"It's all about selling emotions..."

Tilli Antonelli - a name that sends ripples in the Italian yachting fraternity...doesn't need any introduction. This true-blue Italian apart from being the Founder and President of none other than the most passionate line of yachts - PERSHING - believes that 'It's all about selling emotions' when it comes to yachts.


It was clearly a matter of good fortune for Team GIIRA when Mr. Gautama Dutta of Marine Solutions invited us to have a light chat over breakfast with the man himself. Little did we realise what we were in for until we got down to talking about everything from yachts, Italian design, Valentino Rossi - and most importantly - emotion.

GIIRA Yachts, proudly presents to everybody a small encounter with the man who is the Vision behind Pershing.

THE MAN

At one glance, Tilli seems like a very calm and composed man, relaxed in his chair. His demeanour is very much of a royal and at the same time humble man. Until you reach out your palm to shake hands - that's when you realise the power behind his calm exterior.

That's when we start talking about Pershing (obviously)...about how Tilli was initially just a sailor, who excelled at this passion...and as he moved ahead in terms of competitive racing...how one thing led to the other...and Pershing came about.


He makes it sound as something very simple, but to sustain a successful run from 1981 onwards until now, is surely a feat of its own.

Born in 1955 and happily married with 3 children, his love for boats started as a young boy and he went on to sail on the 'Moro de Venezia' alongside Raoul Gardini. And it was around this time, that he made the highly intuitive move of becoming a boat constructor.

We talk about how the Pershing is in a class of its own. That's when Tilli brings to our notice about how it is the love for what you do that is the key to what you do.

ON INDIA

In terms of India, we ask Tilli about his insights regarding India and the Indian market over the next few months and down the years. To this he replied that in a year or two time there would be a good change in the market and people would be more acceptable to owning a yacht and to appreciate everything that went into it.


When queried if they saw making any special changes for Indian requirements, Tilli mentioned that the Pershings that would be sold would require very little changes in order to cope up with Indian conditions and yacht-owning culture.

Also, he mentioned that there would definitely be a couple of Pershings in India by the time the Mumbai International Boat Show happens next year.

NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS

"When it is sold, it is just the start..." - with these same words, Tilli emphasized on the fact that buying a boat is just a small part of the process but nurturing the ownership is what Pershing is all about.

Tilli mentioned to us that they have seen this current scenario that the Indian market is undergoing in other countries, and how they have coped with it. He mentioned that what they have done previously is nurtured owners to use their Pershings optimally.

Also, they have literally parented Pershing owners to ensure that both them and the boats are happy at the end of the day. As he said, it is all about the PERSONAL TOUCH.

ON A LIGHTER VEIN

The entire conversation was about power, passion and a gamut of positive emotions personified. We ask of Tilli's well-known passion for bikes. He tells us all about how important form and design are important as well as POWER, when it comes to him chosing a bike for himself.

He happily mentions about Valentino Rossi who he says is as jovial in real life as he is on TV...and a proud friend of his.

His words and style are typically Italian since he talks about all things Italian - love and emotion.


He makes something as technical and mechanical as yacht-making sound as though it is some emotion mechanically replicated. It is not much a surprise when we get to know that he is still completely involved in all the work processes that go hand-in-hand to complete every Pershing coming out of its yard in Mondolfo, Italy.

It is this passion that goes into making Pershings keep them at the top of our hearts also.

Thank you Tilli...
Read more...

Feast your eyes on the Gateway of India Marina...

...Albeit for only a few days!

As we all must be aware that the Samira Mumbai International Boat Show '08 is here and happening in full-swing, something that would surely excite us is the Sea Venue ie a temporary marina put up alongside the Gateway of India.


Just the thought excites us, since we all are well aware of the fact that Mumbai much requires a marina, and if we were to take a public opinion...the first and most obvious choice would be GATEWAY OF INDIA !

Little is known about why there has never been talk about a marina coming up there or why the idea is shunned away if ever promoted. Even the fact that the honorable INS Vikrant has not been berthed in the vicinity adds to the 'murkiness' in these waters.


Likewise...have a look at what's in store for you if you visit this marina, specially made for the SMIBS '08. Maybe this is as close to our 'Marina Dreams' that we could get.

SMIBS '08

The facade of the 'Gateway' has been a bit changed lately - with reconstruction and a facelift of the monument itself, and at the same time a lot of open space for tourist to roam around freely.


Last few days have seen the temporary structures put up for the registration to the Marina for SMIBS 2008 - which is a HUGE (literally!) surprise.

A world-class pontoon jetty has been put into place for 3 days of the MIBS and is open to the public, on registration.


