Over 100 international captains in the Tuscan district for shipyard visits, global forum and more than 2,600 B2C meetings
Τhe sixteenth edition of YARE – Yachting Aftersales & Refit Experience, the international event dedicated to the refit and aftersales services sector of the yachting industry, has started with great energy. An event that brings to Viareggio and the Tuscan district over 100 superyacht captains from all over the world, together with a delegation of around 150 companies from the international yachting supply chain.
Shipyard Tours
The opening day on 11 March saw the delegation of captains take part in an intensive tour of the area’s leading shipyards, offering them the opportunity to discover first-hand some of the excellences of shipbuilding and superyacht services. The programme began with a visit to Sanlorenzo – Duerre site in Vicopisano, where participants were able to gain insight into production processes and the craftsmanship involved in wood and interior materials. The delegation then moved to Seven Stars Marina & Shipyard, a company specialised in refit services and technical assistance for large yachts. The tour continued at Amer Yachts, a brand known for its technological research and strong focus on innovation and sustainability in high-performance yachting.
In the second part of the afternoon, the captains reached Viareggio, visiting the shipyards AB Yachts and Maiora, brands of Next Yacht Group. The day concluded, after a presentation of the shipyard’s latest developments, with an aperitif on the terrace overlooking Darsena Europa, an informal networking moment with captains set against the evocative backdrop of the moored yachts. The programme came into full swing on 12 March, bringing together — alongside the captains — a large representation of companies from around the world for a day dedicated to discussion and relationship-building.
Industry insights and the mediterranean infrastructure debate
The central moment of the morning was the YARE International Forum, organised as usual in collaboration with The Superyacht Group and moderated by Martin Redmayne. The packed conference room gathered captains, managers and industry professionals to discuss with international companies from across the supply chain the main challenges and perspectives of the refit and superyacht services sector. Among the speakers on stage were some of the leading international figures in the industry, including David Margason of Adriatic42, one of the event’s main sponsors, Federico Rossi of Rossinavi, Giorgio Campini of Tecnopool, and Alberto Perrone from the German shipyard Lürssen, together with three superyacht captains who brought the operational perspective of those who manage yachts on a daily basis and interact with shipyards and suppliers.
The programme continued with the second panel, “The Big Med Debate”, a discussion dedicated to Mediterranean dynamics in the superyacht infrastructure sector. The panel involved representatives of the Italian and Spanish clusters together with representatives of marinas and ports from France, Spain and Italy, offering an opportunity for dialogue on development strategies and collaboration opportunities among the main yachting destinations in the Mediterranean basin. Speakers included Pietro Angelini of NAVIGO, Pedro Suasi of the Balearic Marine Cluster, Giusy Murolo of Marina Genova, Petra Malloier of Port Vauban, and Ana Vilches of Marina Port Vell.
Strategic networking
This was followed by an in-depth session dedicated to the City of Durban, one of the main sponsors of the 2026 edition of YARE. During the talk, a representative of the South African municipality presented Durban as an emerging yachting destination, ready to welcome yachts and superyachts from around the world thanks to the development of its infrastructure and services dedicated to the sector. In the afternoon, the operational core of the event began with the “B2C Meet the Captains”, the format that characterises YARE and directly connects captains and companies from the supply chain through quick and effective speed-meeting sessions. The 2026 edition includes more than 2,600 scheduled meetings, confirming the strong international interest of operators in the event.
With captains, companies and operators coming from all over the world, YARE once again confirms itself as an increasingly sought-after international hub, capable of bringing the global elite of the yachting industry to Tuscany and strengthening the region’s role as one of the world’s leading centres for refit and superyacht services.“The start of this sixteenth edition confirms that YARE has become a key international appointment for the entire refit and yachting services sector,” commented Pietro Angelini, Director of NAVIGO. “The extraordinary participation of captains and companies demonstrates the strength of our territory and its supply chain. A special thanks goes to YARE President Vincenzo Poerio for the vision and work carried out over the years, and to NAVIGO President Katia Balducci, who continues to strongly support the growth and international positioning of this event.”
