Yachts International and Show Management Sponsor ISS Awa rds
Achts International Yachts International
Yand its affiliate, Show Management, were among the sponsors of the 25th International Superyacht Society Awards Gala in South Florida. For the first time since its inception, the annual gala was held at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts. A convivial cocktail hour and buffet dinner took place over a beautiful evening on the waterfront, and the awards were held inside the auditorium. The event’s Platinum Sponsor, Tahiti Tourisme, went all out organizing a colorful performance of exotic Tahitian dancers to entertain the crowd of industry professionals, yacht owners and VIP guests. AIM Marine Group Publisher Gary DeSanctis, and Editor-in-Chief Kenny Wooton and Editor-at-Large Jill Bobrow, presented awards in three different categories of Best Power Yacht Design.
Gamma Yachts announced delivery of 73-foot (22.1-meter) Libertas, the third in its Gamma 20 “mini” superyacht series, to none other than celebrated opera singer Andrea Bocelli. Dutch company Vripack designed the yacht to maximize both fuel efficiency and guest space. While the traditional threshold for a superyacht begins around 100 feet in length, Gamma Yachts CEO Guido Bonandrini suggests that the degree of customization available in the Gamma 20 is much closer to that of a superyacht than any other vessel in its size range.
“I love the way space has been arranged so that our large extended family can be together, enjoying closeness and intimacy, while at the same time respecting everybody’s privacy,” said Bocelli, who has previously owned several vessels in this size range. “A yacht must meet precise needs and be able to make us feel at ease. Coziness, warm materials, safety, low noise levels and comfort ... these were my needs, and they have been fully met. I needed a solid, safe and comfortable boat, and I am happy with my choice.”
With Libertas, Bocelli specified a table and sofa to be placed forward of the wheelhouse to offer true immersion into the surroundings, particularly when underway. A custom diving board was added to the flybridge and the hull was painted electric blue. The Gamma 20 offers more than 1,800 square feet (170 square meters) of living space. Double glazing insulates the interior and allows Bocelli’s piano and recording studio equipment to be used in the main salon.