Before the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) ship started a new chapter in her storied history as a floating hotel, dining and entertainment destination in Dubai, I got a glimpse of the interior in all its glory during a tour with our then design team.
With the highly anticipated international interest, it was a delight to be one of the first on the ship when it docked in Dubai and then seeing it refurbished and reinvented as a legendary vessel that is a must-see tourism destination, in a city renowned for its world-class attractions.
The world-famous cruise liner, which has a history spanning over 5 decades, is docked permanently at Mina Rashid offering dining options, accommodation and entertainment attractions. Visitors can have a unique experience capturing all that was grand during its forty years of service.
During a visit on board, we admired the selection of beautifully restored rooms and suites and explore QE2’s rich history in the QE2 Heritage Exhibition. Here we can step back in time in a space that created so many wonderful memories of 40 years at sea.
The legendary ocean liner is docked close to where we live and we love it as a multi-faceted tourist destination continuing to make a mark as a 13-deck hotel that has been thoughtfully restored to her former glory and maintaining her most loved interior design features such as the period furniture, renowned paintings and famous memorabilia.
The original porthole windows still add a maritime feel to the attractive modernized guest rooms and a number of her original restaurants have retained the same names and décor as her former years. Whilst extensively preserving her authentic elements, the hotel has been equipped with all the latest technology.
The QE2 Exhibition is a must see as it is an interactive museum that showcases the QE2 during the 60’s when she was a pioneer in design, technology and lifestyle – words often used to describe the city she resides in today. Coming from a family obsessed with theatre, we enjoy the entertainment scene that QE2 is becoming known for amongst theatre enthusiasts.
The gem in the crown of the QE2 are the two Royal Suites named after the Queen’s mother and grandmother. These suites offer a private veranda, conservatory and dining room – in addition to a luxurious bedroom. Highly personalised amenities are included for Passengers who can book the suite by invitation only.
We recommend trying the hotel’s signature restaurant is The Queens Grill which offers a refined selection of British fine-dining dishes as well as a tasting menu that recreates a classic selection of dishes from 1969. Another must try is the high tea – if you find yourself looking for things to do on a lazy afternoon, the QE2 afternoon tea hits the spot each time.
The QE2 is home to a number of unique event and meeting room spaces, most notably The Queen’s Room which is an inimitable ballroom unlike any other in the city. It is the perfect place to take guests who love the history and all things maritime.
Benetti always has a surprise on the horizon with new reveals as well as models that are popular and keep the yachting enthusiasts interested. Founded in 1873 and acquired by Paolo Vitelli in 1985, Benetti, the oldest Italian shipyard specializes in luxury yachts.
Recently the brand revealed the eleventh unit of the Delfino 95, a 29-meter yacht of the Class category, BD111 at the Benetti shipyard in Viareggio. Giorgio M. Cassetta designed the sinuous and dynamic external lines, which blend harmoniously with the bright interiors, developed by the Benetti Interior Style department.
The naval architecture was developed by studio Plana – Pierluigi Ausonio naval architecture. The BD111 accommodates 10 guests across 3 decks. The main saloon and galley, located centrally on the Main Deck, precede the full beam owner’s cabin. 4 VIP cabins on the Lower Deck enjoy privacy in a separate area from the 3 forward cabins, which house the 5 crew members.
At a cruising speed of 10 knots, the range is 2,320 nautical miles. The yacht is owned by SeaNet Europe Ltd, a Yacht Co-ownership company based in Malta, which now boasts a fleet of 4 Azimut|Benetti yachts.
The yachts by the brand are seen as icons of timeless style and construction excellence. The Azimut Benetti Group brand is dedicated to the construction of composite displacement and semi-displacement yachts from 30 meters up and steel superyachts from 50 meters to over 100 meters. Benetti operates out of the company’s Livorno production unit, Viareggio headquarters and corporate offices in Fort Lauderdale, Dubai, Hong Kong and London.
Sunreef Yachts presents the first pictures of the Sunreef 70 Ginette. Recently launched, this custom-tailored sail craft blends refined interior design, supreme comfort and reliable performance.
The catamaran’s layout provides generous accommodation for up to eight guests. Located in the portside hull along with one of the guest cabins, the yacht’s vast master suite was fitted with a king-size bed with a tufted backrest, a vanity and an elegant ensuite bathroom.
