CANTIERE DELLE MARCHE
Ancona
The Y.CO team’s first shipyard of the tour was Cantiere Delle Marche in Ancona where they enjoyed a presentation from CDM covering all the yachts currently in build as well as a rundown of yachts previously built. With decades of experience in shipbuilding behind them, they apply this expertise to yacht construction. Ranked first worldwide for explorer yachts produced by length, Cantiere Delle Marche, often referred to as CDM, are the builders of adventurous charter yacht Nuri , available for charter by Y.CO. Jamie Farnborough, of the Y.CO Sales team, says “CDM has a clear, well-defined design philosophy. They excel in building compact explorer yachts under 500GT with an emphasis on hardware and redundancy and Nuri is a great example of this.”
The Y.CO team toured two yachts in build at CDM, including the 39.4m Presence which is currently for sale.
CRN - FERRETTI GROUP
Ancona
On to the Ferretti Group where the team focused on two of their brands, Riva and CRN. CRN dates back to 1963 and is part of the Ferretti Group since 2009, specializing in custom projects. CRN utilize their extensive network throughout Europe, bringing together expertise across multiple disciplines of yacht construction to elevate quality and enhance innovation, whilst controlling cost. This positions CRN as a reputable, large custom yacht builder in Italy.
Y.CO is project managing one of CRN’s current builds, 70m Thunderball. Umberto De Vido, from the Y.CO Build & Refit team, says “Thunderball is in the final stages of construction at CRN, which is very exciting. It has been excellent working with the team there in close collaboration – the innovative project combines construction know-how from CRN with the experience of Dutch exterior designers Vripack Yacht Design and the creativity of interior designers Nauta Design.” The Y.CO group took a tour of Thunderball while they were there and remarked on how impressive the facility was and what a leap the yard took in the last 5-10 years.
RIVA - FERRETTI GROUP
Ancona
Riva is another iconic brand under the Ferretti Group; the delegation were able to see the new 54m Riva up close. James Pool says, “Riva’s signature style and design-led aesthetic is apparent in every one of their builds. It was great to understand the levels of after-sales care the Ferretti Group offer – they have 100 approved service providers for support.” Charter yacht Fifty , available to charter in the Caribbean for winter 2025/2026 is an example of a Riva superyacht offering thoughtfully-arranged guest areas designed for incredible times at sea.
BENETTI
Livorno
Benetti offers a wide range of yachts, divided between their Semi Custom and Custom lines. To date, they have built over 400 yachts, starting from around 20m in length. Benetti has extensive experience in the Semi Custom segment, particularly with yachts ranging from 34m to 65m. This range also includes hybrid electric propulsion and a variety of styles, from the more conventional CLASS, OASIS, and B.NOW series to innovative concepts such as the B.LOFT series. The Benetti team delivered an engaging presentation to run the team through their designs, before treating Y.CO to a tour of their facility and a walk around a Benetti OASIS model currently under construction. James Pool points out “There are a number of interesting purchase opportunities at Benetti, with a wide variety of designs and layouts appealing to different buyer requirements. With their ongoing focus on creating exciting new designs that directly answer what many buyers are looking for, such as more access to the water, we have seen models like the B.NOW with her OASIS deck sell well and hold their value very well on the brokerage market, and they're equally popular on the charter side.”
OVERMARINE MANGUSTA
Pisa and Viareggio
Overmarine Mangusta has two sites, one in Pisa and one in Viareggio. The Y.CO team saw both! Maurizio Balducci extended a personal welcome to the Y.CO team. His family own and run the company and this approach allows them to be flexible and underpins their personal approach with their clients. Every Mangusta yacht can be a full bespoke semi-custom project. Toby Nott-Bower comments, “Overmarine Mangusta have an excellent team; they have a great 40 year history producing quality, fast yachts.” Y.CO team members went on board the Mangusta Oceano 52m and remarked that the yard cleverly optimized space on board while remaining under the 500 GT threshold. The next available delivery for this model is summer 2029.
THE ITALIAN SEA GROUP
Carrara
The Italian Sea Group comprises several brands including Technomar, Picchiotti, Perini Navi and Admiral. Their expertise spans a huge range and, with 1700 staff from design to production, the group is an Italian powerhouse of yacht building. The Y.CO visitors were privileged to be able to see No Rush while on a tour of the yard and were impressed by her style. Admiral is also the brand behind award-winning charter yacht Kenshō ; Ben Ritchie comments, “The Italian Sea Group is very focused on making sure the client experience throughout the build is enjoyable. The crew facilities are fantastic, with a dedicated village with onsite amenities including lounges, restaurants, bars, a gym and a spa.”
SANLORENZO
La Spezia
At Sanlorenzo in La Spezia, the Y.CO team visited the facilities and toured 74m Silver Fox. Tomaso Polli, of the Y.CO Sales team, explains “Sanlorenzo produce aluminium and steel hulled yachts between 24 and 38m while their superyacht division produces aluminium hulled yachts in the 40 – 74m range. They’re known for their chic styling and erudite design. Penta, available for sale by Y.CO, is a beautiful 35m Sanlorenzo yacht – with a sleek and sporty design and a tasteful Christian Liaigre interior – she’s an excellent testament to the strengths of the team at Sanlorenzo.”
BAGLIETTO
La Spezia
At Baglietto, Y.CO enjoyed an immersive presentation which covered the shipyard and their series models before being shown around the shipyard. They got on board the DOM 115, which was sold by Max Bulley from Y.CO, and also toured Andala, which is available for sale now. Considering Baglietto purchase opportunities, Max Bulley states, “The Baglietto T60 represents great value in today’s market – the next available delivery is 2029. Baglietto have a proven track record of successful builds, especially in the 40-50m range where they really stand out. Baglietto are unafraid to build complex, fast or hybrid yachts which I think positions them as innovators.”
CIAO FOR NOW
Baglietto was the last stop on the Yellow Tour Italiano before the team returned to Monaco. The Y.CO team saw first-hand the facilities of each yard, connected with personnel at each one, and understood the current opportunities available from Italian builders.
One of the key takeaways was that Italian yacht builders are often regarded as leaders of the pack when it comes to design and aesthetics. Max Bulley remarks, “There was a lot to be impressed by on the Yellow Tour this year. The design prowess and creativity coming from the Italian yards is what sets them apart. We were welcomed warmly by every yard we visited and we thank every team for the effort they made to showcase their facilities, their business and their current opportunities.”
