Ferretti 720 and wallywhy100 Lead Eight-Yacht Fort Lauderdale Display

Two premieres for the Americas, not two world launches

Ferretti Group has brought eight yachts to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, running from 28 October to 1 November 2026, with the revised Ferretti Yachts 720 and the wallywhy100 at the centre of its presentation. In the company's announcement of 29 October, both are described as premieres in the Americas. That regional distinction matters: neither yacht is being unveiled to the world for the first time in Florida. The attraction is the opportunity for buyers in this market to see two well-established design directions beside one another, rather than reading a new-model announcement in isolation.

The 720 represents an evolution of a familiar flybridge cruising platform, with improved living spaces and a more contemporary interior treatment. The wallywhy100 pursues a different idea: broad views through a glazed superstructure and an aft living area that can open directly towards the sea. Together they show the breadth of the group's approach to luxury boating, from recognisably traditional cruising accommodation to a deliberately unconventional arrangement of the main deck. Show visitors should consider the different ways each vessel manages privacy, shelter and the movement of guests before drawing conclusions from size or styling alone.

How the revised Ferretti Yachts 720 has evolved

Ferretti Group first introduced the revised 720 at boot Düsseldorf earlier in 2026, and its separate technical announcement specifies a length overall of 22.5 metres and a maximum beam of 5.60 metres. Filippo Salvetti contributed the exterior design, while IdeaeItalia worked on the interiors in collaboration with the group's product and engineering teams. The Fort Lauderdale appearance is therefore another stage in the model's international presentation, not a new construction milestone. Its appeal lies in making a practical cruising layout feel lighter and more spacious without abandoning the recognisable proportions of a flybridge motor yacht.

The manufacturer's description emphasises brighter interiors, more generous usable volume and the Contemporary interior mood. Such changes are easy to understate when a boat retains a familiar model number, yet they can materially alter how people use the saloon on an ordinary passage. Buyers should look at the seating and dining relationship, connections to outdoor decks, natural light and the practical route between helm, galley and guest accommodation. The real comparison is with the previous configuration and with competing yachts of similar length, not simply with photographs of the refreshed exterior.

Wallywhy100 puts the terrace at the centre

The wallywhy100 offers almost the opposite visual proposition. Wally's own description centres on a glazed, angular superstructure and a single-level social sequence connecting the saloon, dining area and aft terrace. Fold-down bulwarks expand the deck at the stern, creating a stronger link with the water when the boat is stationary. The company has previously described the terrace as measuring about 14 square metres, with the opening wings increasing its extent. This is not a claim of a new feature introduced at Fort Lauderdale; the layout is a defining element of a model already known in European markets.

For owners, the operational question is when and how that terrace will be used. A broad waterside platform could be transformative at a quiet anchorage, while a more enclosed traditional cockpit may feel more familiar on a passage in difficult weather. Visitors should inspect the thresholds, safety arrangements, steps and shade as carefully as the open-deck photography. The continuous main-deck space is a compelling expression of Wally's design language, but comfort also depends on ventilation, glare control, movement through the interior and the protection available when the side wings cannot be deployed.

Six further yachts give the display its scale

The group's official Fort Lauderdale list also includes Ferretti Yachts 1000, Riva 82' Diva, Pershing GTX70, Pershing 6X, Custom Line Saetta 120' and wallypower50. That makes eight boats in total, not eight launches or eight first appearances. Their inclusion provides context for the two regional premieres and allows buyers to see very different approaches to cruising and entertaining from the same corporate group. A yacht designed around sports performance has to be judged by different priorities from a larger vessel whose principal purpose is extended time aboard.

This breadth can be useful for an owner unsure whether the next yacht should be a larger version of the current one or a change of category. The Pershing models represent a sporting interpretation of motor-yacht life; the Riva and Ferretti offerings emphasise other combinations of luxury and layout; the Custom Line yacht extends the scale of the display. The wallypower50 offers another design viewpoint below the largest yachts. Seeing the selection together can help buyers decide which trade-offs are worth making, but the show list alone cannot establish availability, delivery slots or the specification of a particular hull.

What a buyer should actually compare aboard

A regional show premiere is principally an opportunity for examination. On the revised 720, visitors can compare the use of saloon volume, outlook from the dining area and access to the flybridge with the builder's earlier arrangement. On the wallywhy100, the emphasis shifts to the sea terrace, the connection between interior and exterior, and the function of the distinctive glass house. Neither set of claims should be accepted on brochure imagery alone. A proper inspection should follow the route a guest would use from boarding to the main living spaces, then consider the same journey in wet weather.

Owners should ask which equipment is standard, which finishes or systems are optional, and whether any displayed boat differs from a typical production specification. Service access, crew circulation, operating visibility and storage are less photogenic than a large terrace but can shape the entire ownership experience. Where quoted speeds or ranges appear in other manufacturer material, they should be checked against loading, propulsion configuration and sea-trial conditions. Fort Lauderdale provides the occasion to ask these questions face to face; it should not be mistaken for independent verification of every performance or comfort claim.

What the Florida appearance signals

Ferretti Group's announcement describes Fort Lauderdale as an important stage for its American-market presentation. The revised 720 and wallywhy100 bring two different European design stories to a region where owners may expect different cruising patterns, service arrangements and seasonal operating conditions. A boat that is impressive at a Mediterranean quay must also make sense for local marinas, waterways, maintenance support and potential Bahamas passages. Those practical details are often more important than the promotional language attached to a regional debut, especially for buyers evaluating a yacht they may keep for several seasons.

The central development is therefore not the invention of two new yachts on 29 October, but the grouping of two established, contrasting designs for the Americas audience during the 2026 show. The 720 offers a revised mainstream flybridge experience; the wallywhy100 makes the water-facing terrace an organising principle. Alongside six other yachts, their joint appearance gives owners a broad comparison within one display. The exact equipment and commercial terms of any individual vessel still need confirmation from Ferretti Group or its authorised representatives before a purchase decision.

Primary source: Ferretti Group, 29 October 2026 announcement. Model details from Ferretti Yachts 720 and Wally wallywhy100 official materials. Both are regional Americas premieres, not first-ever world launches.