Azimut has launched the first unit of its flagship Grande 44M, a 305-tonne superyacht that’s almost 60 per cent heavier than the Grande Trideck (38.2m), the Italian shipyard’s former flagship.

Following the launch, Azimut announced seven sales of the Grande 44M (43.6m), which is scheduled to have its world premiere at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival (September 8-13) along with the debuts of its Magellano 27M and Seadeck 9 (25.6m). Currently, 24m-plus models account for over two-thirds of Azimut’s production value.

Like most models in the current Grande range of superyachts, the 44M features exterior design by Alberto Mancini and has a dual-mode, semi-planing hull designed by the Azimut|Benetti Group R&D department in partnership with Pierluigi Ausonio Naval Architecture (PLANA).

However, the 143-footer is only the second all-new Azimut yacht to feature interior design by m2atelier, whose work was first seen on the Grande 30M that debuted at last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival. The studio has also designed new interiors for existing models including the Grande Trideck and Grande 36M.

The Grande 44M is notable for a host of technological advancements. To reduce weight, over 1,000sqm of carbon-fibre – a product of Azimut’s new Composites Hub in Massa – is used in the uppermost areas of the superstructure, reducing weight by eight tonnes.

This allows an enclosed fourth deck to include the wheelhouse and enables the entire upper deck to be dedicated to the owner and/or guests. The forward upper deck can include a glass-enclosed dining area for 12 or a private media room with a 270-degree view, including of an open foredeck featuring a social lounge around a firepit.

On the main deck, the cockpit offers covered alfresco dining. Aft, a few steps up lead to a raised mezzanine deck with a sea view terrace and a see-through plunge pool that illuminates the beach club below.

The dual mode hull combines the advantages of a fast displacement hull at the bow with those of a semi-planing hull at the stern, improving fuel efficiency across the range of speeds.

The Grande 44M’s performance also benefits from an aft foil – developed with Dutch company Hull Vane – that’s designed to suppress the stern wave and reduce hydrodynamic drag. Azimut produces the foil in carbon-fibre so it weighs only 400 kg, as opposed to 1,500kg if it was made in steel.

The yacht uses a Mild Hybrid system developed by the Azimut|Benetti Group with Asea Nautica. The system is based on two 50kW electric motors configured as shaft generators and a 188kWh battery room (expandable up to 230kWh). This technology allows the yacht to remain at anchor with the generators off and in silence for three-four hours during the day and 8-10 hours at night.

At a speed of 15 knots, the Mild Hybrid system fully recharges the battery pack in just two hours, allowing the yacht to use the average repositioning time to reach the next bay with renewed zero-emissions hotel load autonomy, which is also supported by 30sqm of integrated photovoltaic surface on the top deck.

azimutyachts.com