The 213-foot Benetti FB270 will fly the Chinese flag, with a certificate issued by the China Classification Society. The build and sale of the boat to a Chinese owner is part of a long-term plan by local authorities in the Hainan province to make the area a cruising grounds for yachting. The Chinese government recently said that cruising restrictions between Hainan, Hong Kong and Macau would be relaxed to make free passage of recreational vessels easier between the three areas.
Peter Mahony, general manager of Benetti Yachts Asia, said that the FB270’s sale shows that an “evolution” is taking place in China. “The market will adapt to its new environment if an open mind, hard work and can-do attitude is shared by all parties involved,” he said in a statement.
“Hainan is striving to become an international tourist center, in accordance with the state’s general guidelines and requirements, in order to further develop the city as a first-class port tourism destination with a window to display world-class yachts and innovation within the global yachting industry,” Fu Buming, port administration chief at the Department of Commerce of Hainan province, said in the statement.
FB270 was designed by Giorgio M. Cassetta, while layouts were provided by Benetti Basic and and Executive Design Department. The boat is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2021.
