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The myth of speedboats starts from motorboats such as Riva Tritone, Aquarama, Magnum, Cigarette arriving to today’s important Open boats. From more or less copied craft-made boats, all with tiny cabins with implausible bathrooms at prow, a revolution has taken place, that has quickly created a real typology of boats, driven by a public that appreciated sporty lines and performance, but also demanded greater habitability and comfort.
In order to trace the roots of this important evolution and thoroughly understand what it means, one must return to the dawn of leisure sailing when, in the 60’s, there were only cruisers and speedboats, developed for two specific uses. The former were intended for sea cruises, the latter for quick tours, the stroll in front of famous seaside resorts and day trips.
Meanwhile the myth of speed was strengthened by the exciting results of speedboat races, later transformed into offshore championships with Magnum and Cigarette racers made in the USA, that won hands down many world titles. Also many famous people loved to compete, for example Gianni Agnelli with Ultima Dea and Ultima Volta.
In those years skilful pencils from the likes of Renato Sonny Levi, Franco Harrauer and Paolo Caliari began to design more habitable, high-performance hulls. This is when Settimo Velo, Speranziella, Sarima, Roar, Delta and Gemini byMoreno Maestrelli – all entirely made of wood – were created. In the mid-70’s, when Paolo Caliari began the mass production of fibreglass speedboats – with the C 42 being the milestone – he drew from all knowledge accumulated until then.
Thus began the evolutionary process that led to conquering always larger shares of the market, slowly but relentlessly invading the field of the canonical cruisers, under the different names of day cruiser, fast commuter, offshore, sport, hard top, coupe, open bridge, etc., all the while asserting themselves as new, shinier alternatives, young and open to new ideas and technological solutions even in unthinkable sizes, such as in the modern Maxi Open. Today, in addition to the contribution of big Italian names such as Fulvio De Simoni, Andre Bacigalupo, Carlo Galeazzi and Stefano Righini, the sector of sport boats evolves also thanks to the ideas of new planners and young designers.
High-performance and punchy, often aerodynamic, showing off new colours and innovative, sometimes futuristic: these are the sport boats that make the best of themselves in our marinas or when they speedily overtake us during navigation. They symbolize a lifestyle, a modern way of sea travelling which is fast and disenchanted, completely detached from tradition and clichés.
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