5 minute read
One thing leads to the other
AZIMUT YACHTS CAME ABOUT IN 1969, WHEN THE YOUNG UNIVERSITY STUDENT PAOLO VITELLI FOUNDED AZIMUT SRL, AND BEGAN CHARTERING SAILING BOATS.
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF AZIMUT YACHTS.
In 1970 some prestigious yachting brands appointed the company to distribute their boats in Italy. Azimut quickly expanded its operations. Apart from distribution, it began to design new yachts. In a joint venture with Amerglass, it designed the AZ Bali, a massproduced fbreglass boat, which was an immediate success. The company gradually expanded its range, focussing on the lower end of the market with the launch of the AZ Targa in 1977 and on the upper end too with the memorable début of the Azimut Failaka in 1982, the biggest massproduced yacht in fbreglass at the time.
The acquisition of Benetti
In 1985 Azimut acquired Benetti. This historical brand, based in Viareggio, had been building boats since 1873, and designed the concept of the megayacht. Azimut was now able construct its own yachts, defning new style and industry standards that would go on to revolutionise the boat building industry, such as large frameless windows, electric seats, and walnut interiors. From the late nineties onwards, with the acquisition of new boatyards at Fano, the restructuring of the Benetti boatyards at Viareggio and the construction of a new site in Avigliana, Azimut went on to become the foremost builder of yachts and megayachts.
Currently
Gathering all this experience and knowledge throughout the years, Azimuth Yachts has grown into a well-respected international yacht builder. Azimuth’s collections, Grande, Flybridge, S, Magellano, Atlantis and Verve include yachts and superyachts in every possible shape and size to meet everyone’s specifc needs. Azimuth Yachts is part of the Azimut Benetti Group, who also owns the prestigious brands Benetti Yachts, Yachtique, Lusben, Marina di Varazze and Royal Yacht Club Moscow. The Azimut Benetti Group offers the most extensive range of motor boats from the 34 foot to the 100 metre plus yachts built by Benetti. Azimut Benetti has the most extensive sales network in the boating industry worldwide, with 138 sites in 68 countries.
The spacious day zone is distributed over a single level, with vast windows creating an airy, light-flled environment.
Recently launched Magellano 66
The new 20m long Azimut Magellano 66 is a modern Navetta for gentle cruising. With the recent debut of the 25 Metri, followed by the announcement of the arrival of the 30 Metri, the Magellano collection is enjoying an extended moment in the spotlight with the new Magellano 66. The Magellano 66 takes this philosophy even further with surprisingly spacious interiors for its 20 x 5.4m. The frst unit of the new Magellano 66 will touch the water in spring, and fortunately, spring is just around the corner.
Comfort and versatility
Just like its larger siblings, the new Magellano 66 manages to combine timelessness with modernity and it belongs to the carbon tech generation. But what is it exactly that makes this Navetta so special? If we had to choose just one element, it would most defnitely be the internal layout, which, thanks to the boat’s generous dimensions, offers an extraordinary level of comfort and versatility. The spacious day zone is designed to optimise onboard living, distributed over a single level, with vast windows creating an airy, lightflled environment. Owners wanting to clearly delineate crew and guest areas can easily do so. A sliding door separates the pilot station and galley from the salon, while access from the main deck to owner and guest accommodation is via a decentralised stairway, ensuring total independence and privacy.
Smooth cruising
On the lower deck, in addition to the owner’s suite and two guest cabins, there is a fourth cabin which can be ftted out as a storage area or with bunk beds. Outside, there is also no shortage of space, and there is no better example of this than the impressively large fybridge, with a stern lounge area that can also incorporate an American bar. The dining zone can be transformed into a spacious relaxation zone where the owner and guests can stretch out in the shade, just a few tantalising metres >>
The New Magellano 66 is a modern Navetta for gentle cruising.
The New Magellano 66 manages to combine timelessness with modernity and belongs to the carbon tech generation.
Azimut 53 was scheduled to make its offcial debut early in 2021.
above the water. The second-generation Dual Mode hulls deliver smooth cruising even in moderate seas, and outstanding stability whether you’re in displacement mode or steaming along at the maximum speed of 23 knots. The Magellano 66 is powered by a pair of MAN 850hp engines, is EC category class A and comes with an HTS declaration, attesting that it was designed to – and meets – rigorous High Technical Standards.
Beautiful, spacious and smart Azimut 53
Another recent launch was of the Azimut 53, which was scheduled to make its offcial debut early in 2021. This new yacht from Azimut will compete in the mid-range Flybridge market segment, where Azimut Yachts has always played a leading role with some incredibly successful models. The yacht’s fowing lines hide surprisingly spacious interiors, making it perfect for families who want to enjoy long cruises in absolute comfort. The offcial reveal of the yacht took place on 12 March via an exclusive live streaming.
It’s all in the details
The exterior design characterised by a sophisticated aesthetic is by Alberto Mancini, who continues to work in the direction defned with the Shipyard for the latest models in the Flybridge and S collections. The generously proportioned day area is laid out on almost the same level, with the galley near the entrance and the living area separated by a difference in height of just 25cm. The surprising sense of airiness and freedom of movement that this creates is enhanced by side windows that run uninterrupted, with no uprights, from just beyond the entrance area to the windscreen. The storage spaces, the depth of the armchairs and sofas, and the galley appliances have all been studied down to the smallest detail to ensure functionality, comfort, convenience and durability.
The exterior design of Azimut 53 is characterised by a sophisticated aesthetic by Alberto Mancini.
Propulsion
The naval architecture developed by the AzimutBenetti R&D team combined with the choice of a propulsion system featuring two Volvo Penta IPS 950s, ensures not only more volume on board, but also comfort, effciency and manoeuvrability. The two engines deliver a top speed of 31 knots and a cruising speed of 27 knots, signifcantly reducing consumption and noise and making mooring operations even simpler.
