[ FIVE QUESTIONS TO... ]
GENNARO CANDIDA DE MATTEO AD OF NEXT YACHT GROUP by Désirée Sormani
Yachts can and must become more sustainable. What is the Next Yacht Group doing to make this happen? As is the case in the car sector, environmental regulations will drive the evolution of the product. But we will have a few extra challenges because our yachts will often need 4500 kilowatt. We are working on three areas: weight (the main driver for efficiency), emissions reduction and the use of more sustainable materials. Technologically speaking, boats are evolving and becoming increasingly rich in content and functionality, which almost always means heavier. Our main goal is and will be to make our boats lighter and lighter. We already lead the sector in this but we won’t stop investing in researching new materials and technologies, and in “design-to-weight”. At the same time, we need to reduce emissions (by which I mean modular propulsion, catalysers, hybridisation, more efficient onboard systems). But it is only by replacing hydrocarbons with more eco-friendly fuels that we’ll make the real leap in quality (I, like many others, am a believer in hydrogen). Lastly, the materials will have to be more natural and easily recyclable (already a daily challenge). Where are you focusing in interiors at the moment in design terms? Natural light, as much as possible, in as many places as possible. Big interior and exterior spaces that are versatile and usable in the most flexible way possible at the owner’s request. Our boats already offer higher construction heights and larger beams to create an instant perception of greater volume compared to other vessels of the same size. Also exceptional harmony and connectivity between exteriors and interiors, and simple original solutions that deliver privacy and conviviality, with, for example, ondemand toys and spaces. 14
What other trends is the Next Yacht Group spotting through its brands? What do owners want? Owners don’t want the constraints of stereotypical products. They want genuine freedom in configuring their boat to live the sea as a reflection of their own lifestyle. With our brands’ quality, design and signatures, we offer our owners the opportunity to configure their boat using structural options, via a modular product approach, that is often unconventional in form and content. But always glamorous and with original functional solutions to ensure they enjoy both sun and sea, meting out sportiness and seafaring performance to deliver unique emotions. Do you think bringing designer brands aboard still offers added value? Designer companies, most of which are Italian, are aboard our craft because they are already part of our owners’ lives (in their homes, social and professional contexts) and so become the final and pivotal element in completing their lifestyle aboard. These companies and our development teams are working increasingly closely to make their products more and more nautical too. So where does the Next Yacht Group stand on the market right now? The Next Yacht Group owns the historic brands Maiora, CBI Navi and AB Yachts. Three souls, three distinct product lines. They range from the spaciousness, versatility and brightness of Maiora (and the sportiness of its Exuma line, of course) to CBI Navi’s bespoke tailored designs, not forgetting AB Yachts, the sporty range that delivers the thrill of speed in complete safety with the unique performance that makes us the market leader. The Next Yacht Group is a boutique of excellence and that is exactly what we want to continue to be.
