For World Boating Day 2026, Benetti is presenting "Connecting Excellences", a project that brings together the Livorno shipyard, the international designers working with the brand and students from three Italian institutions: Politecnico di Milano, IED Turin and the University of Genoa - La Spezia. Around 100 selected students will take part.
The initiative falls under the talent development and recruitment programme of the People & Organization division within the Azimut|Benetti Group. The goal is to position the shipyard not just as a production site, but as a place where established yachting professionals and emerging designers can exchange ideas directly.
The project kicks off on 15 May 2026 with a full day at the Livorno yard dedicated to students. Participants will be welcomed by Camilla Calza, Marketing Director at Benetti, followed by a round-table discussion moderated by journalist Matteo Zaccagnino. The panel will include Sebastiano Vida, Head of Product at Benetti, Charlie Baker, Client & Project Director at RWD, and Giorgio Cassetta, CEO and founder of Cassetta Yacht Designers. The designers will act as mentors, sharing their working processes, design constraints and creative choices from their professional experience.
The central topic of the day is Benetti's deck design, presented through three distinct case studies. The Oasis Deck, developed with RWD, expands communal spaces on board by creating a direct connection with the water. The Veranda Deck, also by RWD, introduces continuity between interior and exterior by turning the main deck into a three-sided open veranda. The Cabana Deck, designed by Cassetta Yacht Designers, reimagines the beach club as a residential-style space, offering a shaded, flexible 120-square-metre stern area.
The exchange between designers and students will culminate in the launch of the "Designing the Future Deck" contest. Participants are asked to design the deck of the future, addressing the evolution of onboard lifestyles, owner needs, the relationship with the sea, sustainability and technological integration. Entries must include design concepts, graphic visualisations and a narrative description of the project. The process will run for 10 months, with the final selection scheduled for March 2027.
The jury, coordinated by Sebastiano Vida, will consist of designers, industry professionals and journalists involved by the shipyard. Selected projects will be presented at a dedicated event in spring 2027, giving top students access to training and professional experience within Benetti and the participating design studios.
Benetti, founded in 1873, is an Italian shipyard specialised in luxury yachts. It designs, builds and sells composite vessels from 34 to 44 metres and aluminium-and-steel vessels from 37 to over 100 metres. The range includes eight categories: Class, Motopanfilo, Oasis, B.Yond, B.Now, B.Neos, B.Loft and Custom. Benetti is part of the Azimut|Benetti Group and operates from its production facility in Livorno, its headquarters in Viareggio and offices in Fort Lauderdale, Dubai, Singapore and London.