Super Yacht, Sanlorenzo will produce Swan sailing boats in Florida: « So we anticipated the duties »

The large factory is already under construction. Pensacola, Florida, is here that – the result of the agreement reached on January 20 with American Magic – the Sanlorenzo group, number two in the world ranking, will build a third of its Swan sailing boats by 2027 and Bluegame motor boats. A strategic choice that will not touch the heart of the group, namely Sanlorenzo which, producing yachts not less than 24 metersfinds no competition from American construction sites. In essence, the rich Americans who want a boat above 20 meters will always have to contact the European market, Italian in particular. And in this segment, the duties introduced by Trump should not affect.

How the nautical market is divided

«I – explains Massimo Perotti, Executive Chairman – would divide the nautical market, in two, or below and above 24 meters. Surely, for boats under 24 meters the duties will affect. For two reasons. First, because for those who spend the million, million and a half, 20% more affectand then because those who make this type of expense will incur a difficult market moment, with a little economic crisis, perhaps having lost some money on the stock exchange. So a more sensitive and exposed segment. Above 24 meters, things change. We, who with Sanlorenzo we do almost 90% of the product above 24 meters, because with this brand we start from 24 meters and also a good part of Swan is above this cutwe suffer much less cyclicality. Within Sanlorenzo, which has a turnover of 800 million euros, or 81-82% of the total, the average price is 12 million euros. In this market, in short, cyclicality feels much less, we are much more resilient and a little more protected by all those who can be factors like duties. Also because American production Above 24 meters it is practically non -existent. So if an American wants a boat of over 24 meters it must come to us. And I remember that Italy is the first producer in the world in this market segment ».

The production of models

How did the idea of ​​going to produce Swan and Bluegame born in the USA?

«Thanks to the sophisticated tender that Bluegame built to support the American Magic team in the America Cup, I met Doug Devos and the idea of ​​a partnership between Swan and American Magic was born. They had obtained a large funding funding from the governor of Florida, Ron Desantis, to build thoughts and develop the area. They needed a partner capable of producing quality boats and on January 20 in Dusseldorf we announced a partnership that provides for the birth of an Academy of Vela and the start of the production of the Swan 28 club, the smallest of the Racing series, and the Swan 43 club. SAnd things will be fine, we will see of semester in the semester, we will transfer the small bluegame to the hope to get to 64 feet. In short, the group’s boats below 20 meters will be produced in the USA. Not those of Sanlorenzo because they start from 24 meters ».

The focus on duties

So the decision anticipated the introduction of the duties?

« Exactly. We have anticipated the times. And we enter the United States from the main door Because American Magic is the most famous name in the sector, it invests large resources to prepare the next America Cup and we will find ourselves in an area with a strong push of growth and also with the aim of Doug Devos to launch a great operation to return to bring young people closer to sailing, revitalizing a market in strong crisis ».

The focus on the United States

A strategic choice if you take into account that in the last year in the USA about 300 thousand new pleasure units have been sold, the vast majority of which – 95% – motor, 2% sailing and the remaining 3% other types, including kayak. In the face of this request and according to recent data released by Confindustria Nautica, the European Nautical Industry has the main outlet market in the USA: in 2024 the exports of pleasure units reached 1.4 billion euros, with Italy that holds 40% of the total share.

« In fact, the idea of ​​going to produce in America had had long or the agreement with American Magic is strategic to encourage the use of sailing boats with a product like Swan that, it is good to remember it, in the 90s it was the first brand sold in the USA. Now it is a question of giving a new push to this segment. However, the agreement is also important for Bluegame, a brand that Americans liked because its boats are considered a sort of sea of ​​the seaare those a little strong products, Heavy Duty who likes a lot there. They therefore asked us to produce them on site and obviously for us it is an advantage TAKEN that the factories are free, financed by the government of Florida. They are already under construction, 6,503 square meters of surface to accommodate 140 workers ».

The reasoning on the future

So he sees a quite quiet future, without jolts …

«I would say that we have a very well balanced situation. With 70 boats Sanlorenzo we do more than 800 million turnover, more one hundred million we make them with Swan and one hundred with Bluegame, where the swans are more than half above 24 meters and the bluegame all below. We are resilient, we make boats made to measure with an average price of 12 million euros, therefore very high, we are anticyclical, In the sense that we do not suffer the negative economic cycle and now we position ourselves in the heart of the main market. This last step It is essential if we think that 15%, therefore 150 million of the billion in total turnover of the groupis made with boats below 24 meters. Within these 150 million we think we will arrive – at full speed, therefore within 2-3 years – to a turnover of 50 million a year. But this is our initial goal because if things are going well, we could decide to strengthen production with other models ».