16 JUNE–JULY 2018 | International Boat Industry http://www.ibi-plus.com
Markets & Regions
SHOW REVIEW | VERSILIA YACHTING RENDEZ-VOUS
T
he return of the Versilia Yachting Rendez-Vous
(VYR) to Viareggio for its much-anticipated
second edition (May 10-13) was branded a
success by the show’s organisers, with more than
22,000 people lining the docks of Viareggio Marina
in the heart of Italy’s yacht-building capital during
its four-day run – a 25% increase over last year’s
event. Organised by Fiera Milano in collaboration
with Italian trade association Nautica Italiana and
the Nautical Technological District for Tuscan Ports,
VYR was a much bigger affair in 2018, with around
170 exhibitors and just under 100 boats on display –
everything from small RIBs to superyachts of up to
50m (164ft). All of the main yards were in attendance –
Azimut-Benetti, Ferretti, Baglietto, Bertram, Cantieri
Cerri, Fipa Group, Overmarine, Sanlorenzo and Perini
Navi – alongside a strong collection of equipment
manufacturers and suppliers, refit yards and brokers.
“After the necessary race to organise the first
edition, this year we had more time to prepare and
focus on responding to more precise issues such as
professional attendees, congress organisation and
THE ALL-IMPORTANT SECOND EDITION OF ANY SHOW CAN BE MAKE
OR BREAK. THE FOLLOW-UP VYR DIDN’T DISAPPOINT, LAYING SOLID
FOUNDATIONS FOR FUTURE EDITIONS
WORDS: BELINDA SNELL
FINDING ITS NICHE:
overall exhibitor involvement,” Nautica
Italiana president Lamberto Tacoli told
IBI. “The turnout was excellent with over
22,000 visitors, of which over 9,000 were
professional business contacts, meaning
that this year’s second edition was not just
for show, but brought a significant amount
of deals and networking tied to it. Personally,
I’m very satisfied with the end result and must
take a moment to applaud the other two key players
involved in the making of this very particular boat
show – Fiera Milano and the Distretto Tecnologico
per la Nautica e la Portualità Toscana (da valutare).”
As IBI walked the Italia and Europa docks, it
became evident that VYR has grown not only in
size but also in stature, and is now well-placed to
become a permanent and well-attended fixture on
the boat show circuit. Set in the spiritual birthplace
of Italian yachting – Viareggio, home to some of
the world’s top yards including Benetti, Perini Navi
and Sanlorenzo – the locale could not be better. Its
timing is also strategic. Nautica Italiana launched VYR
in 2017 to provide an alternative yet complementary
event to the UCINA-supported Genoa Boat Show, held
each year between the Cannes and Monaco shows in
September. The Viareggio event is timed at the start of
the Mediterranean season and in a key location for the
Italian industry. In an already crowded show calendar,
it appears the organisers have found a niche.
“The feedback we received from exhibitors was
good, as was the business side of the boat show,”
Tacol i told IBI. “The overall response from the 168
exhibitors was positive and this comes as motivation
to further invest in specialising and extending the
event in the years to come.”GROWING INTERNATIONAL STATUS
While still very much a local event, VYR 2018 attracted
a significant number of visitors from across Europe- particularly France, Germany, the UK, Holland and
Switzerland. Of the 41% of non-EU visitors, there was a
strong presence from the US, Russia and the UAE.
SThe VYR venue
in the heart of
Viareggio, home to
Italy’s superyacht-
building industryVersilia Yachting Rendez-Vous
grows in size and stature
SLamberto Tacoli,
Nautica Italiana