulls have been sold.


If you are interested in Baglietto and IYG’s singular expertise regarding the brand please reach out to Boomer Jousma and the team, and we’d be happy to speak more with you about one of Italy’s truly marquee boatbuilders.