One hundred and seventy years of history is a long time. Not only to tell, but also to imagine. et the history of Cantiere Baglietto starts before the Unification of Italy and, passing through wars, re- constructions, the economic boom and the glittering 80s and 90s, arrives to the present day in enviable shape. Towards the end of the 19th century, the most successful sailing boats ever were his. It was also responsible for the canot automobiles that triumphed in the first motorboat races.
And Baglietto was also the shipyard that kick-started yachting, well before the 1960s, with famous people of the calibre of, among others, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Guglielmo Marconi, Giacomo Puccini, King Vittorio Emanu- ele II and even Pope Leo XIII as owners of its yachts. There were many firsts: from the first Italian megayacht to the MAS and the first 12-metre SI built in Italy, not forgetting the intro- duction of the Flybridge in its metric series.
A shipyard that has always been a step ahead of many competitors and that does not disappoint even today. It is in fact among the first to experiment with hydrogen propulsion and to experience the world of yachting in a much broader sense than just yachts. Over the past few years, it has launched new projects, Offi- cina Baglietto, Blueness and the BZero project, which we will recount in the following pages that, albeit succinctly, aim to il- lustrate the history, starting from the present day and arriving at the dawn, of this incredible representative of Made in Italy.
Baglietto as a Philosophy
In this third part of its life, Cantiere Baglietto has been able to transform the second letter of the alphabet into a true philosophy. From the very beginning, it was clear that Beniamino Gavio was the man determined to bring the brand’s value back to the level of its ancient and important history, and its evolution over the last 12 years is more than evident confirmation of this.
Today the shipyard is identified with what he defined in a term “Blueness”, which, more than a project, represents belonging to a world, that of Baglietto infact, made of details, customer care, tailor made, history, creativity and the courage to dare. And then there is the BZERO project, which starts from salt water to generate hydrogen. But which, above all, represents Baglietto’s ability and instinct to look ahead and be a pioneer in an area that is of fundamental importance today: that of sub-sustainability.
Baglietto BZERO
The BZERO system includes a hydrogen production module that uses filtered and deionised seawater to produce hydrogen with a purity grade of 5.0 at a maximum pressure of 35 bar, thanks to a system of AEM- type electrolysers. The electrolysers are primarily powered by energy from renewable sources (photovoltaic panels) and/or the electricity grid in order to produce as much ‘green’ hydrogen as possible.
The entire mechanism is powered by renewable sources. It starts with the energy supply of the shipyard, which became operational in these very days and is used to really test the BZero system and its supply chain and then, starting in 2027, to transfer the system on board the vessels.
This year also saw the presentation of a new hybrid propulsion system that will be introduced from 2025 on DOM133 and T52 models with hybrid drive. This system consists of a Caterpillar C32 ACERT diesel endothermic engine and an ultra-compact hybrid unit. The hybrid unit manages to integrate both a low-consumption clutch and a 180 kW high-efficiency electric machine that plays a dual role: it acts as an electric propulsion motor and as an axle generator to optimise fuel consumption.
Four product lines
Today the yard offers four product lines: the T-Line, the Fast-Line, the DOM-Line and the XO. The first, in steel and aluminium, was launched in 2020 and includes the T52 and T60, both displacement and designed by Francesco Paszkowski. These are yachts that are part of the Baglietto tradition, whose most classic stylistic features they take up, to transfer them into a contemporary and current context.
In particular, the T52, which remains under 500gt, features important stylistic innovations in the stern and bow areas. Completely redesigned, the stern is open with a beach club arranged on three levels and features a swimming pool with ‘retractable’ closure, thanks to a floor with up/down movement. The T52 is also offered with a diesel hybrid engine and, to date, nine examples have been sold.
On the other hand, the FAST line, made entirely of aluminium and also designed by Francesco Paszkowski, is a hymn to Baglietto’s tradition because it takes us back to the days when the planing line was one of its strong points. Two lengths are proposed: 42 and 50 metres.
Launched in 2020, the aluminium DOM line, on the other hand, is designed by Stefano Vafiadis, and its name, which originates from the Latin DOMus (home), already betrays its philosophy: in fact, it was created with the idea of transferring the same positive sensations one feels at home onto a yacht and becoming an intimate and serene space, comfortable and elegant while at the same time airy and functional. The DOM line includes two sizes: the 115 footer and the 133 footer and to date has nine DOM133 units sold. The first DOM115 was also recently sold, opening to the Australian market.
Earlier this year the X50 was finally presented, an explorer that is nothing short of revolutionary. Its distinctive feature is in fact an observation area located above the wheelhouse, a unique and privileged space from which to enjoy a spherical view of the surrounding environment. Large flush-fitting windows allow a 360° view while the central skylight also allows you to enjoy fragments of the sky. Inside, this visual room is furnished with comfortable cushions and sofas, and is the ideal refuge even on colder days without losing the magic of the journey. In front of the lounge area are six large monitors, independent of each other, so that they can also be used independently.
