Salone Nautico Venezia, opening today, mixes sustainability and tradition in Venice
Salone Nautico Venezia 2025 opens today, or as the less poetic know it, the Venice Boat Show. It’s the sixth edition of the Salone Nautico Venezia and runs until 2 June. This year is dedicated to sustainability and tradition.
Organisers are emphasising sustainable boating, with an area dedicated to electric, hybrid and hydrogen propulsion, while showcasing the artisan soul of the master shipwrights.
There are over 270 exhibitors and 300 boats offering a broad overview of innovative propulsion technologies, boats of the future and the excellence of nautical craftsmanship.
The beginning of the show will be marked by a flyover by the Frecce Tricolori and, in the waters of the Darsena, Italian navy raiders will perform a landing, celebrating the deep bond between the city and maritime operations.
Salone Nautico Venezia will also feature what’s being described as ‘a rich program of conferences and seminars’. Those will be focused on crucial issues for the protection of the marine environment. Discussions will include plastics and possible solutions, underwater archaeology, the care of the canals of Venice, the planning of maritime space for more sustainable tourism, and the protection of biodiversity.
Ferretti Group, Astondoa and Techonohull attending the Venice Boat Show
The Ferretti Group (read the group’s latest news from MIN) is bringing seven ‘marine masterpieces’ to the show, led by two world premieres: Pershing GTX70 and Ferretti Yachts 940.
Launched in March, Pershing GTX70 is the third model in the Sport Utility Yachts range and a new addition that heralds in Pershing’s 40th anniversary year. It’s in a more compact format than previous models.
Ferretti Yachts 940 is making its first public appearance at the show after the launch in January at the Cattolica shipyard. This widebody ‘home on the water’ is the largest yacht in the range.
Astondoa, the Spanish luxury yacht builder with a determined expansion strategy, will also showcase a selection of its yachts, alongside its local dealer, Frattin Yachting. The company says it will ‘unveil all its savoir-faire in a display that celebrates luxury, innovation, and the timeless elegance of life at sea’.
At the heart of this unveiling is its 677 Coupe (pictured).
Technohull has returned to Venice this year with two of its standout models, the Alpha 40 and GTX.
The Greek shipyard is presenting the models in collaboration with its Italian representative, Campello Marine, with the idea of showcasing the brand’s plans for further expansion across Southern Europe.
“We’re proud to be part of the Venice Boat Show with two of our most versatile and well-received models,” says Gerasimos Petratos, CEO of Technohull. The company’s Alpha 40 is pictured below (it launched its Omega 48 in 2022).
“This is an important step in our continued growth in the Mediterranean and we’re excited to connect with more owners and enthusiasts who value performance, comfort and cutting-edge design.”
AB Yachts, a brand of the Next Yacht Group, says it is experiencing a period of strong momentum. Riding that momentum, it’ll be in Venice with its AB 100 (pictured below). This 30-meter yacht is said to reach 50 knots while offering silent cruising with no vibrations (there’s also a ‘superfast’ version, that reaches 60 knots).
“AB Yachts is experiencing a phase of strong growth and renewal, as we focus on strengthening our leadership in the high-performance yacht segment,” says Sebastiano Fanizza, CEO of Next Yacht Group.
“Every milestone we reach reflects our drive to push the boundaries of speed, technology, and design, always with a keen eye on our owners’ desires for customisation. Today more than ever, our goal is to deliver unparalleled sailing experiences, anticipating the expectations of tomorrow’s owners and listening closely to the dreams of those who choose to sail with us.”
Venice continues to provide a fascinating array of stories related to its waterways. Not only was the city one of the first to ban cruise ships, in early 2023 Venice’s canals started to run dry, leaving gondolas stranded. Then there was the time that capacity was cut on the gondolas due to ‘overweight’ tourists.
