The second Convergence Navi, the meeting for pleasure boat captains organised by the Ferretti Group, was recently held in the splendid setting of Barcelona. A total of 32 captains of yachts measuring over 24 metres built by CRN, Custom Line, Ferretti Yachts, Pershing and Riva gathered in the Catalan city from the 19th to the 21st of March for the customary detailed presentations on technical and managerial developments, together with interludes of fun and entertainment. The captains' partners, also in attendance, took advantage of a programme especially designed for them.
The conference began on the 19th, with an intensive classroom session which included presentations by DuPont and Chomarat on the latest technological developments in paint technology and construction materials. Concluding the afternoon session was a closer look at computerised systems for managing large yachts, presented by the company IDEA which, for some time now, has been implementing yacht-management software for megayachts.
The evening came to a close with a gala dinner, offered this year, as indeed in the past, by one of the event's major partners – engine manufacturer MTU. Davidoff Cigars and Nonino Grappa also contributed to the event for the second year running. In the panoramic Alta Mar Tower, at a height of 70 metres, a breathtaking view of Barcelona by night formed the backdrop for a magical evening during which guests enjoyed the gentle Brazilian music of the group Bossa Nova. Not wanting to miss the event, Lamberto Tacoli, Chairman of CRN, was on hand to greet and thank the guests and their partners.
Joining Mr. Tacoli was the Chairman of Pershing and Itama, Tilli Antonelli, together with Domenico Pirazzoli, Ferretti Group's Vice President of Public Relations.
On the second day, the ladies enjoyed the sunshine as they visited the enchanting Barcelona, taking in the modernist art and Gothic architecture, while the more athletic enjoyed a private training session with a personal trainer from Technogym, the company sponsoring all the activities organised for them.
Meanwhile, the captains attended an interesting yet thorough classroom session featuring presentations by MTU on engines, RINA (the Italian naval registry organisation) on its new classification codes, and Radiomarine on Internet at sea; all these companies were taking part for the second year running. Surveyors from Burness Corlett – Three Quays analysed issues regarding the onboard surveying of megayachts, while Bang&Olufsen and Swarovski Optik offered updates on new products and applications in the fields of luxury entertainment and precision optics for binoculars. At the end of a demanding yet highly satisfying day, a Spanish-themed evening which ended with the most typical of Spanish dances, the seductive Flamenco!
A visit to the Pinmar shipyard, specialised in painting and refitting megayachts, wound up the three-day training session, which concluded with a draw for 10 smart pairs of Swarovski Optik binoculars provided by the Viennese manufacturer. At the presentation of the attendance certificates and the obligatory group photo session, everyone agreed to meet again at next year’s Convergence Navi 2008.