This is definitely a fantastic opportunity for all members of the public and media to have a 'hands-on' experience at of the world-famous yachts on display. In that way, people would surely get more 'yacht-friendly'.

IT'S HOT !

When Team GIIRA reached the venue, it was very nice to see the layout of the jetty. Yachts were aligned to the jetty and the hospitable nature of the crews of the various yachts made it easy to approach and get a closer look at things - and most important, the chance of being on a yacht.


Around 9 yachts of a good size were parked stern-faced so as to facilitate easy entry/ exit. There was a Ferretti 550, a Princess, Azimut 50, a Jeanneau Sailboat and a Larson to name a few.


We were present at different times of the day and what was noticable was the great response to this part of the whole event and it flair with which the companies had demonstrated their yachts.

Also, it was a typically very hot and sunny Mumbai day and at the same time in the early afternoon the waters were calm but towards the later part of the day, it was a rocking and rolling affair with waters getting a bit 'untide-y'.

Hope to see one and all at the jetty...make sure you all are there to have the closest look as possible for sometime to come to a yacht...and possibly one of the few times that our 'Gateway Marina Dreams' come true...
Read more...

Ferretti glides the Indian waves !

Ferretti (Ferrari of the sea ?), the market leader and the most preferred manufacturer, embarks on a new journey into the Indian waters and into the hands of the new and ever-growing upper class Indian market.


It has newly set shop in India through Marine Solutions, India's premier Yacht retail company that is promoting the yachting lifestyle in the country.

'LEADERSHIP, IS KNOWING HOW TO GUIDE EVOLUTION'

As aptly quoted by Ferretti, they have been able to dictate the market trends and have been leaders in yacht manufacturing and technology and from time-to-time have pioneered revolutionary designs and technologies that have adapted by their contemporaries much later.

Highly engineered with renowned construction, a Ferretti Yacht is not merely considered another Yacht manufacturer, it is the manufacturer of choice for discerning boat buyers. Manufactured in four purpose built shipyards in Italy – Forli (Head Office), Cattolica, Marignano and Fano. With a current production run of around 60 units, Ferretti Yachts have the undisputed ability to "build their customer's dreams".

This successful story is built on passion, professionalism and great experience – qualities that have lead the Ferretti name to become a cult brand among lovers of the sea and sailing, and a new icon for "Made in Italy" products all over the world.

HISTORY

Having a humble beginning in the form of making sailboats in its boatyards in 1968, Ferretti has come a long way in yacht-making and produced its first ever motorsailer in 1971.

In 1980, foreseeing the expansion of the market for motoryachts, the Ferretti shipbuilding yards applied the skills they had acquired in the sailing sector to the powerboat sector, specializing in the production of luxury motoryachts.

In the late 1980s, a new production unit was established in Forlì (the Group’s current headquarters), where boats up to 18 meters were designed and built.

In the 1990s, Ferretti established itself as one of the leading names in boatbuilding for midsize flybridge sportcruisers.

Along the years, its strategic acquistions, its shipyards and its participation and sponsorship in offshore competitions have been much appreciated by yacht connoisseurs and have been the mainstay in their success.


FERRETTI YACHTS AND THE FERRETTI GROUP

Ferretti Yachts is part of the Ferretti Group, world leader in luxury motor-yachts, with a unique portfolio of exclusive brands in the nautical world: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Apreamare, Mochi Craft, Custom Line and CRN. The Ferretti Group, founded by Norberto Ferretti in 1968, is in the forefront of the nautical industry, thanks to a constant product and process innovation and a continuous technological research. Luxury yachts are designed by a team of over 100 specialised engineers (Advanced Yacht Technology) and built in the Group's 22 production units. Over 3,000 employees share the same continuous strive towards quality, technological excellence, top performance, exclusive and innovative design, maximising comfort and attention to detail. This daily commitment, common to all Ferretti Group employees, has taken it to the very heights of the nautical world. The Group, lead by the Chairman Norberto Ferretti and the CEO Vincenzo Cannatelli, is currently present in 95 countries and has three representative branches situated in Europe, the United States and Asia. It also boasts an international dealer network, which counts over 85 carefully selected distributors, who guarantee the Group's clientele the very best assistance in marinas all over the world.


FERRETTI AND INDIA

Ferretti's entry into India assures a very 'amicable partnership' since India guarantees a very new and untapped market for Ferretti through its nouveau rich and at the same time Ferretti assures that this clientele gets the best that they have to offer through its huge range of the world's best yachts.

Just as the Italian marques such as Lamborghini and Ferrari are seen blazing on our Indian roads...soon we will see these new Italian beauties adorning the Golden waters of our seas! Read more...