A few weeks ago, Erik Haaland of David Walters Yachts had the opportunity to tour the Grand Soleil shipyards in Forlì and Fano — an area known as the Italian Adriatic Riviera. This region is celebrated for its ancient history, seafood, beaches, and nightlife, but it is also deeply rooted in yacht-building tradition. With its climate, deep-water ports, and proximity to transportation hubs, this coastline has long been home to some of the world’s most prestigious shipyards, including Ferretti Group (Wally, Pershing, Itama, Riva, CRN, Custom Line), Silent Yachts, Wider Yachts, and many others. Together, the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions export over $2 billion in yachts annually, contributing to Italy’s $9 billion in global yacht exports.
As dealers for Grand Soleil, Erik was invited to Italy to tour the production facilities, meet the team, and join the sea trial of the brand-new Grand Soleil 72 Plus Long Cruise.
The main Cantiere del Pardo (CDP) facility in Forlì is a showcase of Italian craftsmanship and modern efficiency. Walking through the assembly hall is a striking experience — Grand Soleil, Pardo, and VanDutch yachts are built side by side, in stages ranging from fresh hulls just out of the mold to finished yachts ready for shipment.
What stood out most to Erik were the people. From managers to electricians, carpenters, and quality control staff, everyone displayed pride in their work and a sense of teamwork that is clearly central to the shipyard’s culture.
On the second day of his visit, Erik traveled to Fano, home of the GS Plus shipyard. Here, semi-custom yachts 65’ and larger are built under the leadership of Franco Corazza, a multiple-time World and European racing champion. Franco previously served as the Italian importer for X-Yachts and later founded Italia Yachts before joining Grand Soleil to launch the Plus line.
In just a few years, the GS Plus series has seen tremendous success, with more than a dozen GS 65s and 72s already launched and the first GS 80s under construction. Each yacht is built to order, tailored for racing, cruising, or circumnavigation, with nearly every aspect customizable. While photographs cannot be shared due to the confidential nature of production, Erik notes that these yachts stand confidently alongside the finest semi-custom sailing yachts in the world — at a surprisingly realistic price point.
While Grand Soleil has a territory dealer network, GS Plus does not, so David Walters Yachts is happy to offer its unique Semi-Custom Sailing Yacht New Construction Program to GS Plus clients worldwide.
The highlight of Erik’s visit was sailing aboard a just-completed GS 72 Plus Long Cruise. The new owners had invited him to join their first sea trial, held on a warm Adriatic afternoon with flat seas and 10 knots of breeze. The yacht showed off her pedigree with ease:
Effortless sail handling – Axxon carbon rig with a furling boom, hydraulic sail controls, and a self-tacking jib make her perfectly manageable for two people.
Custom interior – The owners opted for a forward galley layout with two generous aft cabins and a flexible day bunk/crew cabin.
Performance options – This yacht carried the shoal 8’6” draft keel, with deeper and telescopic keel options also available, along with single or twin rudder configurations.
Luxury touches – A premium tender garage with dive compressor, hidden hydraulic passerelle, and advanced onboard systems with full monitoring via B&G displays and tablets.
At the helm, the yacht felt balanced, light, and confidence-inspiring. Proportional thrusters made docking simple and precise. For the new owners, who plan a circumnavigation as an owner-operator couple, the GS 72 Plus proved perfectly suited for both ease of handling and offshore performance.
Erik’s visit reaffirmed that Grand Soleil is not only preserving its heritage of Italian craftsmanship but also shaping the future of performance cruising and semi-custom sailing. Their ethos of quality, innovation, and timeless design aligns perfectly with the vision of David Walters Yachts.
David Walters Yachts invites you to stop by for a closer look — and to experience firsthand what makes Grand Soleil one of the most exciting yacht brands in the world today.