It’s incredible how positive effects that last over time can arise from a period of fear, pain and uncertainty. This is the case of Covid and the pandemic. Sailing owes the virus a return to its image that was certainly unexpected in those dark months, during which the world stopped. The sector had reacted, before others, but also thanks to the pandemic it was understood more widely that it means sea, boat, socializing on board, environment, life in the open air.
The proof comes from the words of Andrea Colombi, country manager of Yamaha, a brand that also has a nautical division and which chose the Gulf of La Spezia for the tests of its new engine, the 350 HP V6, where right now the evolutions of six boats of different sizes are taking place equipped with the new model which – as Colombi says – “is filling a space in our range after the previous 350 HP was discontinued”.
Yamaha, just to put the company in context, has a turnover of around 320 million euros, with a contribution of 45 million from the marine division. The marine engine sector has a turnover of around 200-250 million as a whole. “We have almost always held around 20-25% of the market,” says Colombi, who joined Yamaha in 2006 as an analyst and then became country manager in 2015. A division that has 90 dealers, “practically 90% sole agents ”. There are various partnerships, including the one with Capelli, of which Yamaha is the distributor.
The market exploit
We’ll get to that, but first let’s continue the general discussion. “One of the positive effects of the pandemic was the market explosion. Of outboard motors, but in general of all the products we sell (motorcycles and more, ed.), linked to freedom and personal mobility. In particular, during Covid there was an unexpected propensity of people to approach the sea. Perhaps due to a question of current limitations, which saw the boat as an island where you can spend time in the open air with your family, but perhaps also due to the desire for freedom that has led many to see the sea as a way of satisfying their own desires , ambitions, different ways of living”.
The nautical market, understood as boats, has grown. “I would say that it has increased impressively, so much so that it took producers some time to reposition themselves on new productions”. And in return, there has been a huge demand for outboard motors. “There was an increase in sales for all categories, but in particular for that of extra large engines, whose numbers doubled”. We are talking about the range over 200 HP. Why? “Because the size of the boats has grown,” replies Colombi. “There has also been a great exploit in rental, with a clear improvement in the quality of the fleets and therefore also in the engines, which in this case too have increased with the size of the boats themselves”.
The outboard boom
You may ask, why are we seeing an increase in outboards compared to inboards? An increase which, going into detail, saw the share of repowering – that is, fitting a new engine on an “old” boat – reach that of the absolute “new” – new boat, new engine -. “This phenomenon has been underway since at least 2018. What happened is that many shipyards started thinking about boats that previously could only fit inboards as an outboard. Because these latest engines allow for more space on board, less vibrations and easier maintenance. And so, boats on which it was once never thought of to fit an outboard have started to be powered by this latter type of engine”. Engines that were also unthinkable in the past, such as four “bombs” of 450 HP each.
The numbers help to understand. “In 2018, 16,600 outboard motors were sold, in 2022 the 20,000 mark was exceeded. And the Italian market has become the first in Europe”. This is also explained by the number of shipyards existing on the Peninsula: the more boats they sell, the more engines needed. “But what also contributed was the change in the image of boating, no longer seen in a hostile way”. More engines, and also greater power. “Our range reaches up to 450 HP, a power that was unthinkable not long ago. In the first decade of 2000 the top was 300 HP, but with an average of 100-150 HP. We were the first to come out with a 350 HP in 2008, which remained in production until 2018.” The Yamaha range today sees the 300, 350, 400, 425 and 450 HP on the extra-large models.
Obviously, over the years, the engines themselves have changed. More flexible, more sustainable, more efficient, lighter (the new 350 HP weighs only 6 kilos more than the 300 HP), less difficult to maintain. And more “intelligent”. Colombi give us the deadline. “The theme of flexibility, in addition to the engine, is linked to the navigation system. I’m talking about the Helm Master EX, which is a real revolution and on which we have focused a lot in recent years in terms of research and development.” It is an integrated system that allows, just to clarify, the engine block to be managed together – perhaps three, four together – as if it were a single one. Maneuvering and mooring with a joystick, so much so that it will seem like you have a lateral propeller (which also eliminates the anxiety of having to manage perhaps three-four high-power engines). Furthermore, a system that can be interconnected with the actual navigation systems of the boat, so much so that the engines will be able to “dialogue” with the automatic pilot or with the virtual anchor (fixed positioning with GPS). All managed from the command bridge. And in a certain sense, customized to the needs of the owner or owner of the boat, whatever you prefer.
The more sustainable future
It is no mystery that the Japanese company presented the project for a first hydrogen engine at the Miami Boat Show. Which opens up the discussion on sustainability. “There is a closer and a more distant phase of evolution. “We start with the materials used, for example recycled plastic, in some cases recovered from the sea, for the calenders – says Colombi -. And we work on emissions. As a company we have given ourselves a plan called Environmental Plan 2050, which has the objective of reducing CO2 emissions by 90%, starting from production sites”. Are we also working in this sense on engines?, we ask. “At the moment we don’t see a stop to thermal engines, but we are studying how to make them consume less and can be powered by alternative fuels”. Biodiesel, green methane, etc.
Then, there is also electric. And there’s hydrogen. “We are moving towards the latter, there is the prototype project presented in Miami, but I cannot say if and when we will have a hydrogen engine in production. It must be said, for the avoidance of doubt, that in our case it is an outboard that uses direct injection, therefore it injects hydrogen and therefore it is an internal combustion engine with hydrogen, we are not talking about a fuel cell. As for electric, the acquisition of Torqueedo (electric motors, one of the leading brands on the global market for electric mobility on water, 250 patents also extended to on-board systems and propellers, ed.) is certainly looking at the development of the electrification of our marine applications, which has already seen presenting a 6 HP engine at the Venice Boat Show, designed for mobility on calm waters”.
