History

THE HISTORY OF AZIMUT YACHTS

The Beginnings

<b>Azimut-Benetti’s history dates back to 1969</b>, when enterprising young college student Paolo Vitelli founded Azimut Srl, a <b>sailing boat chartering company</b>. He thereby started turning his own passion for the sea into an important business. In <b>1970</b> some prestigious yachting brands such as Amerglass, Westerly, British Powles and Draco appointed the new company in order to distribute their own boats in Italy.
Azimut-Benetti’s history dates back to 1969, when enterprising young college student Paolo Vitelli founded Azimut Srl, a sailing boat chartering company. He thereby started turning his own passion for the sea into an important business. In 1970 some prestigious yachting brands such as Amerglass, Westerly, British Powles and Draco appointed the new company in order to distribute their own boats in Italy.

The '80

Later on, <b>Azimut Srl decided to design its own boats and to put them on the market</b>, but left the construction process to others. Between 1975 and 1980 the company designed its first handmade models in fiberglass and introduced them on to the Italian market directly. In those years the company conquered a prestigious central position in this sector and quickly became one of Italy's foremost companies specialized in the import and distribution of
Later on, Azimut Srl decided to design its own boats and to put them on the market, but left the construction process to others. Between 1975 and 1980 the company designed its first handmade models in fiberglass and introduced them on to the Italian market directly. In those years the company conquered a prestigious central position in this sector and quickly became one of Italy's foremost companies specialized in the import and distribution of "pleasure boats". In 1983 the 105' Farlaka, the biggest mass-produced yacht in fiberglass, was launched in Viareggio.

The certificates

Azimut's technological and technical excellence has always been the company's defining trait from the very start and it has made sure that cutting edge research, design and new materials always stayed at the forefront. This allowed the company, one of the first among the country's dockyards, to receive the ISO 9001 certificate in 1996 by the Italian Naval Register.
Azimut's technological and technical excellence has always been the company's defining trait from the very start and it has made sure that cutting edge research, design and new materials always stayed at the forefront. This allowed the company, one of the first among the country's dockyards, to receive the ISO 9001 certificate in 1996 by the Italian Naval Register.

The acquisition of Benetti

In <b>1985</b>, with the <b>acquisition of the historical Benetti Brothers</b> shipyard in Viareggio (which had been founded in 1873 by the same family), Azimut inherited the great technical experience and the approach to planning and development that had always defined this company. An intense building activity followed, that will lead the Benetti division to launch about 60 yachts between 30 and 70 meter long over almost 20 years.
In 1985, with the acquisition of the historical Benetti Brothers shipyard in Viareggio (which had been founded in 1873 by the same family), Azimut inherited the great technical experience and the approach to planning and development that had always defined this company. An intense building activity followed, that will lead the Benetti division to launch about 60 yachts between 30 and 70 meter long over almost 20 years.

The Atlantic crossing

In 1988 the newly founded group realized the <b>. The planning and production of this yacht confirmed the group's excellence and fortified the "genetic material" of its skills."/>
In 1988 the newly founded group realized the "Azimut Atlantic Challenger" to face the challenge of the fastest Atlantic crossing with passengers on board. The planning and production of this yacht confirmed the group's excellence and fortified the "genetic material" of its skills.

