In 1974, Rinaldo Puntin and Gigi De Cesco left Hannibal Marina to start their own yard, Cantieri SeRiGi in Aquileia, on the north-east coast of Italy. Nestled in this ancient wine-producing region, they saw many advantages to the location – the ancient marine-craft history of the area, the proximity to the River Natissa and the Laguna Veneta, as well as the natural beauty of the setting and the excellent travel connections. Their yacht-building philosophy was, from the start, to ensure both the sailing qualities and the durability of their yachts by prioritising structural integrity and non-deformation. Building in the heart of the Mediterranean, they could think of no better name for their yachts than Solaris – the Roman word meaning “from the Sun”.
From the very beginning of their production, their Solaris yachts were lauded for the precision of their workmanship. By 1977 Solaris were building their own fibreglass yachts. The Solaris Yard had developed an approach to the use of appropriately matched advanced materials that allowed them to build high-quality hulls, decks and superstructures, and bond them together with great strength. This allowed them to develop and use the very best of new design and technology. Throughout its history, Solaris has built partnerships with only the finest naval architects. They also developed great expertise in custom production processes, applying the valuable lessons learned to their semi-custom yachts with enormous success.
This meticulous approach to detail and passionate commitment to the beauty of superb craftsmanship has underpinned their signature interior layouts and high-quality finishes. The build philosophy has allowed Solaris to create yachts that have spacious interiors without sacrificing high-performance characteristics. These interiors make excellent ergonomic use of the space available, are built to the highest possible specifications, and are finished with that combination of flair and understated quality that is typical of Italian design. The underlying structure is put together with the same methodical care as the hull construction. It is built with the same concern for structural integrity. As a result the interiors are seaworthy, desirable, and long-lasting.
Over the last forty years, Solaris have produced yachts with hulls, waterlines, deck designs, sailing plans and interiors that take full advantage of the lightness, strength, shape and stiffness made possible by their philosophy. Consequently, their yachts not only exhibit excellent sailing characteristics and remarkably elegant profiles, but they also have an enviable record for reliability and longevity. Over the last 40 years, through all the boom and bust, the Cantieri SeRiGi yard has been expanding, and now covers 23,000 sq.m. In 2007, with the launch of the Solaris One series, they brought their expertise in custom and semi-custom yacht building to a production series , selling more than 100 yachts over the past five years. The boats they made back in the 1970’s are still eminently desirable today, with a high residual value due to both their beauty and their durability. The boats they make today are modern designs destined to be the future icons of bluewater sailing.