The inspiration for its realisation comes from the railway world, from the famous ‘Settebello’, which in the second half of the 1950s revolutionised the concept of the train thanks to the panoramic lounge positioned under the driver’s seat. XO overturns this by leaving the helm station on the upper deck and dedicating the exclusive space above to guests.
Baglietto and the fully customized boat
The range is flanked by the production of fully customised boats. This has always encapsulated the philosophy of this yard, which aims to fully satisfy the dreams and desires of its owners. Even existing lines, in fact, can be extensively customised. Customisation, after all, is a tradition that began at Baglietto in the years before the Gavio management.
The years from 1996 to 2012 were characterised by alternating ownership, management and financial complications that did not, however, manage to diminish the Baglietto myth. During the first decade of this century, hulls of the calibre of Vicky, which at 58 metres is still the largest hull ever launched by Baglietto, Blue Princess and Pure Insanity, two 34-metre open yachts designed by Francesco Paszkowski, took to the water from the La Spezia docks.
Also not to be forgotten is the Nina J, a 42-metre with exteriors by Tommaso Spadolini and revolutionary interiors by Ivana Porfiri including a vertical garden. Or Blue Scorpion, a 53-metre displacement yacht with decidedly more classic lines, and Annamia, another 43-metre displacement yacht that somehow anticipated the trawler fashion. Two hulls, penned by Francesco Paszkowski, that not only broke with the planing tradition, but showed how the yard was extremely versatile and capable of designing and building any type of hull.
Masterpieces such as the Charly Boy, the Saramour or the Thunderball are all planing hulls that started the production of semi-custom hulls that left a strong imprint on the hulls of the following years. In fact, this was the period in which Baglietto launched its planing line, and it was also during these years that the yard, together with the designer, developed certain details such as the matt finish of the air intakes on the upper deck that would prove to be successful. The result is a new family image, reminiscent of Baglietto’s previous heyday as a series builder.
The Rodriguez Group era
These innovations are also the legacy of the previous period, which saw the Rodriguez Group take over the reins of the shipyard from the end of the Baglietto family’s management until 1996. These are also years full of success in which the shipyard evolves towards a decidedly more advanced style of yachting. It was also the beginning of Francesco Paszkowski’s collaboration with the yard, which debuted in 1994 with the 28-metre open Opus, the largest at the time, vaguely reminiscent of the Destriero launched three years earlier.
With Rodriguez the external lines turned towards slightly rounder, but decidedly more aggressive shapes. Not only that, in the mid-1980s Baglietto definitively abandoned the construction of mass-produced yachts and turned to custom. Obviously, in order to do this it was necessary to introduce something new: yacht designers. Architects and designers competed to collaborate on the design of new yachts, but they were always bound to respect the DNA and styles of the shipyard. Among the icons of Rodriguez’s management was the Blue Ice, entirely in aluminium and the first wide body, designed by Aldo Cichero in 1999 for Guido Orsi, a 40 metre yacht with an extremely contemporary wheelhouse and a revolutionary flybridge covering three quarters of the yacht.
Not only that, the semi-displacement hull allows her to reach 30 knots with two MTU engines of only 2,780 hp. Blue Ice was also the first yacht to be built in the new La Spezia yard, purchased to cope with ever increasing production. Also by Cichero was the 1991 Maffy Blue, which had a new flying bridge layout, and external lines with sleek curves. Maffy Blu introduced a radical stylistic change in the language of the planing megayacht. With an overall length of 33 metres and a top speed of 30 knots, she combined a line that would set the standard with a luxurious interior that created a new standard in the segment. Two other milestones of those years were Adler in 1987 and Baroness in 1988 designed by Alberto Mercati. Some, given the era, considered them excessively minimalist, but the purity of their lines set the standard.
Also from those years was the launch of a line of aluminium superyachts characterised by an unmistakable style. Elegant, fast and innovative, these hulls of just over 30 metres were one of the must- haves of the decade between 1982 and 1992. In that period Baglietto aunched no less than 15 yachts including, in addition to Adler, Lady Anfimar in 1987, Topshida in 1988, Elsewhere in 1992 and Alba in 1993. And it was just shortly after the Rodriguez takeover that Baglietto’s first real megayacht was launched in 1985. This was Al Fahedi, a 46-metre commissioned by an Emirati owner and designed by Gianni Zuccon.
The Baglietto family heritage
Until 1981, however, the yard was always run by the Baglietto family. The last two representatives, Pietro and Giampiero passed on after almost 30 years of uninterrupted success. They represented the
third generation of Bagliettos to succeed each other at the helm of a shipyard that had long been considered one of the Italian strongholds of the nautical industry. It is to them that we owe the decision to build in aluminium.
Between the 1960s and 1970s, when fibreglass was beginning to be used for the construction of pleasure yachts, they chose to use aluminium, which they considered a safer and more versatile material. And the most incredible boat of those years was built from aluminium. Commissioned by Baron John von Neumann, it is a 26.5-metre with hydrojet propulsion capable of reaching a top speed of 62.5 knots, making it, even today, the fastest Baglietto ever. U.S. importer for Volkswagen and Porsche, von Neumann was in those years the customer who more than any other embodied and personified the Baglietto spirit: that is, achieving the highest possible performance with unparalleled elegance and style.
