Delta Marine’s all-composite 50-metre Arianna hit the water in March at the yard’s facility in Seattle, Washington. Designed and engineered by the Delta Design Group, and boasting what the yard claims is “more interior volume than any other yacht her length”, Arianna has an interior with a Polynesian theme, with room for 12 guests including the owners.



One intriguing aspect of Arianna is that SG Private Wealth Advisors – a billionaire-funded multi-family office offering advisory services for high-net-worth individuals – has managed the entire project. The firm will also market the yacht’s availability for charter. “The owner of Arianna is a client of SG Private Wealth Advisors. Our firm has provided him with several advisory services including the facilitation of a yacht construction loan,” says Dovi Frances, co-founder of SG Private Wealth Advisors. “When we take on a client, we begin with a thorough analysis of the individual’s balance sheet and cashflow to identify opportunities for cost reduction or cashflow increase. The conversation about marketing Arianna for charter began after we had assisted the owner in a multitude of other areas, such as facilitating of a number financing requests and assisting him with his insurance and banking needs.”

So was it a case of SG Private Wealth Advisors thinking they could offer a service that is superior to a traditional broker? “I don’t view SG Private Wealth Advisors as a competitor to brokers as we offer services that are quite distinct,” says Frances. “Yacht brokerages have to divide their efforts between managing, selling and marketing dozens of yachts every year. We focus on a couple of selected clients per year and provide them with a tailored service that brings to light the unique qualities that the original shipyard, designer, and owner intended to portray. We are not in this business to accumulate dozens of clients. Currently, we only have one yacht to focus on, which allows us to devote all of our attention to Arianna.”

Will this lead to other yachting projects? “SG Private Wealth Advisors is open to it,” says Frances. “Ultimately our job is to provide high-net-worth individuals with impartial advice across their balance sheet. A yacht is one such asset that requires careful consideration because it can easily become a major liability if not handled properly. We expect other owners will see Arianna as a case study for yacht marketing. Our ambitious marketing plans for Arianna include building an interactive website, creating innovative print and digital advertising, attending private VIP events, and establishing a dominant presence at premier yacht shows around the globe. Moreover, we aim to reach every family office in the US and abroad and spread the word about Arianna.”

Frances is full of praise for the Delta yard: “Delta have been great – they’re best yacht builder in the US. It is a family business and it has been really easy to work with them.”

Arianna will make her maiden voyage from July to August, before heading to the 2012 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in October.