The Superyacht Cup is under new management, with Peter Wykeham-Martin and John Grandy of GWM Racing Limited running the on-water aspects of the 2008 events. Grandy is an ISAF-appointed International Race Officer, and Wykeham-Martin is a qualified IRC measurer. They have decades of experience in professional regatta management. SYC events include the Transatlantic Challenge on April 8, SYC Palma from June 11 to 14 and SYC Antigua, December 10 to 13. Visit www.thesuperyachtcup.com.

IYC named Terry Hines as its new charter marketing director. With more than 25 years’ experience, Hines brings an in-depth knowledge of charter marketing, cruising areas, contract preparation and negotiation skills to IYC. Visit www.iyc.com.

A partnership between Seakeeper and Azimut Yachts allows for a
new frontier in yacht comfort. Seakeeper’s new generation of gyroscopic stabilizers are more effective than previous versions. The lighter and more compact stabilizers feature lower energy consumption and higher performance overall. Azimut yachts will now be equipped with this new technology capable of virtually eliminating boat roll at anchor and improving stability over a range of speeds. Visit www.azimutyachts.com, www.seakeeper.com.

Benetti’s Stefano De Vivo, Vincenzo Moccia and Tommaso Bilotta. (Click image to enlarge)

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Coming on the heels of the opening of its Newport offices, Sparkman & Stephens opened a new Fort Lauderdale office, located within the newly completed Harbor Shops complex. Visit www.sparkmanstephens.com.

In just less than a year after taking over as sales and marketing manager for Benetti, Vincenzo Moccia’s influence is visible throughout the company. Under his newly created management structure, the sales and marketing staff were reorganized to separate the various functions, yet each remains strongly tied to the others to support the communication flow to and from the shipyard. The six sectors include Trade, Analysis, Standards, Public Relations and Press, After Sales and Co-marketing. Stefano De Vivo and Tommaso Bilotta help run sales with Moccia. Visit www.benettiyachts.it.

World headquarters of AB Inflatables moved from Venezuela to neighboring Colombia. After nearly 40 years of building inflatable boats in Venezuela, the company headed to a new state-of-the-art factory, which is three times the size of the old facility and located in a duty-free zone on the waterfront, 500 feet from customs and a half-mile from the port. Visit www.abinflatables.com.

Swedish propeller manufacturer Propulse AB launched a U.S. subsidiary with the opening of a new warehouse and distribution center in Branford, Connecticut. Visit www.propulse.se.