A stage worthy of a debut
The Genoa Boat Show, or Salone Nautico di Genova, has long stood as a cornerstone of the European yachting season. Since its launch in 1962, the event has grown into one of the world’s largest showcases of marine culture and technology. The 2024 edition recorded more than 120,000 visitors, with displays spread across 200,000 square metres of waterfront and marina space.
For builders, Genoa builds further on the Cannes Yachting Festival: provides an additional meeting ground of industry leaders, a proving place for new technology, and a chance to connect directly with owners and enthusiasts in the heart of the Mediterranean. In this context, Grand Banks’ decision to exhibit here for the first time marks a significant milestone for the brand.
Why Genoa, why now?
The Mediterranean is one of the world’s most demanding cruising regions. Its waters reward yachts that combine long-range capability with comfort, elegance, and efficiency. For Grand Banks, whose reputation has been built on trawler-style cruisers capable of serious passagemaking, Genoa offers the perfect audience.
This is a marketplace where tradition and innovation matter equally, and where heritage counts for as much as forward-looking design. By choosing to exhibit in Genoa, Grand Banks is continuing its clear statement of intent: the American icon is committed to expanding its European presence and strengthening ties with Mediterranean owners.
From Hong Kong to the world
Grand Banks’ story stretches back almost 70 years. Founded in Hong Kong in the 1950s by Robert Newton and his sons John and Whit, the company began under the name American Marine. In 1964 the first Grand Banks 36 was launched, a boat that helped define the modern concept of long-range cruising yachts. Grand Banks developed a reputation for craftsmanship and seaworthiness, producing yachts that combine elegance with durability. Today the brand’s range continues to evolve, but always with a firm nod to its roots.
Leadership with racing pedigree
The modern era of Grand Banks has been shaped by CEO and Chief Designer Mark Richards. A world-renowned ocean racer, Richards brings a unique perspective to yacht design. His record includes multiple Admiral’s Cup victories, America’s Cup campaigns, and nine podium finishes in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race aboard the super-maxi Wild Oats.
That competitive pedigree translates into a design philosophy that prizes efficiency, stability, and performance. Under Richards’ leadership, Grand Banks has not abandoned its DNA of craftsmanship and tradition, but has instead integrated cutting-edge construction techniques that place the yachts among the most advanced in their class.
Spotlight on the Grand Banks 60
The centrepiece of the Genoa debut is the Grand Banks 60. First launched in 2018, the GB60 has become a flagship for the brand’s philosophy: timeless lines paired with modern performance.
Each GB60 is customised for its owner, with interiors that showcase meticulous joinery and an elegant sense of flow. Yet beneath its classic exterior lies a technological core. The yacht is built using Grand Banks’ proprietary V-Warp® Technology, a method inspired by ocean racing that employs advanced materials and lightweight construction to reduce drag, enhance strength, and deliver fuel efficiency.
The result is a yacht that stands as the most fuel-efficient in its class, with the range and stability needed for long-distance cruising. In Genoa, this combination of heritage styling and performance engineering will be on full display.
A natural fit for the Mediterranean
Few regions test a yacht’s versatility like the Mediterranean. From short coastal hops to extended passages, from calm summer mornings to mistral-driven seas, it demands boats that can do it all. The GB60, with its blend of endurance and elegance, is well suited to the task.
Grand Banks already enjoys a strong community in the region, including the Amicale Grand Banks Méditerranée, an association of owners who celebrate the “long haul” philosophy of cruising. The debut in Genoa builds on this foundation, reinforcing the brand’s connection with a culture that values both performance and lifestyle.
Experience on the docks
During the show, Grand Banks will offer private tours of the GB60. For visitors, it is a chance to step aboard and experience firsthand the qualities that define the brand: craftsmanship, efficiency, and luxury brought together in one yacht. Having been onboard a Grand Banks earlier this year, we think you’ll be quietly impressed. These tours represent a deeper engagement with a yachtbuilder that has been shaping cruising lifestyles for nearly seven decades.
Anchoring tradition in a modern world
Grand Banks’ debut at the Genoa Boat Show is a practical step in strengthening its European presence. The event gives the company direct access to Mediterranean owners and operators, a region where performance and elegance are equally valued.
By presenting the Grand Banks 60 in Genoa, the brand demonstrates how nearly 70 years of craftsmanship and design can be applied to the needs of today’s long-range cruising market. It’s a move that connects Grand Banks’ established heritage with a new generation of European boaters, while signalling a clear intent to continue to build its community in one of the world’s most important yachting arenas.