The shipyards
and the production plants

In 1999 the group's investment policy led to the acquisition of the Moschino dockyards in Fano (thanks to which Azimut reached an unchallenged position in the production of fiberglass hulls for yachts and mega yachts over 24 meter long), and moreover <b>to the opening of a service and delivery center in Savona</b>, to the refurbishment of the Benetti shipyards in Viareggio and the building of a new industrial plant in Avigliana near Turin. This plant, which covered an area of 100,000 sqm, had been planned in order to host the most advanced technologies and equipment to build yachts up to 21 meter long and ensure the most effective quality control in every production phase. Today the factory boasts a total surface of 65,000 sqm and is capable of producing about 350 yachts between 12 and 21 meter long each year. In 2000 the group strengthened its presence in Viareggio with the acquisition and refurbishment of the Lusben area in the middle of the port, which it devoted partly to building yachts between 24 and 35 meter long and partly to a service centre for repairs and maintenance with a private marina of about 40 moorings.
In 1999 the group's investment policy led to the acquisition of the Moschino dockyards in Fano (thanks to which Azimut reached an unchallenged position in the production of fiberglass hulls for yachts and mega yachts over 24 meter long), and moreover to the opening of a service and delivery center in Savona, to the refurbishment of the Benetti shipyards in Viareggio and the building of a new industrial plant in Avigliana near Turin. This plant, which covered an area of 100,000 sqm, had been planned in order to host the most advanced technologies and equipment to build yachts up to 21 meter long and ensure the most effective quality control in every production phase. Today the factory boasts a total surface of 65,000 sqm and is capable of producing about 350 yachts between 12 and 21 meter long each year. In 2000 the group strengthened its presence in Viareggio with the acquisition and refurbishment of the Lusben area in the middle of the port, which it devoted partly to building yachts between 24 and 35 meter long and partly to a service centre for repairs and maintenance with a private marina of about 40 moorings.

The acquisition of the Gobbi shipyard
and the birth of Atlantis

In <b>2001 the group acquired the Gobbi shipyard near Piacenza</b>, which <b>now produces open engine yachts between 10 and 18 meter long</b> under the new Atlantis brand. In 2003 it was the turn of the Orlando Brothers shipyard in Livorno, which was acquired as a strategic investment for the development of Benetti's megayachts in steel and aluminum, but also as an investment which will revalue Livorno's Porta a Mare.
In 2001 the group acquired the Gobbi shipyard near Piacenza, which now produces open engine yachts between 10 and 18 meter long under the new Atlantis brand. In 2003 it was the turn of the Orlando Brothers shipyard in Livorno, which was acquired as a strategic investment for the development of Benetti's megayachts in steel and aluminum, but also as an investment which will revalue Livorno's Porta a Mare.

Fraser Yachts

In autumn 2004 the group, which had become <b>Azimut-Benetti SpA in 2003, also gained control of Fraser Yachts Worldwide</b> with a 83% share, together with V.Ships Leisure which holds a 17%, and started developing sophisticated and innovative services in order to simplify the ownership and use of mega yachts.
In autumn 2004 the group, which had become Azimut-Benetti SpA in 2003, also gained control of Fraser Yachts Worldwide with a 83% share, together with V.Ships Leisure which holds a 17%, and started developing sophisticated and innovative services in order to simplify the ownership and use of mega yachts.

An uninterrupted growth 

The investments by Paolo Vitelli, who is the current chairman of the group and was also UCINA (the Italian shipyards organization) president for 8 years, were aimed not only at yacht production but also at building modern ports in Italy. This was accomplished by refurbishing the dockyards acquired by the group and by building hotels and residential homes around those ports, which have turned out to be very important for local tourism and real estate. The group's approach wants to integrate the port with its surroundings, so that customers can also enjoy completely equipped tourism, leisure and residential centers near the moorings. The projects achived see the realization of the Marina di Varazze in the Liguria region, of the Marina di Viareggio and of a Marina in Moscow terminated in 2007, whereas the restructuring of the port Mediceo of Livorno is taking place at present and an approval is expected for the realization of the new Marina in Chiavari.
The investments by Paolo Vitelli, who is the current chairman of the group and was also UCINA (the Italian shipyards organization) president for 8 years, were aimed not only at yacht production but also at building modern ports in Italy. This was accomplished by refurbishing the dockyards acquired by the group and by building hotels and residential homes around those ports, which have turned out to be very important for local tourism and real estate. The group's approach wants to integrate the port with its surroundings, so that customers can also enjoy completely equipped tourism, leisure and residential centers near the moorings. The projects achived see the realization of the Marina di Varazze in the Liguria region, of the Marina di Viareggio and of a Marina in Moscow terminated in 2007, whereas the restructuring of the port Mediceo of Livorno is taking place at present and an approval is expected for the realization of the new Marina in Chiavari.

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