For the past thirty-five years, the award has celebrated entrepreneurs, managers, designers, industry professionals and journalists who have played a central role in the growth and international success of the Italian yachting industry.
Yesterday evening, the 35th Boating Pioneer Awards ceremony took place at the stunning Borgo Egnazia in Brindisi, presented by Confindustria Nautica, the Italian Marine Industry Association, to honour individuals who, through their dedication, vision and innovative spirit, have enhanced and consolidated the international leadership of the Italian yachting industry.
Established in 1988 and celebrated under the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, the Award is one of the most prestigious accolades in the sector, honouring individuals each year who have shaped the evolution of yachting industry, design, communication and culture, as well as those whose professions support the development of the sector’s supply chain.
Over the course of thirty-five editions, the Award has chronicled the development of the Italian yachting industry through its key figures, highlighting expertise, entrepreneurial talent, innovation and passion: all elements that have enabled Italy to achieve a position of global leadership in the construction of yachts and superyachts and to establish the value of Made in Italy excellence across the international yachting sector.
The Award Jury was chaired by Admiral Inspector General Admiral Sergio Liardo, Commander-in-Chief of the Port Authority Corps – Italian Coast Guard, and by President of Confindustria Nautica Piero Formenti, who presented the awards to the winners of the 2026 edition.
The evening was hosted by Donatella Bianchi, one of Italy’s leading voices on maritime culture, a journalist and television presenter, and winner of the 2024 Boating Pioneer Award in the Italian Journalists category.
In the Managers category, the title of Boating Pioneer was awarded to Diego Michele Deprati, in recognition of his contribution to the growth of the Italian yachting industry worldwide and his pioneering role in promoting environmental sustainability within the sector. An international figure of reference, Deprati stands out for his ability to combine innovation, tradition and vision.
In the Designers category, the award was presented to Sergio Cutolo, an internationally renowned architect and yacht designer, for having raised Italian yacht design to the highest standards through innovation and engineering expertise. Cutolo has also redefined the standards of explorer yachts and contemporary naval architecture.
In the Italian Journalists category, the achievements of Désirée Sormani earned her the title of Boating Pioneer, for promoting communication and maritime culture across the yachting sector. Over the course of more than thirty years of work in publishing and journalism, Désirée has chronicled the evolution of yachting, design and Italian excellence, establishing herself as a leading voice in international nautical communications.
The Boating Pioneer recognition for International Journalists was presented to Joakim Hermansson, in recognition of his passionate commitment, journalistic expertise and profound knowledge of the sea in promoting yachting and sailing on an international level, distinguishing himself as an authoritative figure in European nautical journalism.
In the Industry Professionals category, the Boating Pioneer Award was presented to Maurizio Albonetti, in recognition of his more than four decades’ dedication to the yachting sector, during which he has become a leading figure through technical expertise and experience in the construction of high-performance yachts.
At the 2026 edition, the Confindustria Nautica – Confindustria Brindisi Special Boating Pioneer Prize for Outstanding Career was presented to Corrado Salvemini in recognition of over forty-five years of work dedicated to promoting excellence throughout the sector across major international markets. A native of Apulia, the Italian region in which the award ceremony took place, Salvemini has helped to spread the culture and values of Italian-made boats around the world, representing the Italian yachting industry with passion and pride beyond national borders.
The 2026 edition of the Boating Pioneer Awards took place with the support of Main Partners Alfa Romeo, BPER Banca and Eberhard & Co., alongside Confindustria Nautica, in promoting excellence and maritime culture.
