Cigarette Racing Europe: Yacht Hub Group Signs Deal

Cigarette Racing has signed Malta-based Yacht Hub Group to run the brand across Europe and Africa through a new company, Cigarette Racing Europe. The agreement was signed at Cigarette’s manufacturing facility in Miami and announced on November 4.

Yacht Hub Group will set up Cigarette Racing Europe with its headquarters in Malta, responsible for sales, distribution and after-sales service in 70 countries. The announcement calls it a first for the brand. It says the deal is not a conventional distributorship.

Dealers, service and superyacht tenders

The plan is a selected network of authorised dealers, specialised service locations in key markets, and relationships with superyacht brokers, yacht builders and yacht management companies. Established marine dealerships and service providers can register their interest with the new company.

Cigarette will also be offered as a superyacht tender, with each boat customised around the owner’s preferences and the specification of the mothership. The Malta headquarters will include a marina and handle sales, customer service and vessel support.

An owners’ club and classic restorations

The announcement lists an owners’ club, restoration projects for classic Cigarette vessels and an approved status programme for qualifying pre-owned boats. Existing owners, captains and crew in Europe and Africa are asked to register their boats at [email protected].

Yacht Hub Group will promote the brand at the Monaco Yacht Show, the Cannes Yachting Festival, boot Düsseldorf and the Monaco Grand Prix, among other events.

What each side said

Alex Ruiz, Chief Executive Officer of Cigarette Racing Team, said:

This partnership is about much more than expanding our distribution network; it is about a resurgence of the Cigarette brand.

Charlo Briffa, Chief Executive Officer of Yacht Hub Group, said:

Our task now is to build the brand across Europe and Africa with the same care that goes into every hull: the right dealers, the right service, and an ownership experience that matches the boat.

The announcement gives no investment figure, dealer count, start date or model line-up for the new company.

The brand

Cigarette Racing was founded in Miami in 1969 and says its boats have been hand-built in the United States for more than 55 years. In the US it sells through dealers such as CMC Boat Group, which PBN covered when it bought Outerlimits: Outerlimits Powerboats Acquired by CMC Boat Group.