MAXI OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Annual General meeting – 21st April 2018
Held at Marchwood Sailing Club . Meeting Opened at 18:00hrs
Present:
Continue readingThe December issue of Yachting monthly features Maxi’s on consecutive pages. First was Lady Penelope, David Le Mare’s Maxi 34 which featured in an article on “Solent Sailing with the RAF”. The second article was about the Yachting Monthly Triangle race which mentioned the success of Amylou – Gary Heward’s Maxi 1100.
On July 12, 2018, Groupe Beneteau signed an agreement with the Polish yard Delphia Yachts with a view to acquiring its operations designing, building and marketing sailing and motor yachts under the Delphia Yachts and Maxi Yachts brands and for other firms (including Groupe Beneteau). This acquisition will be made through a Polish entity in which Delphia Yachts will retain 20% of the capital.
Founded in 1990 and based in Olecko, Delphia Yachts is now one of Central and Eastern Europe’s leading boat builders. Since 1990, it has built over 25,000 units. In 2017, it recorded revenues of PLN 130 million (c.€30 million), with PLN 9 million (c.€2 million) in income from ordinary operations, and it currently employs 670 people.
This acquisition is in line with the objectives for growth from the Group’s Transform to Perform strategic plan, particularly in terms of:
- Increasing industrial capacity, with an 18,000 sq.m production site in Poland, specialized in building outboard motorboats and small sailing yachts, which the Group is developing a targeted strategy around;
- Increasing development capacity, capitalizing on Delphia Yachts’ new prototyping and R&D center;
- Further strengthening the product range in the liveaboard monohull sailing and river motorboat segments;
- Developing the Group’s international capabilities, through the Delphia Yachts and Maxi Yachts brands’ strong commercial presence on the Central and Eastern European and Scandinavian markets.
The acquisition of Delphia Yachts’ business is expected to be completed within the next few months, subject to obtaining the regulatory approvals required.
“To support its development on the dynamic and strategic segment for outboard motorboats and small sailing yachts, Groupe Beneteau will be able to capitalize on Delphia Yachts’ industrial capacity and expertise. This acquisition will further strengthen the Group’s solid positions and is in line with its long-term strategy for sustainable and profitable growth”, confirms Hervé Gastinel, Groupe Beneteau CEO.
Subsequent press announcements indicate that the deal was completed
Blessed with sunshine and light winds, the annual rally at Shepards Wharf was attended by 11 Maxis and 25 crew. As before, Shepards had us raft up and non-Maxi boats were moved away to ensure a convivial rally atmosphere. Organized this year by Andy and Pam Verdon in Ariam, the other yachts were Pell Mell (Sarah and Peter O’Donnell), Suive (Richard and Lorraine Sams, with Rod and Carole Minkey aboard), Genepy (Tricia and Richard Morrison), Walk of Life (Peter and Joan Lloyd), Blue Lightning (Peter and Sarah Sands), Moondust (Rob and Julie Powter) and, joining a Maxi rally for the first time, Kevin Manville in Eye of Horus and Tony and Therese Rice in Freya. Bill MacFarlane elected to leave Out of the Blue on her berth in East Cowes, but made sure that he did not miss the pontoon party! A slightly surprised Gavin and Clarissa berthed alongside in Amazing Grace and, as MOA members, found themselves invited to (and already paying for) the pontoon party. As the sun went down, the Cowes water taxis ferried the team to UKSA where dinner was served, followed by a short talk on the amazing work done by the charity. The extremely reasonable price for dinner included a donation per-head to UKSA, which many people topped up with a further offering. The MOA enjoys an excellent relationship with UKSA, which provides an ideal facility for this kind of event. Without losing anyone into the Medina, the water taxis returned us in the dark to Shepards, in time for cocoa and bedtime stories. Good sailing conditions the following morning saw the participants sail away, some with cruising chutes up all the way to Chichester! A really nice final rally for the season.