The starboard hull houses a vip cabin with a walk-in dressing and desk as well as a guest stateroom with a convertible twin bed.
photos: Katarzyna Seliga-Wróblewska, Marcin Wróblewski / Fotomohito
client: Sunreef Yachts
photos: Katarzyna Seliga-Wróblewska, Marcin Wróblewski / Fotomohito
client: Sunreef Yachts
photos: Katarzyna Seliga-Wróblewska, Marcin Wróblewski / Fotomohito
client: Sunreef Yachts
The bespoke décor is contemporary and classic with numerous velvet and brass accents. All the bathroom fittings are matt black, matching the classic black and white floor tiling.
The yacht’s main deck saloon features a lounging space with a large sofa, a wine cooler and a cozy elevated reading spot. The height-adjustable table can also be used as an extra sofa extension. To starboard, the yacht’s main galley provides top kitchen appliances and voluminous storage. Amidships, the kitchen island conceals restaurant quality equipment as well as a retractable TV.
With nearly 11m of beam, the Sunreef 70 boasts an impressive stern cockpit with plenty of space for dining, a barbecue and bar as well as a hydraulic swim platform. Accessed from the main saloon, the bow terrace features big sun pads, a sunken lounging space and clever diving gear storage. Ginette’s flybridge was given an open layout with oversized sun pads and a large u-shaped sofa.
The crew quarters are located in the aft of the hulls and offer comfortable accommodation along with a crew mess.
The new flagship of the storied Sarnico shipyard entered the water on Lake Iseo
Sporty, elegant and instantly exhilarating, Riva 68’ Diable touched the water for the first time on Lake Iseo. An irresistible design, magnetic beauty and amazing performance are the distinctive features of this incredibly alluring new masterpiece, forged in the storied Sarnico shipyard and scheduled to make its debut in September at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2021.
With Riva 68’ Diable, a new star is born in the under 70-foot open yacht market, where Riva is the undisputed leader because of its ability to innovate with elite boats that anticipate trends and satisfy the tastes of highly evolved owners.
The brainchild of Mauro Micheli, founder with Sergio Beretta of Officina Italiana Design, working in partnership with the Product Strategy Committee led by Mr. Piero Ferrari and the Group Engineering Department, this incredible yacht revolutionises the open concept, incorporating exciting technological and functional design innovations that elevate liveability and comfort on board to their maximum level. All embellished by the traditional style features and premium detailing that have been distinctive features of Riva’s iconic status from the outset.
“Riva 68’ Diable is the irresistible temptation to which every Riva owner and fan can’t wait to succumb. It looks like a design from the future, but is also a fantastic journey through Riva’s hallmark style and sophisticated detailing,” said Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi. “An unrivalled mix of innovation and masterful hand craftsmanship, it offers outstanding performance and unparalleled comfort. I understand the enthusiasm generated around this incredible boat and it gives me immense pleasure.”
One of the stand-out new features and strengths of this yacht is the innovative built-in hard top, with a clean, linear design that hides the technical and technological elements from view. This ingenious and versatile solution protects and shelters the central areas of the yacht, including the dining area and the helm station on the main deck. The result is total coverage and maximum comfort, without sacrificing the enjoyment and sportiness of an open yacht with a top speed of 40 knots.
Another interesting functional design feature is the sunroof that can be opened in two directions (forwards and reverse) for maximum liveability and comfort on the move.
The layout of the lower deck features three cabins for six guests, arranged around an open space containing a
galley and a dinette for versatility and convenience. The master cabin is amidships, with the twin cabin with single beds to port and the VIP forward.
To discover all the secrets and outstanding design solutions that will seduce owners around the world, Riva 68’ Diable will make its official debut in a world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival, in September 2021, after which it will move on to the Genoa Boat Show.
The best-loved Riva sport-fly of recent years proposes new aesthetic solutions combined with unprecedented design and functional features for an increasingly sporty, elegant and high-performance yacht.
Improving a masterpiece with an incredible and long-lasting record of success is a challenge that only Riva can accept and win, thanks to an aesthetic and technological development effort that achieves a perfect balance of past, present and future.
Riva 76’ Perseo Super is the exciting natural evolution of the 76’ Perseo, which in recent years has become one of the sport-fly yachts best loved by owners around the world. The first unit has already been sold and will sail with its owner during Summer 2021.
