WE CRAFT LEGENDS OF THE SEA

Fabio Perini, whose creative and technical genius had already revolutionised papermaking machinery worldwide, elevating a humble craft into a celebrated emblem of Italian mastery, founded Perini Navi in Viareggio. From that spirit was born a shipyard destined to redefine the art of sailing — an inheritance now embraced by Giovanni Costantino, a passionate custodian of Made in Italy who, coming from beyond the nautical world, has given new strength to its destiny.

She was first known as Clan VI, yet soon she would be remembered simply as “Number 1”: the beginning, a design without precedent, a technology in total rupture with the past. The first Perini Navi sailing yacht became a symbol of the brand’s pioneering spirit: the first under fully automated sail, the first with a flying bridge, a hydraulic lifting keel, and interiors offering the space and comfort until then reserved to motoryachts. Built in steel with aluminium masts and superstructure, she was launched in 1984. After circling the globe many times, she still sails today – a living myth of modern yachting.

Throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium, Perini’s Pantheon grew in stature. Sovereign ketches and schooners joined the lineage—among them the majestic Parsifal III, launched in 2005, which garnered the World Superyacht Awards’ Sailing Yacht of the Year and Best Interior Design – Sail Yacht in 2006. This golden age was crowned by the founding, in 2004, of the Perini Navi Cup, a regatta that enshrined the fleet in the sea’s own ritual and secured its place among global sailing legends.

With the launch of the 88-metre Maltese Falcon, Perini Navi unveiled a revolution: the radical DynaRig, an icon of modern sailing. Crowned with the title of Sailing Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards, she became a sovereign emblem of vision and mastery — the falcon whose wings redefined the very destiny of the sea.

The global financial meltdown of 2008–2009 struck the superyacht world with unprecedented severity, halting orders, reshaping markets and forcing even the strongest shipyards into uncharted waters. Perini Navi, though renowned for its mastery, was not spared from the turbulence, navigating a dramatically altered seascape that would test its resilience for years to come.

Despite the downturn, the shipyard continued to launch remarkable sailing yachts – Panthalassa, Melek, Fidelis, Seahawk, Perseus³ – each a testament to resilience and mastery. These years confirmed that Perini’s artistry did not falter, even under strain.

The unveiling of Sybaris, a 70-metre ketch of radical elegance, marked the last great triumph of this era. Acclaimed worldwide and honoured with international awards, she embodied the yard’s creative excellence at its height.

As the market tilted towards motor yachts and owners’ priorities shifted, Perini Navi faced mounting pressure. The attempt to extend into motor yacht design did not achieve the same resonance, and the shipyard entered a fragile phase. These were difficult years, defined as much by struggle as by the enduring devotion of its craftsmen.

The impact of the pandemic dealt the decisive blow. After 64 yachts launched, Perini Navi fell silent—not in defeat, but in the conclusion of a remarkable cycle whose legacy endures.

At the Lucca court auction, Perini Navi was entrusted to The Italian Sea Group, and a new chapter was opened. From the heritage of Fabio Perini to the vision of Giovanni Costantino, the Pantheon was reborn — a lineage preserved, renewed, and consecrated to the future of sailing.

Though catamarans were never cherished by the faithful of Perini, every true lineage must answer the call of visionaries. Perini Navi honours those who dare, even when the path is uncharted. Inspired by Janus, the guardian of thresholds, who gazes both to the past and the future, to tradition and to vision, Art Explorer is the first of her kind in our Pantheon.

The world’s largest sailing catamaran was soon recognised upon the global stage: awarded at the International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2024 in the categories of Sailing Yacht over 40m and Deck Design, and later acclaimed as Multihull of the Year 2025 by Boat International. In Cannes, in May 2025, Mayor David Lisnard bestowed honorary citizenship upon Art Explorer and the Art Explora project, consecrating Frédéric Jousset’s vision as a cultural voyage across the sea.

Giovanni Costantino was honoured with the Yachting Excellence Award at the Swann Awards in Florence, a recognition echoing Perini Navi’s everlasting majesty.
Through new vessels such as Amante and Fantasy, commitments have been fulfilled, yet the myth of Perini Navi endures — sovereign, eternal, faithful to her sailing soul.
To crown this journey, the sovereign ketch Katana, true spirit of Perini Navi, will be unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show 2025.