New lines to launch next year

Herbert P. Baum and Guillaume Roché, founders of Turkey-based Sunrise Yachts, and Claudia and Albert Drettman, founder of the Drettman Group, a German boat consortium that marketed Horizon-built Bandito, Elegance and Premier models in Europe, have recently announced an agreement to combine forces and resources. Drettman, after experiencing tremendous growth during the past two decades, filed for bankruptcy in May 2010 after the boat market shrank, drying up demand for new orders. Baum, a successful German businessman who has owned and operated boats, and Roché, an experienced new-build consultant and lifelong boater, saw the two companies as a perfect fit. Their goal with Sunrise Yachts was to build yachts meeting high standards at a better price that cannot be achieved at leading European and North American shipyards. Sunrise Yachts successfully launched the 147′ Africa featured in our November 2009 issue and is currently building a second 45m yacht. The two also contracted yacht designer Espen Øino to develop new designs. Under the new company, Drettman will become a full-fledge yacht builder and plans are for the company to start introducing a line of new models in 2011, including expedition-style vessels to superyachts.

For more information, visit drettman.com and sunriseyachts.com