Sixty seven super yacht Captains from around the world gathered in Livorno for the 13th edition of the Azimut Benetti Yachtmasters.
Each year, together with a group of sponsors, the Italian super yacht builder brings Captains together for an informal three day event that mixes social and seminar style sessions in an easy format that offers ample opportunity to network and socialise.
On the serious side this year, the thorny topic of the up coming changes to IMO MLC regulations was debated in depth. Sessions hosted by John Cook of Lesia Employment Services endeavoured to explode the myths that surround the convention highlighting the implications when Port State Control gets involved in inspecting yachts for MLC issues.
Captains were in general amazed at the findings of the sessions and many felt that their initial fears where set aside when the facts where made clear to them. Almost to a man every Captain felt that this session had been instructive and beneficial.
On the social side there were sessions in which Captains had instruction in the art of picture painting swapping their Awlgrip for fine oil and water colours. Other sessions used, as team building exercises, ideas that followed the formats of cooking competitions made popular on television. While others were instructive with tutored tastings of rum and chocolate
The evenings were filled with gastronomic dinners in different locations with one held at Apericena a converted warehouse reached after a guided tour by boat through the ancient Venice like canals of Livorno.
The event concluded with a splendid Aperitivo, Gala Dinner and prize giving in Calafuria.