The result of collaboration between the Product Strategy Committee led by Mr. Piero Ferrari, designer Mauro Micheli – the founder of Officina Italiana Design with Sergio Beretta – and the Ferretti Group Engineering Department, she has a length overall of 23.25 metres (76 feet) and a maximum beam of 5.75 metres (18 feet).
Riva 76’ Perseo has a sleek profile with over 40 square metres of glazed surfaces in the hull and superstructure. The exterior styling reprises and enhances the sporty look of the 76’ Perseo, with the introduction of new style elements.
Worthy of note is the mahogany and polished stainless steel detailing, a technical and design feature that forms part of the Sarnico-based shipyard’s legacy and pays tribute here to the Riva tradition. One of the main functional design features on this fantastic boat is the glass roof with an opening forward section positioned over the lounge, letting light and fresh air into the space below.
EXTERNAL AREAS The stern area is designed to offer comfort for guests and to be practical for the crew. Almost the entire swim platform can be lowered into the water, becoming an underwater surface to relax on and an aid to leaving the water safely.
When the garage door is open and the swim platform lowered, launching and hauling up the tender (up to 3.25 metres) are quick and easy operations. On request, a second water toy can be installed on the swim platform and two seabobs in the garage on either side of the tender.
The cockpit offers an area for socialising, with a sofa in the aft section and a dining table seating eight. On request, the entire area can be converted into a big sun pad with a mechanism that lowers the table so that it can be covered with cushions. The entire area is enhanced with solutions that increase the level of comfort on this yacht, like the option of fitting a drawer refrigerator under the sofa.
On the left, under the stairs leading to the sun deck, is the entrance to the crew cabin on the lower deck. On request, a bar corner is available, with stools featuring mahogany and polished stainless steel detailing and a Corian counter top, complete with fridge, icemaker and sink.
The spacious sun deck is integrated into the yacht’s aerodynamic lines, offering somewhere to relax in total privacy, plus a helm station to pilot the yacht from a privileged vantage point. The deck has a big central sun pad covering about 4 square metres, with a forward-facing sofa at its edge. The second centrally positioned helm station is forward and surrounded on both port and starboard sides by other sofas. The helm station has one 16-inch touchscreen in the standard version and two in the optional version.
Here too, various solutions are available to increase your comfort, including an optional drawer refrigerator under the sofa next to the helm station.
The bow area, on the other hand, is fitted out as a big lounge with a front-facing sofa that can be sheltered by a hood. A big sun pad at the tip of the bow rounds out the fittings in this private relaxation area.
All mooring gear is hidden from view, in a solution designed not to detract from the yacht’s beautiful lines, without compromising on the practicality of technical manoeuvres and enhancing the ergonomics.
A third lateral manoeuvring station is also available on request.
MAIN DECK The lounge is a big open space with a living area inside the glass entrance door, furnished with a sofa and a coffee table on the starboard side. The decor is rounded out by low furniture, an armchair and a pouffe. Further forward is the dining area seating eight, featuring an L-shaped sofa and an oak table with chairs by Arper. Forward on the starboard side and fitted with two Riva pilot seats is the helm station, equipped with integrated control, monitoring and navigation systems, plus three 16-inch touchscreens. A solution with three 19-inch touchscreens and a convenient and functional manoeuvring joystick is also available.
The dominant wood for the standard version is a sand-coloured oak, matched with light and dark lacquer and polished stainless steel detailing. Rosewood is available on request as the featured wood.
LOWER DECK
The lower deck has a lounge furnished with a big L-shaped sofa. Opposite it, on the starboard side, is a fully appointed galley with a door, complete with appliances, a work top, a hob and a sink arranged along the hull sides and in the stern area.
76’ Perseo Super has a standard layout with three cabins, each with its own private bathroom. There is also the option of a fourth cabin, with two single beds and its own bathroom.
The master cabin is in the centre of the boat, while the guest cabin furnished with single beds and a separate bathroom is on the starboard side, and the VIP cabin is in the bow, with a twin wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom with separate shower.
The decor in the cabins reprises not only the dominant wood on the main deck, but also the chiaroscuro contrasts and the same precious materials.