But Giampiero and Pietro’s real stroke of genius was their decision to apply to the nautical industry the assembly line system that reigned in the USA for the construction of cars. In this way their 16.50 and 20M lines could satisfy an ever-increasing demand, induced by the success of the 11.5-metre Elba, 16-metre Ischia, 14-metre Capri, 20-metre Minorca and 22-metre Maiorca models launched between 1959 and 1962, which catapulted Cantiere Baglietto into the Olympus of shipyards capable of building the new ‘leisure’ yachts that sanctioned the birth of pleasure boating.
Boats that in the period of the economic boom, between the 1960s and 1970s literally drove actors, VIPs and crowned heads from halfway around the world crazy. Just to name a few, let us mention the Princes of Monaco, owners of one of the first 18Ms christened Carostefal in honour of their three sons; Albino Buticchi, the historic president of AC Milan, armed the Minorca Namar; the famous British actor Peter Sellers was the owner first of an 18M and then a 21M.
Karim Aga Khan was owner of the Mallorca Almaloun and the unique 15M turbine-powered Silver Shark. One of Baglietto’s greatest admirers was Avvocato Giovanni Agnelli. Who, to make himself a present for his thirtieth birthday, convinced the yard to build him a oneoff similar to Niarcos’ Mercury, built by Vosper with three gas turbines. The G.A.40, furnished in the interior by Paolo Caliari, was then put into construction. Agnelli also had his three splendid vintage sails refurbished by Baglietto: Agneta, Capricia and Tomawak. The list could go on and on, but what is important is to understand that, in the 1960s, sailing a Baglietto was a symbol of great social prestige and savoir faire. Pietro and Giampiero Baglietto had in fact managed to modernise the shipyard and produce boats that perfectly reflected the desires of the jet society of those years.
Exhibiting at the first Genoa Boat Show
Not only that, Baglietto was one of the very first shipyards to exhibit at the Genoa Boat Show and, as early as the 1930s, at the Milan Trade Fair, two showcases that enhanced its fame. In the years immediately preceding the economic boom Baglietto had launched its last sailing yachts including the 23.7 metre Caroly in 1948 and the 19.3 metre Ea in 1952.
Before them there had been the war period during which Baglietto had been engaged in military production. In addition to the very famous MAS, it also produced a series of other military vessels, minesweepers and assaults. But Baglietto’s history between the two wars is mainly made up of sailing boats, sporting successes and the production of airships and seaplanes for the Italian Air Force. The three brothers Bernardo, Vincenzo and Giovanni Battista Baglietto, who took over from founder Pietro in 1911, the year of his death, also forged strong ties with the Italian government that led them to build boats for King Vittorio Emanuele, Benito Mussolini and the likes of Giacomo Puccini and Gabriele d’Annunzio, to name but a few.
Production in the first forty years of the twentieth century was also characterised by continuous technical research and the creation of sailing and motor yachts that stormed the race courses. The Viky sailboats, Bamba 6.00 SI and Bona 8 SI, both still sailing today and owned by the Novara industrialist Giovanni Mogna, won major European yachting trophies, and Bona came fourth at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. In motor yachting, boats such as Baglietto I and XXI, Alagi, Ravanello, Asso, Asso RB and the Lia line won world speed records. In the same year Vincenzo Vittorio Baglietto, who graduated in naval engineering in Glasgow after the end of the First World War, returned home and became the new designer of the shipyard. His is the design of the first twelve-metre international tonnage built in Italy: La Spina, also still sailing today.
The VIP shipyard
In the early 1920s, with the First World War now behind them, the Baglietto shipyards returned to the production of pleasure craft with a clientele that included personalities with a passion for sailing and powerboating: Virginie Hèriot, King Alfonso XIII of Spain, Guglielmo Marconi and the then Crown Prince Umberto II. 1915 was the year in which the first MAS (Anti-Submarine Motorboats) were produced for the Italian navy.
These were small, fast boats used as assault craft by the Regia Marina during the First and Second World Wars. They were 20-30 ton displacement motorboats, with a crew of about ten men and armament generally consisting of two torpedoes and some depth charges. They were used either as anti-submarine patrol boats or as a means of attacking the ships of the Austrian fleet, depending on their equipment. By 1911, when Pietro Baglietto died, the shipyard was already known as an Italian excellence. In 1906 he had launched Giuseppina, which at 22.6 metres was the longest blast-engined cruising yacht ever built in Italy. In the previous fifty years Pietro Baglietto had in fact managed to create a shipyard, starting from a garden shed 100 metres from the sea, which had already established itself throughout the country for the construction quality of its racing and pleasure yachts.
In 1891, Henry Cassinelli entrusted him with the modification of a famous racing yacht, the Miss Mary, which turned into a champion and beat the race courses. At the same time, the first nautical clubs were formed and sailors and motorboat enthusiasts competed to own a Baglietto. Many of those hulls still sail today and are sought after by lovers of vintage hulls. Because quality and beauty have no age.