ShowBoats International isn’t the only one celebrating a
birthday in 2008. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of
Italy’s Ferretti Group, founded in 1968 by Norberto Ferretti. The shipyard first
appeared at the Genoa boat show in 1970 with a motor sailer Ferretti virtually
built himself. In 1985, again in Genoa, he introduced the Altura 49, which had a
strange beach platform attached to the stern—one of the first of its kind.
Top: Khamsin, a transformed fishing vessel shown at the 1970 Genoa boat show. Bottom: The shipyard during the 1971 to 1981 era. (Click images to enlarge)
Over the past two-and-a-half decades, ShowBoats
International has followed the progress of the Ferretti Group and witnessed
the company rise to its present ranking of No. 2 in the magazine’s annual Global
Order Book. Ferretti currently has nine brands in its portfolio and an annual
turnover approaching one billion euros. Not surprisingly, Norberto Ferretti was
in a buoyant mood during the company’s annual Ferretti Privilege Days last
April, held in the seaside resort town of Cattolica on the Adriatic coast.
This year was a special occasion, not just because Ferretti
celebrated his 40 years in the yachting industry with a gala dinner that
re-created the atmosphere of Truman Capote’s "party of the century" at New
York’s Plaza Hotel in 1966, but also because two new yacht models made their
international debuts. With barely a meter between them in length, the
semi-displacement Navetta 33 and planing Custom Line 112 Next are
top-of-the-range models aimed at two distinct client profiles.
Top: An Altura 41, made from 1981 to 1987. Bottom: a Ferretti 68, produced from 1998 to present. (Click images to enlarge)
As the fleet flagship, the 112-foot Next completes the line of
planing hulls alongside the 97. The yacht is an evolution of the successful
Custom Line 112, and although the hull lines and technical specs remain
virtually unchanged, the styling of the superstructure has been revisited and
Ferretti’s trademark water-level windows incorporated into the hull. As featured
on the 97, a hard top was added to provide extra shade on the sun deck. Custom
Line clients can choose from a wide variety of woods, hides and fabrics to
personalize the interior décor.
 A Ferretti is loaded into an Antonov cargo aircraft in the mid-nineties. (Click image to enlarge)
Ferretti, who traditionally likes to shake down new models
himself, owns the first Navetta 33. Like its smaller cousin the Navetta 26, the
33 is aimed at "mature" owners for whom, in the words of Ferretti Vice President
of Sales Marco Segato, "range and comfort is more important than speed." These
features are combined with the silent running and space associated with
semi-displacement vessels.
The Custom Line 112 Next, top, was unveiled during Ferretti’s annual
Privilege Days. The Navetta 26, middle, and the new Navetta 33, bottom,
are aimed at a “mature” owner. Top and middle photographs by Carlo Borlenghi. (Click images to enlarge)
Launched just two weeks before the Privilege Days event, the
Navetta 33 on display in Cattolica was very much a project "under construction."
Andrea Frabetti, head of Ferretti Engineering, was still defining the
performance parameters. Following initial sea trials, the 1,360-hp MAN engines
will provide a range of more than 1,300 nautical miles at an extended cruising
speed of 12.5 to 13 knots.
The 33’s interior is light and airy, thanks in part to the
unusual bamboo joinery and limed-oak sole. Ferretti has chosen to dine on the
upper deck, either in the skylounge or outside on the aft deck, which leaves
more living space and room for a games table in the main salon. He also
substituted a guest cabin with a gym that looks out the large window at water
level. A final personal touch is the water tank beside the Jacuzzi on the sun
deck for a ready supply of fresh lobster.
Anniversaries are about looking back. But with its model development and
production steaming ahead at full speed, the Ferretti Group is poised to take on
the future.
 Timely Gratification
Heart of Gold
New & Notable: Move Over, Italy
Landfall: Twice the Fun
New & Notable: Slow Motion, Italian Style
|
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Email This
Printer Friendly Version
Reprints & Permissions
Most Popular Searches