Sardina, Napoli Afragola High Speed Train Station, Naples, Italy by Zaha Hadid ArchitectsItaly is more than just a scenic destination for a well deserved holiday. On June 24 and 25, it also served as the venue for the yacht brands Azimut and Benetti Group as they hosted their tenth edition of the Yachting Gala. Held at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the event saw over 700 yacht owners from around the world, gather for a weekend, where they were able to preview the latest additions to the Azimut family.

With Porto Cervo as the setting for the weekend, guests were in for a treat as they were the first in the world to view the two new yachts, Azimut Grande 27 Metri and Azimut Grande 35 Metri, that will make their official debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2018. The yachts were joined by 25 other models in the Azimut and Benetti ranges and several owners had the opportunity to test the propulsion system by Benetti Fast 125’ that had been developed by Rolls Royce.

Elena Barlo at the Yachting Gala 2017

Those who had been looking to test drive the yachts in the fleet were able to tour the “Azimut Benetti Village” that had been set up at the world-famous yacht club — one that is currently celebrating its 50^th anniversary. If that wasn’t reason enough for the yacht owners to call it a magical weekend, then the guided tours of the local area, excursions to the beautiful bays, fine food and wine experiences that included local cuisine, certainly sealed the deal.

Demetrio and Uriana Albertini at the Yachting Gala 2017

It was not all about the yachts though, as an ambassador for “Made In Italy”, the brand also teamed up with fellow Italian craftsmen for a special showcase of what the country has to offer. A trunk show by Ermenegildo Zegna saw guests sipping on glasses Ferrari Trento as they admired the creations by Creative Director Alessandro Sartori. On a yacht, lovers of Bulgari were able to feast their eyes on precious jewellery by the brand. Of course, no display of the finest Italian luxury is complete without designers such as Rubelli who provided owners with private interior design advice in a lunge that overlooked the sea.

After the gala dinner held on the Yacht Club terrace, electronic music, digital effects and firework displays provided the backdrop for an evocative night yacht parade to celebrate the present and welcome in the future under the banner of cutting edge technology and Italian style. The virtuoso musical entertainment was provided by pianist Matthew Lee and his eccentric performances.

Giovanna Vitelli and Caterina Fabrizio at the Yachting Gala 2017

Presiding over the event was the host Paolo Vitelli, Founder and Chairman of the Group, joined by the new generation of Group managers: Azimut|Benetti Group Vice President Giovanna Vitelli, Azimut Yachts Business Unit General Manager Marco Valle, Benetti CEO Vincenzo Poerio and Benetti Megayachts Business Unit General Manager Christos Ramnialis. A message of continuity for Azimut|Benetti Group, the world’s leading builder of mega yachts, which looks to the future with enthusiasm, while continuing to assert and extend its leadership in the promising giga yacht segment too.