January 2025 Issue

Marina di Porto Cervo

"Mr. Watanabe, the most important thing is communication."
That night, I felt like I understood the true meaning of what my respected friend had said, and I realized what it meant that I had traveled all the way to Sardinia, Italy, by connecting flights.
The Rolex Swan Cup was held at Marina di Porto Cervo in the Costa Smeralda, a place that sailors from all over the world long for. Only exclusive members who own a SWAN can participate in this historic regatta. Usually, they are scattered all over the world, mainly in Europe, but they take time off and come to this small Mediterranean island by private jet for this special event, which is held every two years.
A special party dedicated to a legend began at the clubhouse of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The Owners' Party, held on the evening of the fourth day of the tournament, was a special occasion where approximately 4 invited SWAN owners and their families gathered together. Among them was Paul Cayard, a hero who has made great achievements in the sailing world. What was surprising was that media from all over the world were also invited, and I was closely interviewed by the British national broadcaster BBC WORLD as a representative of Asia. It was my first time participating, but the evening gathering of people who love yachts and the sea was endlessly glamorous, passionate, and solemn.
On the stage at the party, the person who was catching the attention of everyone there was my friend who had invited me on this trip, Mr. Leonardo Ferragamo, the chairman of Nauta Swan. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Mr. Ferragamo was on a one-man show that night.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Rolex SwanCup. Before the milestone event, he announced his decision to sell the brand he had built over the last 20 years and transfer it to a new owner. And on this night, the new owner was to be introduced.
His final speech as the owner was overwhelming. The man I know is a friendly boy, and speaks with a carefree smile. But this night, he was completely serious. He began to speak quietly, as if fondly recalling the years he spent developing SWAN. He spoke at length in his Italian-accented English, occasionally peppered with humor, about how much he loved SWAN as a sailor before he became a business. And how it was a difficult decision to let it go.
As I listened to his speech, I remembered the time when I first met him. My relationship with Mr. Ferragamo dates back to 2015. Even though I was 70 years old and had become obsessed with yachting, SWAN had always been my dream. The first SWAN I bought was the SWAN54. From the moment I took the helm and set out to sea, I was captivated by its outstanding comfort and functional beauty.
So I made a decision. I contacted the owner, Mr. Ferragamo, and told him I wanted to become a sales agent in Japan. Luckily, he was looking for an agent in Asia and gladly accepted my offer. As we got to know each other better, I discovered that he, like me, was a family-run business owner developing multiple businesses, and we hit it off. Since then, we have traveled back and forth between Italy and Japan several times a year, and have become friends with our families. He is eight years younger than me, but whenever we meet after a long time, we always lose track of time as we talk about business, yachts, family, and life.
That's what he once said to me:
"What SWAN values ​​most is communication."
I could sort of understand the nuance, but I still wasn't satisfied, so I asked:
"What do you mean by communication?"
He then invited me to a place, which was Sardinia, and as he always does, when I ask him a question, instead of eloquently expressing his views, he simply invited me to his home.
A similar thing had happened in the past. During a meal with him while he was in Japan, we got on the subject of the secret to running a successful family business, and he said, "Please bring your family to Florence, Italy, where I live. You'll understand when you come."
Since then, I have taken my wife, daughters, and grandchildren to visit the city where he lived many times. The Ferragamo family is famous for "shoes," but in fact they built a conglomerate that expanded into many businesses, including yachts and hotels, and he was truly a "godfather" in the vein of Italian movies.
What I thought was very Italian was his way of thinking. He said that if you run a family business, rare human resources who support the business will always emerge. If you value those "buds," the family will definitely be revitalized. He really valued family ties.
It was only by actually traveling to Florence and getting a glimpse of Mr. Ferragamo's business style and everyday life that I was able to fully understand the meaning of those words.
Now he asked me if I would like to come to Sardinia. It was also an invitation to the Rolex Swan Cup. However, I couldn't accept it easily, considering my age. Even though I sail on Sagami Bay with SWAN every week, I need time to train my crew to participate in the world's top race.