Forecasts
Let’s go back to the market. What does Colombi see in the immediate future? “I think that the very intense boom we have experienced in recent years will have a slight decline and in my opinion will position itself at the level of the real market, without the Covid effect. It will settle at numbers that will be greater than the pre-pandemic ones, but lower than the post-pandemic peaks, in short.”
Will there be a bit of a saturation effect? “Well, maybe yes. Even though we have witnessed an expansion of the nautical base, with new entries. And this is the positive legacy that the pandemic leaves us, I’m talking about a different approach to the sea and boating, which previously had very high barriers to entry, also in terms of costs, from licenses to berths. It may seem banal, but until seven years ago there were no specific financing options for boats. Let’s say that there has been a step towards the democratization of boating”. Looking forward? “We will also have to see how politicians want to use this positive moment to accompany the growth of this industry”.
Related
Andrea Colombi (Yamaha): “Nauting will settle at levels higher than pre-Covid”
These are the best prices
These are the best prices what you will find in the Children’s Day offers, La Comer, from today to the 30th April 2024so you can celebrate the little ones.
Between the best Children’s Day deals todayyou can find a variety of toys and candy, as well as clothing, all at best pricesin accordance with The eating.
Besides that The eating has a raffle, in which buy every 150 pesos at a candy storeBy registering the purchase receipt you can win one of the 100 prizes they will be giving out.
Best prices on Children’s Day offers, today until April 30, 2024 at La Comer
In his most recent brochure, The eating has several offers for Children’s Day, today as of April 30, 2024which are valid both in branch and online store.
For this reason, we present to you the best prices of the Children’s Day offers at La Comer, today until April 30, 2024:
- variety of Sonric’s assortment: from 39 pesos
- Tutsi variety: from 31.90 pesos
- Lucky Gummys gummies: from 18 pesos
- Nutella different presentations: from 59 pesos
- Skippy peanut butter different presentations: from 90 pesos
- Kinder surprise variety of 20 grams: 28.50 pesos
- Kinder surprise of 40 grams (variety): 52.50 pesos
- Kinder creamy: 15.50 pesos
- Kinder surprise maxi 100 gr: 149 pesos
- Pringles 40 grams variety: second half price
- Del Valle juices 200 milliliters: second half price
- Golden Hills variety of gummies: 59.90 pesos
- Golden Hills gummy fruit enchilada: 97.90 pesos
- Golden Hills covered pasties 1.2 kilos: 254.90 pesos
- Chicken nugget: 156 pesos per kilo
- Neapolitan flan: 148 pesos per kilo
- Mosaic gelatin: 88 pesos per kilo
- Cheese Kushiage: 76 pesos per piece
Toys in the La Comer Children’s Day offers: these are the best prices
As always, the toys They cannot be missing and these are the best prices on La Comer Children’s Day offers, today until April 30.
- These are the best prices in the toy offers for Children’s Day at La Comer:
- TY 10″ squish a boos plush: 229 pesos
- Mermaid stuffed animal Industrias Zonana: 298 pesos
- princess stuffed animal (purple or pink) Industrias Zonana: 378 pesos
- 14″ spandex plush Marvel or Star Wars Ruz Imagine: 448 pesos
- Ruz Imagine stuffed animal variety: 278 pesos
- Mattel dinosaur mask: 449 pesos
- Venom deluxe Marvel titan figure: 369 pesos
- Hot Wheels Mattel championship tracks (assorted vehicle): 439 pesos
- Hasbro Marvel Spidey mini figure: 129 pesos
- monster presses and chases Fisher Price: 249 pesos
- neoflobbis glitter Distroller: 469 pesos
- go-kart for Barbie: 639 pesos
- Barbie newborn puppies: 519 pesos
- Nerf elite contender launcher: 369 pesos
- mountable mini Cooper push car red Prinsel: 4,899 pesos
- Harry Potter Lego, Hedwig de Privet Drive: 479 pesos
- Harry Potter Lego flying Ford Anglia: 319 pesos
- Lego creative briefcase: 479 pesos
- Formula 1 car McLaren Lego: 649 pesos
- Minecraft Lego pumpkin farm: 969 pesos
Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Money Laundering Violations: Reports
Jakarta –
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao was sentenced to 36 months or three years in prison after pleading guilty to violating money laundering laws in the United States.
Zhao, better known as CZ, will serve his sentence beginning April 30 in Seattle. He has resigned as CEO of Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, since November 2023, just when he and Binance admitted their mistakes.
At that time, Binance agreed to pay a fine of $4.32 billion, as reported by detikINET from Reuters, Thursday (25/3/2024).
“Given the depth of Zhao’s violation of US law and its consequences, a maximum sentence of 36 months was imposed,” said prosecutors at the US District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Federal sentencing guidelines imposed an 18-month prison sentence for CZ, who later agreed not to appeal. Until his sentence is served, he remains free to move America on $175 million bail.
US authorities said Binance failed to report more than 100 thousand suspicious transactions related to terrorist groups such as al Qaeda and ISIS. Prosecutors alleged that Binance facilitated the sale of child sexual abuse material and received large ransoms.
CZ agreed to pay $50 million and cut ties with Binance, the company he founded in 2017. In return, Binance had to pay a fine of $1.81 billion and resettlement $2.51 billion.
As previously reported, Zhao, who is estimated to be worth more than $23 billion, pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program. Zhao confirmed in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he had stepped down as CEO.
“It wasn’t easy to let go emotionally. But I knew it was the right thing to do,” Zhao said. “I made a mistake, and I have to take responsibility. This is the best thing for our community, for Binance, and for me.”
Watch video”Binance and Foreign Exchanges are the causes of state loss“
(asj/afr)
2024-04-25 04:15:50
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