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It was October 1985, and I can clearly recall approaching the
17th Street Causeway bridge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, piloting a
new Gulfstar 80 sailing auxiliary on our way to the boat show for her debut. The
previous 30 hours spent sailing from Tampa through Key West on the edges of
Hurricane Juan were an experience to remember. We had encountered substantial
winds of 50 knots and seas I remember comparing to mountains. This was not how a
maiden voyage was supposed to happen.
The yacht was advanced for her time. We had installed a Hood
Yacht Systems roller-furling mast, the largest built to date. During the night,
I’d hoped we’d have no major problems, so you can imagine my relief when we
finally reached Fort Lauderdale. As the bridge opened, I started to get excited
about the debut of this new vessel, which in 1985 was the largest production
sailboat. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered our display was right
behind a 100-foot Perini Navi! It was the Italian yard’s North American debut as
well.
I spent the next several nights in conversation with Fabio
Perini, drinking Chianti and talking about boatbuilding and its future. Over the
next few years, the industry would see the once-thriving sailboat market decline
dramatically. It seemed the boaters of those days didn’t want to spend the time
required for sailing when it was easier to just "turn the key" and go
powerboating.
 Brothers Dick and Brad Lazzara shown here in Sweden while touring the Volvo
Penta IPS factory. (Click image to enlarge)
At Gulfstar, we started a strategic survival plan to build
motor yachts. We took all the lightweight technologies from our racing and
sailing heritage and designed and built the Gulfstar 55 and 63 motor yachts,
later to become Viking motor yachts. These yachts were very fuel-efficient,
state-of-the-art designs. We installed new "fly-by-wire" engine control systems.
Of course, this system did have its challenges. Sometimes it was impossible to
control the boat, not knowing whether you were going to move forward or
backward, and docking was more like a game of bumper cars.
The audiovisual system, while current for its day, consisted of
just four 30-inch televisions and five car stereo systems. The interiors were
varnished teak throughout, and the accommodations were limited to either Layout
A or Layout B. During this time, interior décor departments had made a definite
statement by offering plush carpets and quilted bedspreads with draperies to
match. We were able to satisfy some owners’ wishes by offering custom soft
goods, but the yachts were built on a production line and the owner variations
became too difficult to build.
In 1990, Lazzara Yachts was created, helmed by my brother Brad
and me. While it was not the best time economically for such an endeavor, due to
a luxury tax in place, it was a great opportunity to start fresh and build a new
generation of motor yachts. We were determined to think outside the box in areas
of manufacturing, engineering, sales and customer support. We wanted to design a
yacht that had a more contemporary look with more global appeal.
 The 76 kicked off the company’s line of semi-custom yachts. (Click image to enlarge)
I remember getting a call from my friend Jim Gilbert, the
founding editor of ShowBoats International. He said, "Dick, there’s only
one place to premiere this boat: Monaco," referring to the magazine’s annual
rendezvous. He suggested we sponsor the Bal de la Mer gala dinner. It
would be the perfect setting for us, and because of our friendship he would
offer me a great discount for the sponsorship. Of course, this was completely
out of our budget! I joked that we barely had enough to sponsor an ice carving
at the greeting line. He replied, "Well, why don’t you do that?"
And so Lazzara Yachts was born. We were fashionably global; it
was 1991.
The Lazzara 76 was launched in 1993 to a very positive
reception. Unlike her predecessors, the interior was modular with several
layouts and wood choices available, and it was finished in hand-rubbed
polyester. Buyers, for once, could choose from three wood finishes and, based on
their yachting requirements, interior layout variations as well. The yacht had a
computer system, "ISIS" (Integrated Ship Information System), to monitor all
shipboard functions and, you guessed it, fly-by-wire controls.
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