At first, I gave up on the invitation. But then I received an email from him right away.
"If Watanabe's family or any of the crew members could participate, it would certainly mean a lot to me," the letter read, concluding with the following:
This event is in fact such a pinnacle in the life of the Swan world and it would be so important to share it with those people who love our Company and represent it in different part of the world.
I said, "Okay, let's go." That was about a year and a half before the event. After going through various preparations to participate in this event, I came to Sardinia. On the night of the owners' party, we were shown to a table with a wonderful view of the Mediterranean Sea. I watched Mr. Ferragamo's passionate speech from there, and I immediately realized that this was what he wanted to show me.
For those who love SWAN, he is a legend. This is not only because he has made SWAN the world's top brand over the course of 20 years, but also because everyone knows that he is a genuine sailor who loves the sea and yachts from the bottom of his heart, and they admire his humble attitude and kind eyes.
In his speech, Ferragamo explained why he was selling SWAN. It wasn't for financial or business reasons. In fact, the new owner was the CEO of a company that manufactures and sells cutting-edge yachts, also known as mega yachts and super yachts. He wanted to inject that cutting-edge engineering into SWAN. Of course, Nauter Swan is undoubtedly a luxury brand that caters to a handful of the world's wealthy, but when he thought about its future, he probably thought that the best option was to hand it over to a company with a new market in the mega yacht market.
After a 15-minute speech of thanks, Massimo Perotti, CEO of Sanlorenzo, who had been officially appointed as the new owner, was introduced. He praised Ferragamo's achievements and courage in deciding to step down as owner, and, as if echoing Ferragamo's speech, appealed to him, "I love SWAN too," and "I hope you will stay on as CEO."
He accepted the proposal, and the old and new owners shared a warm embrace on stage. The scene was like something out of a movie, and it was a sublime moment that reminded us of the deep friendship that goes beyond business. Then, thunderous applause broke out in celebration of SWAN's new venture, and it continued for ages.
Returning to the hotel, I went out to the balcony with a glass of champagne to soothe my hot body. Looking up, the full moon was shining in the sky. I once again reflected on the choice and courage of my respected friend. And through that night, I realized what he meant by "communication." It was the importance of the process that the sailors and crew who love SWAN, the marinas, yacht clubs, sponsors, and other people who have supported this event for 40 years all work together to create it. Continuing this event requires an unimaginably strong will. And it doesn't work just because one person waves the flag. If you don't truly love SWAN, you can't create the solemn atmosphere that night.
In the first place, there is no opportunity for 500 owners from all over the world to gather together, regardless of the size of their boats. They come together under the SWAN values, despite their different cultures and ways of thinking, and feel a bond that is similar to that of a family. This is the essence of communication that Ferragamo spoke of.
I don't think I would have been able to understand it if I hadn't been there that night.
In any case, these five days in Sardinia were like a dream. I participated in the race and was able to experience the greatest passion and romance of my life. The Mediterranean sky was a clear blue and dazzling, and the sunlight felt like a vestige of summer. In reality, I had to endure many challenges unique to an away land, such as engine trouble on the rented yacht, but even so, it was a great adventure worthy of talking about the final chapter of my life. I am truly grateful to Fabio, the owner and captain of the SWAN 5, who lent me the SWAN 68 during the competition. I was able to surrender myself to a dreamlike time of another dimension that I had never experienced in my life before, immersing myself in it and gaining invaluable nourishment.
And so, we were able to confirm our next goal: the Riviera Swan Asia Regatta will be held at the Riviera Zushi Marina in November 2025.
I proposed this to Ferragamo, CEO Giovanni Pomati, CCO Barry Ashmore, and International Race Director Federico Michetti, and they were all very welcoming of the idea of ​​hosting the event in Asia. They promised to give their all in supporting the event. It was a moment when we were able to confirm that our mutual trust had deepened and that our bond across the seas was becoming even stronger.
I dream of the day when many SWAN boats will sail through Sagami Bay with the majestic Mt. Fuji in the background. This year, my challenge continues.

Sou Watanabe

Noboru Watanabe

Riviera Group
Representative Director and Chairman

No.26 Riviera Magazine

X post facebook share Send in LINE