As always, there was a special focus on acoustic insulation in the cabins. All the forward and aft walls in the master suite have additional insulation to guarantee maximum comfort with regard to both other areas and the galley.
The crew cabin, entered from the cockpit and communicating directly with the engine room, extends horizontally to include a bathroom and a night area with two bunk beds.
PROPULSION AND TECHNOLOGY The new Riva 76’ Perseo Super delivers excellent performance in line with all the other great success stories in the sport range. Fitted with two MAN V12 V-engines rated 1,550 MHP each, her top speed is 32 knots and her cruising speed 28 knots. The owner can also opt for a more powerful propulsion system featuring two MAN V12 engines rated 1,800 MHP each, in which case the top speed rises to 37 knots and the cruising speed to 32 knots.
Riva 76’ Perseo Super is fitted with automatic Humphree dynamic trim interceptors, guaranteeing maximum simplicity of use and optimised fuel consumption.
The optional AVENTICS manoeuvring joystick features docking mode functionality for easy handling in confined waters, such as when mooring alongside, with lateral movement obtained by the combined action of the main propellers and the proportional bow thruster.
Performance means comfort too and, on request, a Seakeeper NG18 stabilizer can be installed to minimise rolling at anchor.
From day 1, Sunreef Yachts positioned itself as leader in luxury catamaran design and manufacturing, having introduced some of the most remarkable designs in the multihull industry including the world’s first flybridge catamaran. Presented in 2003 by company Founder and President Francis Lapp, Sunreef Yachts’ first luxury craft originated with a layout concept before taking final shape.
Today, Sunreef Yachts shares an exclusive first look at the layouts of a new luxury catamaran range of 60-90 feet that has been in the works for the last three years. With extreme living space, the range’s architecture takes a fresh look at catamaran design.
The concept unlocks a new potential for onboard comfort thanks to a design using the volume of both the hulls and bridge deck to achieve immense living space. Thanks to this, guest accommodation profits from new, generous amounts of fully-customizable living space. Standout features also include an imposing beach club.
With an innovative main deck design, the saloon of the yacht boasts full-height glazing and opens wide onto the sides and the lounging area of the aft cockpit. All spaces offer full freedom in terms of customization. The stern lounge uses the entire beam but can also be enclosed with sliding doors for more privacy in the marinas.
The sundeck can welcome an impressive master suite with panoramic views along with a large alfresco relaxation and fitness area.
Benetti is proud to announce the delivery of M/Y “Triumph”, a 65.40 meters full custom yacht with sleek and clean lines spanning her six decks. The steel displacement hull and the superstructure, made with aluminum, are painted in a classic white. The external lines were penned by Giorgio M. Cassetta, complementing the naval architecture by Benetti. Green & Mingarelli Design contributed to the interiors, adding to the work done in-house by Benetti.
The yacht, which accommodates twelve people in six double cabins, offers a host of luxurious amenities, including a touch and go helipad located on the bow, sauna, fully equipped gym, massage room, jacuzzi and 70 square metres of beach club with a drop-down platform.
Manuele Thiella, CEO of Royal Yacht International, International luxury yacht advisor company with headquarter offices based in Monte Carlo and London, represented the owner.
Benetti has just delivered the 65.40 meters full custom M/Y “Triumph” to her owner. The aggressive streamlined exteriors were designed by Giorgio M. Cassetta notably using large curved windows to balance the yacht’s impressive presence. Green & Mingarelli Design arranged the elegant interiors and many furnishing details, closely following the direction of the Benetti Interior Style Department. All the artwork onboard is created by renowned British photographer David Yarrow.
The Sun Deck sits atop the yacht on the sixth deck, not always present on yachts of this size. The high-perch features an elegant jacuzzi, comfortable seating and a table for ten that can be used even while navigating, thanks to ample wind sheltering.
The sky lounge on the Upper Deck blends seemlessly with the welcoming aft outdoor spaces, outfitted with custom furniture. The owner’s apartment, set over a sprawling 130 square meter area, takes full advantage of the deck’s spaciousness and stunning views.
The aft cockpit on the Main Deck is an outdoor spot, sheltered yet in contact with the environment, perfect for conversation and relaxation at any time of day. Amidships, the large and bright living area, consisting of a dining and relaxation space, is complete with every comfort. Also on the Main Deck, the VIP stateroom dedicates an opulent suite to the owner’s guests.
