Wayne Diviney, Stefano Pizzi, Simone Morelli and Todd Hess have agreed to set up SailTime bases in Italy.
SailTime Group said in a statement that it has set up two new bases in Italy. The Tuscany and Salerno locations represent SailTime’s first move into Europe, and there are plans to open another four bases in Italy over the next 15 months.
The SailTime franchises will be part of Italy’s two largest Beneteau dealers, NSS Charter and Spartivento Charter.
“This isn’t just an expansion for SailTime, but the growth of the partnership with Beneteau that’s been nurtured in the United States for the past several years,” said Todd Hess, SailTime CEO, in the statement. “In the United States, we’ve partnered with 14 Beneteau Group dealers and have engaged in a long-term strategic marketing agreement with Beneteau America and Jeanneau America.”
Hess said the partnership has added more than 50 new boats to the SailTime program in less than three years. “Expanding into Europe and beyond is the next phase of that relationship,” he said, adding that the company has plans to establish bases in Asia in the next three years.
NSS Charter will operate the SailTime base in Tuscany and maintains development rights for northern Italy. The company plans to open additional bases in Sardinia and La Speitza by the end of 2019.
Spartivento Charter, one of Italy’s largest charter companies, has a fleet of more than 45 sailboats. It will open SailTime Salerno at the Marina D’Arechi. The company will have development rights in southern Italy and plans to open bases in Rome and Sicily in the next year.
Hervé Gastinel, CEO of Beneteau Group said he was “excited” to see SailTime expand into Italy. “Their fractional membership program perfectly fits with our strategy to become the global benchmark for all boating experiences,” Gastinel said in the statement.