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SailTime Expands into Europe with Two New Franchise Locations

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World’s Leading Boat Membership Franchise Opens Two New Bases in Italy, the First of Six Base Launches Planned Over the Next 15 Months

September 21, 2018 // Franchising.com // SailTime Group LLC, the world’s leading boat membership franchise, recently announced the opening of two new SailTime bases in Italy. The openings of the new bases in Tuscany and Salerno launches SailTime into a new era of international expansion, with several more bases expected to open in Europe and Asia over the next three years.

The Tuscany and Salerno SailTime bases were awarded to NSS Charter and Spartivento Charter respectively, both the largest Beneteau Yacht dealers in the Italian market. SailTime CEO Todd Hess says, “this isn’t just an expansion for SailTime, but the growth of the partnership with Beneteau that’s been nurtured in the United States for the past several years.”

“In the United States, we’ve have partnered with 14 Beneteau Group dealers and have engaged in a long-term Strategic marketing agreement with Beneteau American and Jeanneau America. The relationship with Beneteau Group and SailTime has strengthened both of our brands in the United States with over 50 new boats added to the SailTime program in less than 3 years. Expanding into Europe and beyond is the next phase of that relationship,” he said.

With more than 20 years of experience working in the nautical sector, NSS Charter will own and operate the SailTime base in Tuscany and has the exclusive development rights for Northern Italy with plans to open additional bases in Sardinia and La Speitza by the end of 2019. The Tuscany base will operate out of the Marina Cala de’ Medici, Tuscany and will officially launch SailTime Tuscany at the Genoa International Boat Show this upcoming weekend.

“Our company has spent the last three decades providing the best in sailing yachts to Italy’s boat enthusiasts,” NSS Charter CEO Simone Morelli said. “With the launch of SailTime Tuscany, we’ll be expanding our appeal to a whole new customer base of boaters who want to enjoy all the fun of sailing but may not be ready to own a yacht.”

Spartivento Charter, one of Italy’s largest charter companies with a fleet of over 45 sailing boats and catamarans, will open SailTime Salerno at the Marina d’ Arechi, Salerno (Amalfi Coast) . In addition to the Salerno Franchise, Spartivento has the exclusive development rights for Southern Italy and plans to open additional bases in Rome and Sicily in the next year.

“The SailTime model works very well with our business because it offers boaters a path to take the next step, a boost from the occasional charter to a new level of boating that offers all of the experience of boat ownership but with less commitment,” Spartivento Charter CEO Stefano Pizzi said. “We’ll have memberships that offer multiple sailing dates every month on the same boat each time. When they go out sailing, it will feel like their personal yacht.”

Hervé Gastinel, CEO and President of Beneteau Group, is delighted to see his company’s partnership with SailTime expand from the United States into Europe and sees much success to come for both brands.

“We are quite excited to start a new partnership with SailTime in Europe as their fractional membership program perfectly fits with our strategy to become the global benchmark for all boating experiences. A great group of people bringing a breath of fresh air on this side of the Atlantic! Compliments to NSS and Spartivento for being trendsetters,” he said.

What is SailTime?

• Boat ownership can be expensive, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association reports more than 70 percent of U.S. boat owners earning less than $100,000 a year.
• With a fee that starts at only a few hundred dollars a month, SailTime members can conveniently schedule blocks of time online to enjoy a new model sail or powerboat without the commitment or expense of ownership. When finished, they turn the keys over to the SailTime team to clean up and maintain the boat.
• Boat owners can make money by placing their sail or powerboat in the SailTime program, allowing franchisees to sell blocks of time on their vessel.

For more information, visit sailtime.com

About SailTime

Now celebrating its 17th anniversary, SailTime has more than 30 franchise-owned bases in North America and five bases in Australia. SailTime client-members share the use of a professionally managed boat through the use of a unique and proprietary online scheduling system. A monthly membership covers the slip fees, maintenance, insurance, and operating costs. These memberships offer an attractive alternative to boat ownership. SailTime also offers a generous Owner Member Program where the owner receives a monthly income, as well as the benefits of membership and complete professional management of their boat.

SailTime also has a significant network of sailing schools, via bases that are certified American Sailing Association (ASA) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) affiliates. The instruction provided at these locations has been a key component in providing a pathway for members to achieve their goals and dreams for the sport of sailing.

For more information, please visit www.sailtime.com

About NSS Charter

Founded in 1998, NSS Charter specializes in chartering and selling sailing boats, catamarans, and motorboats. Launched from his passion for boating, CEO and former Navy crewmember Simone Morelli has earned NSS Charter a significant position in the European market thanks to the help of his professional staff and sizeable fleet.

NSS Charter began with a fleet of only seven boats in Portisco, in the Costa Smeralda and has grown to 58 monohulls and 25 catamarans! All boats feature “grand large” bimini, sprayhood, chart plotter, GPS, CD player, and VHF with several offering teak decking and bow thrusters; with A/C, generator and watermaker on the ‘princesses’ of our fleet.

NSS Charter offers personalized itineraries, guarantees 24/7 assistance and can reach sailors with their RIB in every point of the La Maddalena Archipelago to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday!

About Spartivento Charter

Inspired to the finest Italian sailing tradition, Spartivento Charter was born in 2000 as the pioneer company for charter yachting in South of Italy, Sicily, and the near Aeolian Islands, the famous archipelago in the southern Mediterranean historically renowned as one of the best destinations for sailors.

A longtime partner with the world leader shipyard Groupe Beneteau, Spartivento has a natural instinct for pleasure and innovation, keeping the forefront when it comes to previews and latest comforts, showing off the finest and most modern charter fleet including, every year, newest models available on the market to test and appreciate on holidays.

The company, made of enthusiastic entrepreneurs and specialists in sailing holidays, grew quickly in years, repeating the same quality standards and customer care from the Sicilian property base “Marina di Portorosa” to others among the most requested and welcoming venues around Italy: Tropea, Trapani for connections to the Egadi Islands, Salerno newest “Marina d’Arechi” for unforgettable cruises on the Amalfi Coast and the Caribbean, with a dedicated fleet of catamarans moored in the elegant “Grenada Yacht Club”, bringing a touch of Italian lifestyle in one of the dreamiest sea ever.

This is how Spartivento built year by year a premium fleet composed by over 45 Beneteau and Jeanneau monohulls, together with the most acclaimed Lagoon catamarans, each one charter optimized with the latest technologies to guarantee top comfort and maximum performance in sailboat holidays in Italy and the Caribbean.

About Groupe Beneteau

As the boating industry global market leader, Groupe Beneteau, through its Boat division’s 11 brands, offers over 200 recreational and professional boat models serving its customers’ diverse navigational needs and uses, from sailing to motorboating, monohulls, and catamarans.

Leading the European leisure homes market, the three brands from the Group’s Housing division offer a comprehensive range of leisure homes, lodges, and pods that combine eco-design with high standards of quality, comfort, and practicality.

With its international industrial capabilities and global sales network, the Groupe employs 6,500 people, primarily in France, the US, Poland, Italy, and China.

Media Contact:

Matt DeMargel
919.730.9582

SOURCE SailTime

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