Boot Düsseldorf Roundup 2019

There were so many exciting announcements and previews at this year’s International Boot Düsseldorf. Flagstaff Marine Director Graham Raspass was there on the ground to get the latest details on the new 2019 models from Beneteau, AMEL and the newly launched EXCESS brand of catamarans.

“Boot Düsseldorf felt extra special this year with some incredible announcements, including Beneteau’s NEW First Yacht 53 and the new AMEL 60. We also had the premiere of the NEW Oceanis 30.1 and the fantastic news that Oceanis 46.1 was awarded ‘European Yacht of the Year’.

A big highlight for me was meeting with the team behind Groupe Beneteau’s new EXCESS catamaran range. We’re so excited that Flagstaff Marine has been named the exclusive importer for EXCESS here in Australia.”

We’ll be bringing you more information on EXCESS very soon; watch this space or contact us for more details!

EXCESS - Be Immoderate

Flagstaff Marine has been appointed by Groupe Beneteau as the exclusive Australian importer for the new EXCESS range of Catamarans!

Today’s sailors expect a brand to have an assertive, sporty, high-quality personality whose bold styles breaks away from the existing codes of classical sailing – EXCESS is that brand.

Featuring a dual helm, the new EXCESS combines performance with lifestyle. Shapes and spaces, everything is designed to meet the requirements of the new generation of the sailor who wants a modern, fast and beautiful boat adapted to the new ways of envisioning life at sea.

Graham met with Bruno Belmont, a legend within Groupe Beneteau and leader of the design team for the new EXCESS range to hear first-hand about the development of this new sporty, sleek yet very comfortable range of 11 – 15-meter catamarans.

Bruno and his team were inspired to create EXCESS by what they saw as a gap in the market between cruising and the high-performance catamarans.

“We thought there was space to create a brand that provides a balance… being a pleasure to sail and a pleasure to be on board when anchoring.”

This balance embodies the DNA of EXCESS and runs through every detail of the design.

Flagstaff Marine has moved quickly to secure a number of production slots for the first models in the range – EXCESS 12 and EXCESS 15 – available for handover in 2020.

Learn more about EXCESS.

Oceanis 30.1

Small, but oh so big! Beneteau launched the NEW Oceanis 30.1 at Boot Düsseldorf – the newest and smallest addition to their cruising range.

The NEW Oceanis 30.1 delivers on Beneteau’s promise to making sailing accessible to everyone. Stylish and fast with unbeatable living space for its size, it has a focus on the simplicity of use and a highly competitive ready-to-sail price.

The NEW Oceanis 30.1 is equipped to take you wherever your sailing journey leads you.

With an overall size of under 9×3 meters and a light displacement of less than 4 tonnes, the NEW Oceanis 30.1 can be trailered without having to deal with an extra-wide load.

Graham had the first look at Beneteau’s latest offering with a tour from the design team. Here are his first impressions:

“I had the opportunity to look through the NEW Oceanis 30.1 with the Beneteau design team. There’s amazing space below and in the cockpit to comfortably seat six adults. I really like the helm position, the square top main compliments a well thought out sail plan and the choice of four different keel versions means there’s an option for every sailor.”

Learn more about the NEW Oceanis 30.1.

AMEL 60

Less than two years after the debut of the AMEL 50, AMEL bring us their new yacht, the AMEL 60.

The newest member of the family, AMEL 60 is in the same vein as AMEL 50 that won European Yacht of the Year 2018.

AMEL has brought together the legacy of their unique brand and decades worth of shipbuilding to create a yacht that combines comfort, safety, and performance to define luxury at sea.

The generous volumes of this large sailboat have been designed to allow owners and their guests to enjoy life on board while preserving their privacy: a large living space in the square, a high-end kitchen, three cabins each with a bathroom, a protected cockpit and lots of space on deck to relax.

Read more about the unique spirit of AMEL here.

A New FIRST

Without a doubt one of the most exciting reveals at this year’s Boot Düsseldorf was Beneteau’s announcement of the NEW First Yacht 53.

Just one year on from the 2018 renewal of the First range with the launch of four smaller sports boats, the arrival of the First Yacht 53 marks another exciting development in this legendary range of performance yachts loved by sailors across the world.

The NEW First Yacht 53 will be launched at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival and Beneteau is promising us 53 feet of sheer audacity and performance!

Read more about the NEW First Yacht 53.
Learn more about the First range here.

Another win for Beneteau!

Beneteau kicked off 2019 with a big win – the NEW Oceanis 46.1 was announced 2019 European Yacht of the Year Awards in the Family Cruiser category.

The judges commented… “With distinctively new hull lines and vast amounts of space in the cockpit as well as down below, she marks a big step forward in the market.”

Flagstaff Marine has limited 2019 production slots for the Oceanis 46.1 – contact us for details and read more about the NEW Oceanis 46.1.

Of course, Beneteau is no stranger to the European Yacht of the Year awards with Figaro 3 taking out the 2018 Special Yacht category.

The brand also topped off 2018 with a string of awards across the entire Sail range, including Figaro 3, the world’s first production foiling keelboat, the versatile and recently reinvented First range and the NEW Oceanis 51.1.

Find out more about Beneteau’s extensive range of performance yachts here.