The beach area of the Lower Deck proposes an area of about 70 square meters with immediate access to the sea. The sleeping area amidships includes four double cabins for an additional eight guests. Also on this deck, but in a separate area to guarantee guest privacy, is the modern galley, and at the bow there are the accommodations for crew members.
The engine room hosts a pair of MTU 12V 4000 M53 engines for a maximum speed of 16.5 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots. The range at 12 knots is 4,700 miles.
Every week I select one eye candy image that inspires me and this week it was Azimut Yachts second unit of the 38-meter Azimut Grande Trideck. This revolutionary model offers an extra deck in addition to the three traditional ones, completing a visual effect of cascading terraces from the top of the Sundeck down to the sea. After writing about yachts for 17 years, very little impresses me but this unit ticked all the boxes as I studied the specs and the detailed imagery that we received in our mail recently.
The dynamic exterior lines are designed by Alberto Mancini while Achille Salvagni took care of the interiors. We came across the first unit of the new flagship of the Grande Collection at the Monaco Grand Prix. The Azimut Grande Trideck are the first triple-deckers ever built by Azimut Yachts and is a new symbol of the brand’s innovative DNA, from the Viareggio shipyard.
In a volume of less than 300 GT, the Trideck proposes a revolutionary layout, a less formal lifestyle, and an unusually close relationship with the sea for a superyacht. The Azimut Trideck is composed of three decks + One, because the shipyard, together with Exterior Designer Alberto Mancini, added an extra aft deck to the three traditional ones, which completes the stern social area while creating a stunning visual effect of cascading terraces from the Sundeck down to the sea.
This all-new feature brings with it a full height beach area and transforms the cockpit into a private patio, which invites the environment in through cut-outs in the fashion plates. The design allows for numerous relaxation areas that would be perfect for our evenings sailing across the coastline of Dubai as well.
The extensive interior spaces owe their elegant design to Achille Salvagni, who brought his world-famous air of wellbeing onboard the Trideck – with a less formal twist. The designer fully embraces the cause of the shipyard: to offer the market a redefinition of the role of space, giving new functionality to the onboard environments that are now more integrated with the external areas, to become extensions of one another, a harmonious continuum.
Beyond eye catching design and comfortable living areas, the Azimut Grande Trideck is built on a state-of-the-art naval architecture, the new second generation of the D2P (Displacement to Planing) hull, which was developed for smooth sailing and class-leading fuel economy by Pierluigi Ausonio of Studio Plana in collaboration with the Azimut|Benetti R&D Department.
Other factors which contribute to her superb seakeeping include the extensive use of carbon fiber to laminate the upper parts of the yacht, as well as stabilizer fins from CMC Marine, which are integrated efficiently thanks to their proprietary Argo software.
Grande Trideck has a dual-motor option, with a pair of MTUs of 2400 or 2600 hp each. The first model under test, with an engine of 2600 hp, recorded a maximum speed of 24 knots, a range of 700 miles at 19 knots and, at a cruising speed of 12 knots, an autonomy of over 1700 miles.
It isalways a delight to see our home grown brand,Gulf Craft, reveal one of its most popular yachts – the Majesty 100. Over the last two decades, we have seen the friendly team reveal one model better than the last and spend quality time with us each year exploring the yachts and showing us their new innovations. We are hence proud to witness them becoming one of the world’s leading shipbuilders.
The brand has now delivered another Majesty 100, one of the best-selling models of its flagship superyacht brand that has gained acclaim globally for its innovative design, powerful performance, and massive interior volume.
Manufactured at the in-house design and production facility of Gulf Craft, the Majesty 100 will set off for the Turquoise Coast in Turkey and will cruise further on to the Mediterranean Sea. Designed to the specifications of the owner, it stands out for her exquisite exterior and interior design offering ample onboard space as well as a sky lounge on the upper deck which provides spectacular views of the sea.
Made of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP), making her lightweight at 199 Gross Tons, the 31.7 metre (104 ft) Majesty 100 is powered by twin MAN 1,900 horsepower engines reaching a top speed of 20 knots. With a displacement of about 132 tonnes, the draft of just 1.65 metres (5 ft 5 in), enables easy cruising in shallow waters and giving effortless access to the pristine beaches along her journey.
