Azimut Unveils New Yachts at Cannes, 2019

Azimut Yachts swept the board at this year's Cannes Yachting Festival. The event took place at the Vieux Port from 10-15 September, and Azimut used the opportunity to unveil three new yachts, each of which was honored with a prestigious World Yachts Trophies award.

First to be unveiled was the much-anticipated Grande S10 (shown above), a revolutionary sports yacht first announced back in January. Conceived by in-house designer Alberto Mancini, the yacht was inspired by contemporary car design, the flowing lines on large sailing yachts and the elegance of Riviera villas with their multiple terraces and dazzling views. The S10 measures 94 feet, sports a 20-foot beam and makes extensive use of carbon fibre. Technological innovations include an ultra hi-tech bridge and electrochromic glass for the skylight. The yacht is powered by two 2,600 hp MTU engines, giving her a top speed of 35 knots.

Interior design – the work of Francesco Guida – is clean and modern. Colors blend seamlessly with outdoor views, and at all times there's an artistic harmony between interior spaces and exterior lines. Four staterooms (including a full-beam master) and two crew cabins provide accommodation for up to eight guests and three or four crew members.

Outdoor space abounds. At sea level, the beachdeck offers plenty of room for lounging and jumping off into the water. And speaking of water, the tender garage houses two boats and a couple of watertoys. Doors between the indoor and outdoor areas fully retract, subtly merging the two spaces and creating a wonderful experience when it comes to alfresco dining. The flybridge provides three separate lounge areas, each offering ample space for guests to relax and soak up the views.

The World Yachts Trophies (presented at Cannes) honored the Grande S10 with its Best Exterior award for boats between 80 and 98 feet and second prize for Most Innovative Boat of the Year.

The New Azimut Flybridge 78

Also unveiled at Cannes was the Azimut Flybridge 78, the latest member of Azimut's Carbon-Tech generation and winner of the Layout Award for boats between 64 and 80 feet. The Azimut 78 is the result of a collaboration between Alberto Mancini and interior designer Achille Salvagni. It is the largest yacht ever built at Azimut's Avigliana Shipyard and the first in the Flybridge collection to be fitted with three Volvo IPS propulsion units. These engines give her a top speed of 33 knots and a range of benefits that include improved efficiency and handling, reduced noise and vibration levels, and an installation configuration that frees up valuable living space.

Mancini's exterior design is smooth and elegant: on the flybridge the handrail and roll-bar merge into one to create a harmony that's pleasing and bold; large cut-out windows in the main living areas ensure a connection with local surroundings and amazing sea views. In the living area, the traditional distinction between sofa and dining areas has been abandoned in favor of an open-plan space furnished with thought and flair. The result is a layout with an abundance of space generally found only on much larger yachts.

The yacht measures 23.6m and has a beam of 5.75m. Its superstructure, flybridge, hard-top and cockpit are made from carbon fibre, while the deck is hybrid glass/carbon fibre. The design has significantly advanced research into the use of Carbon-Tech, a field that Azimut helped pioneer and one in which the company invests significant resources.

Accommodation consists of the owner's suite, two VIP cabins and a fourth guest cabin with twin beds. All have en-suite bathrooms. To ensure guests' privacy, crew accommodation is set forward and given access to the helm station and galley, both of which can be completely separated from the living/dining area and from the stairways to the lower deck cabins.

The New Azimut Atlantis 45

Azimut's third yacht unveiled at Cannes was the Atlantis 45 – successor to the hugely popular Atlantis 43 that sold over 140 units in four years. The Atlantis 45 incorporates many of its predecessor's winning features (such as the Volvo IPS propulsion) and adopts some of the design elements introduced with the Atlantis 51. The main deck was conceived as a large lounge area, while the lower deck features two full-beam cabins (both with bathrooms and shower cabins) and a centrally located galley-dinette with a folding table. Like the Grande S10 and Flybridge 78, the Atlantis 45 was honored at Cannes, winning the Interior Design award for yachts between 45 and 64 feet.

In the engine room, the two Volvo IPS 600 engines power the yacht to a maximum speed of 33 knots and a cruising speed of about 28 knots. The Atlantis 45 also has a huge storage capacity for luggage, equipment and provisions. The transom garage can accommodate an 8-foot tender, while the swim platform can handle a tender of just over 9 feet.

A Tribute to Paola Vitelli

Perhaps the highlight of the awards ceremony was the Outstanding Career trophy given to Paolo Vitelli. It was Paolo of course who founded Azimut Yachts 50 years ago and developed the company into the world-leading brand it is today. On receiving the award, Paolo talked about his love for the world of yachting and his company's 50th anniversary celebrations. He then added: "I could not have imagined a better conclusion for this boat show."

Pinnacle Marine New Zealand

Pinnacle Marine was founded in 2014 and is New Zealand's sole distributor for Azimut's extensive range of luxury yachts. Pinnacle's founder, Grant Saunders, is passionate about the iconic Azimut brand, believing they offer the best and most comprehensive lineup of any quality shipbuilder. If you're in the market for a new yacht, or maybe just eager to learn more about the world of luxury yachting, please contact us here in Auckland. It's always great to hear from boating enthusiasts and we'll be happy to discuss anything of interest.

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