What started off as a five-person operation in an empty megayacht shed in September 2001 is now a 500-person staff that has launched 20 yachts.
To paraphrase a famous advertising slogan: ISA, you’ve come a long way, baby.
And judging from its press conference last week, ISA has no intention of stopping. Here’s the yard’s commercial director, Marcello Maggi, unveiling the model of his newest project, a 140. She’s designed by Andrea Vallicelli in cooperation with ISA’s own in-house team. Maggi says the all-fiberglass yacht has particularly attracted the attention of ISA 120 owners, given the family resemblance and the fact that she’ll accommodate 12 in the owner’s party. Also in keeping with ISA’s emphasis on performance, twin MTU 16V 4000 M93 diesels coupled to KaMeWa waterjets should push her to a 26-knot cruise speed (at half load). Hull No. 1, sold just prior to the boat show, will be delivered in 2009.
And that’s not all. ISA is also working on a 63-meter (206-foot) steel-hulled yacht for a current client. One highlight will be a “beach area” just above the waterline, created by the swim platform and fold-down portions of her garage. When the tenders are deployed, this area will become a generously proportioned relaxation space. And to top it all off, ISA recently signed an agreement with Maserati, the famed Italian car company, to create limited-edition cars for its clients. (The patch on Maggi’s shirt in the photo here should have been the first hint for us journalists.)
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