With folding balconies on both sides of the cockpit, the Majesty 100’s interior features include floor-to-ceiling glazing in the main deck saloon and five spacious staterooms that can accommodate 10 guests and five crew members. Her raised wheelhouse has 270-degree vertical glass panels, a design-first by Gulf Craft, which offers the captain unobstructed views of the seascapes.
The Majesty 100 is compliant with the Maritime Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) LY3, the large commercial yacht code, which outlines specifications for structural strength, weathertight integrity, machinery and installation, safety management, and clean sea requirements, among others. She has an environmentally friendly water treatment solution supporting extended trips out to sea.
Majesty is one of the five brands of boats and yachts manufactured by Gulf Craft and includes its flagship Majesty 175, the world’s largest composite production superyacht, which marked its international premiere recently in Dubai.
“The 78 Fly is a cutting-edge yacht that is strategically positioned in the segment, midway between Azimut 72 and Azimut Grande 25METRI, and meets our customers’ growing expectations.” This is how Azimut Yachts CEO Marco Valle defined the latest model in the Flybridge Collection. A new entry in the CarbonTech generation, the yacht’s flybridge superstructure, roll-bar and hard top are all made from carbon fiber, as well as a section of the deck and the stern storage door.
Exterior lines
A quest for dynamism that takes its cue from car design and Umberto Boccioni
Futurism, the early nineteenth century movement that celebrated speed and dynamism, introducing concepts like simultaneity and surface interpenetration into contemporary architecture, was an important source of inspiration for the exterior design of the yacht. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, because the styling of the 78 Fly is the work of renowned designer Alberto Mancini, an eclectic talent trained in the cradle of car design (Istituto Europeo di Design, Turin) who has made “contamination” between the worlds of yacht and automotive design a signature feature of his work.
The Trieste-born designer, who has been proposing new ideas to the world of yachting for almost twenty years now, says that his special source of inspiration was Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916), whose Unique Forms of Continuity in Space made a big impression on him during a visit to MoMA in New York. Boccioni’s revolutionary sculpture, which rejected the tenets of classical art, is an alternation of cavities, raised sections, planes and voids, conveying a clear sense of movement. In the same way, Mancini is infusing the form of the 78 Fly with verve, creating the sensation of movement even in an object at rest. Sculptural tension permeates this boat, suffusing the design from bow to stern, from sea to sky. The striking use of split moulds spurs a quest for new forms – starting with the hull. The interplays of light and dark, of ribbing and surface markings lend the hull sides real character and spirit, in an endlessly fascinating play of lines. They taper at the bow to a cutting edge thrusting forward to the tip, searching for the horizon; at the stern, they rise in seamless union with the outline of the deck. Fibreglass takes the strain, replacing the traditional steel in creating a quite new kind of handrail, more flowing and sinuous than ever. The windscreen pillars ramp up from the bow, developing into a unique ring that encloses and embraces the entire flydeck as far as the stern, before continuing upward in a continual tension of curves in and out, of solids and voids, right to the top. The windows spring forward from the dark-coloured side buttresses’ lateral structureat the stern, forming the alphabet of a whole new language of style, surging irresistibly ahead to shape a support for the flydeck yet without ever touching it. Once again, they draw a horizontal line underscoring the yacht’s deceptively ample volumes and elegant, sporty soul. All told, the mission of Mancini’s meticulous and invaluable work, like a sculptor crafting exciting new shapes out of a block of uncut marble, was to give a yacht with such generous volumes as streamlined an appearance as possible.
Layout
The settings, privacy and comfort of a megayacht in 78 feet
One of the project’s main goals was to create spaces worthy of a larger yacht on one that is under 24 meters in length (23.6 meters to be precise, with a beam of 5.75 meters. The challenge thrown down by the Avigliana-based Shipyard has been taken up and won in no uncertain terms, so much so that its level of comfort and privacy is now one of the 78 Fly’s points of strength. This is the result not only of much more welcoming and spacious settings than on other yachts of the same size (not least because the superstructure’s sidewalls are almost vertical), but also of its silence and stability at sea, and finally of the clear separation of the owner and guest spaces from those used by the crew. As we will see, the crew quarters positioned in the bow, with access from the wheelhouse and galley, can be separated from the day area and the stairs down to the night space.
