Giovanna Vitelli, shipowner: the sea as legacy, challenge, and refuge

The following interview is the fourth in a series conducted in collaboration with AssoYacht, an association that represents the interests of owners or operators of pleasure boats. Livio Cossutti (AssoYacht International), Giovanna Vitelli, Lorenza Guerra Seràgnoli, Simonetta Vecoli, Elio Serra, Gabriella Pantani, Andrea Ruscica, Italo Fontana, Dario Castiglia, and Fulvia Codecasa are among the shipowners associated with AssoYacht who have decided to tell (and share) their life stories and their passion for the sea with SUPER YACHT 24 and in the first issue of AssoYachtMAG.

Shipowner, entrepreneur, and president of one of the world's leading nautical groups, Giovanna Vitelli recounts her intimate relationship with the sea, one built on authenticity, family memories, and visionary planning. From experiencing Seadeck 7 firsthand to her vision of a gentler and more sustainable yachting. From a childhood spent on board to cutting-edge design and charting new paths, her story is that of someone who has made the sea a life path.

Dr. Vitelli, what kind of boat do you own today and how do you live on it? Is it more of a personal retreat or also part of your public and professional life?

Today I own an Azimut Seadeck 7. It's a boat that lends itself to both crewed and more personal use. My family and I love being an active part of life on board, from the helm to the galley. It's a space that still allows for this direct contact, and for this reason, I consider it first and foremost a personal refuge. Of course, since my work is tied to this world, I occasionally use it for public occasions or shipyard events, but its true purpose is to give me moments of freedom and relaxation, far from the frenetic pace of everyday life.

What made you choose this particular model? Was there a particular reason?

The choice is primarily linked to our way of experiencing the sea. We have a very Mediterranean approach: we love being outdoors, cooking on board, and having friends and family over. Forced air conditioning and enclosed spaces aren't for us. Seadeck 7 has spacious and functional outdoor spaces, an opening stern, and a livable swimming platform.
and the barbecue on the platform that becomes the center of conviviality. Furthermore, it is one of the most technologically advanced boats in its class, with solutions that respond to specific sustainability choices.

Is there a place in your heart where you love to sail?

Yes, in the summer, like many Italians, I concentrate my holidays in August, but I try to avoid the most popular destinations. I don't like being in Porto Cervo, Capri, or Saint-Tropez in high season. I prefer more secluded places, where I can still enjoy nature without the chaos. This year I'm going to Ionian Greece and I think it will be my destination.
Summer for the next few years. It's an area that offers splendid bays, clean seas, and a more authentic dimension of sailing. There, I can rediscover the sense of the boat as a place of freedom. Unlike other times of the year, Sardinia is truly marvelous in October, when the ports empty and the colors change.

What's your first memory of a boating holiday? Is there a moment that has marked you?

It's difficult for me to answer, because boats have always been part of my life: I don't have a memory of a "first time." In family photos as a newborn, I was already in the basket on board. But I do have a clear memory: as a child, six or seven years old, when my father tested the prototypes. On board, there was always a blank sheet of paper hanging near the saloon and we had to write down the things that needed improving. For me, it was a really fun game: finding flaws, noting details. Then, in the later models, I saw...
It seemed incredible to me that something had been changed thanks to my observation. Only later did I understand how valuable that game actually was for training. Today I realize that it taught me to look at boats with a critical and constructive eye, always looking for what could be improved. Over the years, I've seen recreational boating and nautical tourism change dramatically.

How do you interpret this evolution?

It's changed a lot, and thankfully so. In the 1990s, boating had a more ostentatious, more loud approach. Today, thanks in part to the work we've done as a group, it's become a more authentic experience again. We've pushed hard for a direct relationship with the water: panoramic windows, merging interior and exterior spaces, opening sterns, large outdoor spaces to enjoy. Luxury is no longer the abundance of precious materials, but the quality of the architecture, the intelligent functionality of the spaces, the atmosphere created on board. And I believe this has also contributed significantly to our commercial success. Of course, the markets are different: Italians are a nation of sailors, elsewhere they sell large boats for almost daily use. But everywhere there's a greater attention to the environment, to
Sustainability, consumption. There's still a long way to go, but it's an irreversible trend. Personally, I don't like certain excesses like the noise and invasiveness of jet skis and water toys everywhere. I'd like a more "gentle" boating style, more respectful of the sea, silence, and nature.

What kind of relationship do you have with the crew? What do you look for in the people who work on board?

Empathy is essential to me. Living together in a small, shared space requires respect and harmony. We love being an active part of life on board, cooking, managing maneuvers, and experiencing the boat fully. I don't want a rigid, English-style service, but true collaboration. Mutual respect for space and needs is also essential. In this sense, having a well-designed boat helps enormously. Then, of course, I look for honesty, reliability, and discretion. I'm fortunate to have a
A female captain, capable and down-to-earth, with great flexibility. She can switch from maneuvering to preparing an aperitif without losing her professionalism. I like that rounded nature of her role, perhaps typical of those who come from the sailing world, where you're always a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. It's an approach that works well on our boats.

Are you already thinking about your next boat?

To be honest, yes. It's normal that the more you experience a boat, the more I imagine what the next one might be like. My free time is limited these days, and that affects the size and organization. But I still want more space, more autonomy, and more time to dedicate to long-distance cruising. Sooner or later, the time will come when I'll be able to carve out longer periods on board, and then even a larger boat, perhaps with ocean-going autonomy, could become a reality. That's the beauty of sailing:
every boat is the fruit of a moment in life.

Is there a professional project you are particularly proud of?

Yes, the decision to bring new designers into our industry. For years, in the nautical industry, the names were always the same. Over the last ten years, we've brought in designers from the hotel, retail, and fashion industries. It's been fun and also strategic. Each line has thus found its own identity: the sporty one, the classic shuttle, the crossover like the Oasis. The latter was a huge success, which the market initially viewed with suspicion. My father, who had a deep connection with classic shuttles, sponsored me on that project, giving me carte blanche. It was my investiture. Today, the satisfaction comes from seeing that that choice has set a precedent. And the Seadeck is, in a small way, its natural heir.

A personal anecdote?

Last year I sailed the Seadeck 3 prototype. We toured Italy, visiting all our dealers. One evening we arrived at the Tremiti Islands. In the morning, at seven o'clock, the boat was surrounded by curious tenders. No one had ever seen that model. I invited them all to breakfast on board, and it turned into a wonderful day, filled with conversation among enthusiasts. That's the beauty of boating: you meet people who share your passion, and at sea, you instantly recognize each other.

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