A fundamental contribution to achieving this level of comfort and convenience is made by the use of carbon fiber (which allows the creation of more generously spaced settings without increasing the overall weight of the yacht) and three IPS propulsion units, a solution which translates into a smaller engine room and reduced vibrations, delivering clear benefits in terms of space and comfort.
Analysing the layout in more detail, the galley is forward, next to the helmstation, with direct access to the crew area in the bow section of the lower deck. The galley, which also contains the crew mess, has a direct exit onto the side walkway too, while an interior door separates it from the lounge and the stairway leading down to the owner and guest cabins. The day area does away with the traditional separation of dining and living areas, resulting in great freedom of use. This is in part thanks to the dining table, which can be transformed if needed into a low coffee table, freeing up much more space and allowing easy movement between the two different sections of the living area. The big outdoor area in the stern is furnished with everything needed to spend long, lazy days in the open air, while the huge storage locker has a useful volume of 3.3 cubic meters. At the tip of the bow is a pleasing outdoor lounge with facing sofas and a sunpad.
The guest accommodation on the Lower Deck consists of two VIP cabins with double beds and big wardrobes, plus a twin-bed cabin, all with en-suite bathrooms. The owner’s full-beam suite amidships has a separate dressing room.
The crew area in the bow can be split into two spaces for more privacy.
The stern platform can accommodate a tender up to 3.90 meters long.
The Flybridge, finally, is a big space that can be furnished according to the owner’s preferences: the Shipyard proposes four options, with the stern section fitted alternatively with a big sunpad, a generous spa tub, a space with sofas or, finally, a sunbathing area with mobile BBQ.
Interior decor: sophisticated and welcoming settings, defined by bewitching curved lines
The interiors designed by Achille Salvagni will be available in two different versions.
The Lounge version presented at Cannes is the most innovative, featuring original blue lacquer elements paired with light colourways. The appeal of these settings derives from their original and refined atmosphere, obtained using the smooth, curved lines that are a hallmark of the Rome-based architect, who always strives to achieve a flowing, contemporary dynamic for which sharp straight edges are an anathema.
The living area, which does away with the traditional separation of dining and living spaces, is furnished as one extremely elegant setting, offering seamless movement between two comfortable and welcoming lounge zones, while the table in front of the sofa can be raised if needed.
For owners with more traditional tastes, there is also a version with a large table seating eight and an L-shaped sofa.
The full-height windows, taken together with furniture that seems suspended in midair, give these sophisticated, unusual spaces a strong personality, as is often the case in settings created by Salvagni, who has a passion for art and history and also extensive experience working on residential projects. The carpet is an innovative and original feature, with specially created geometrical designs forming novel decorative solutions.
The highest construction standards and leading edge technology
The yacht, which is also suitable for CE A and NMMA certification for boats under 24 meters, is designed and built to the highest standards in the sector and covered by the HTS High
Technical Standard declaration issued by the shipyard.
The yacht also features many solutions adopted in the framework of the ECS (Enhanced
Cruising Solutions) programme, ranging from the Garmin integrated control and monitoring system, customised to interface with multiple onboard utilities, and temperature synchronisation in the various onboard areas, to the joystick piloting and active trim control systems that automatically adjust the boat’s trim and ensure the best possible consumption efficiency at any speed.
Also worthy of note is the offering of innovative optionals, including the possibility of upgrading from traditional air conditioning to the air make-upsystems, for maximum air freshness even in closed and air-conditioned spaces.
Propulsion and performance: unique in its category
The 78 is the first yacht in the Flybridge Collection to be equipped with the tripleVolvo Penta IPS propulsion system. Azimut Yachts’ Innovation Lab recognised the potential of this system right from the outset and worked with a team of engineers from Volvo Penta to optimise the hull lines so that it could be fitted to various models.
In light of the success of this solution, Azimut Yachts has decided to equip the 78 with it too. The result is a significant reduction in both vibration and noise levels and in overall weight. The wider spacing between the outer units translates into superior handling and better acceleration.
The compact dimensions also mean that the engine room can be placed further aft, providing more space for accommodation and a layout that offers unexpected volumes for a yacht this size.
Two engine solutions will be available (three 1,200 or 1,350 hp engines), while the top speed is 33 knots.
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