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NAUTICA MAGAZINE
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AZIMUT 70
Graceful, elegant and rakish: just three of the many adjectives that could be used to describe the Azimut 70. A yacht offering great comfort and top performance to please even the most sophisticated owner.
Designer: exterior design by Architect Stefano Righini, interior decor by Architect Carlo Galeazzi |
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The outside line of this Azimut 70 says a lot about the capabilities
of Stefano Righini, the designer who over the years greatly
contributed to the creation and success of the shape and style that
embody the essence of the brand created by Paolo Vitelli. Round lines
that intersect with curvilinear plasticity, enormous glass surfaces
both along the hull sides as well as on the superstructure. A mixture
of appreciated aggressiveness and grace that may be admired from
outside as well as from inside.
In fact, what first catches the eye
when crossing the sliding rounded glass saloon door are the side
windows, impressive for their size and unusual shape. One can easily
imagine the pleasure of staying onboard this yacht in any season
enjoying an almost 360° view, in the privacy of dark mirrored
glasses - the interior decor was assigned to Carlo Galeazzi. Inner
spaces were chiseled to obtain the maximum floor surface and the
maximum utilization of the most hidden volumes.
Certainly, 70 feet are
not little, nevertheless it is hard to find on other yachts of equal
size such an accurate use of space as to obtain so many lockers,
drawers, recesses and cabinets where to store whatever is useful (or
useless) onboard. The yacht is fitted with a state-of-the-art
entertainment system with Bose sound units in the saloon and in the
master stateroom and the Iboat system for an easy connection of iPods.
Interiors, featuring a uniform style, have fabric lined panels,
furnishing and bulkheads in pickled oak, furniture has inlays in dark
brown and crocodile-printed leather, refined marbles, teak grids,
glass and stainless steel: in short, what it is often used and is
commonly appreciated on a superyacht can also be found on this 70 footer.
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Fuel consumption indicated in the graph is supplied by the MAN control unit onboard, nevertheless effective consumption at sea may differ from published data as a function of: loads and their distribution aboard, vessel conditions, engine conditions and setting as well as characteristics of propellers used. | |
CONSTRUCTION CHARACTERISTICS
Hull: hull and structures are approved by RINA (Italian classification society), a guarantee of accurate production procedures. The planing deep V-hull drawn in the form of a variable dihedral has a deadrise aft of 15.6° and amidships of 22.5°; infusion laminated, the bottom is in solid fiberglass and the sides are in sandwich with expanded PVC core. Inner layers are made with DCPD resin. The outer hull has a vynilester resin layer for greater protection against osmosisMaterials and characteristics: deckhouse and flying bridge are built with traditional lamination techniques. Structures are made in fiberglass with multi-axial cloth and sandwich powder binder with expanded PVC core. The flying bridge, for greater stiffness and lightness is in carbon fibers. Engine room and forward collision bulkheads are in fiberglass sandwich with wooden core. Superstructures are in DCPD resin. Propellers and rudders are in NiBrAl
Deck: built using infusion lamination. The 312-sqft flying bridge is definitely spacious, with an enormous originally shaped table surrounded by a settee, to the side of the table there is a cabinet with sink, refrigerator and barbecue. Aft, the ample space may be used either for storing the tender or a PWC measuring up to 9 feet long or for positioning chaise-longues. The dashboard is forward to starboard, aside there is a comfortable sunbed
Bow area: forward of the helm station there is a nice sunbed with stainless steel grabrails and glass-holders, the bow area is clear and quite ample because of the squared shape of the hull. There are two large lockers for the anchor chain, the mooring lines and other mooring fittings, the windlass is on deck between the two lockers. The jutting railings surrounding the yacht offer more usable space on deck
Cockpit arrangements and fittings: the 118-sqft cockpit is completely covered by the flying bridge, it includes a C-shaped sofa aft with a large central teak table; the two quarters are fitted with two fiberglass structures each supporting the mooring winches, the stainless steel mooring bitts and include two doors. The hydraulic gangway is concealed by one of the steps on portside when not in use. The molded fiberglass flying bridge ladder is on portside, with teak steps and an aluminum/Plexiglas door. On starboard side, for symmetry in design, a structure is fitted containing several controls: of the fire-fighting and energy system, for closing air vents and the emergency switch. The curved glass access door to the saloon is quite large
Characteristics of the aft platform: almost full beam, it submerges for tender launching and recovery, includes swimming ladder
Helm stations: there are two helm stations. The interior one, forward of the saloon to port has two electrically-operated anatomic seats. The dashboard is in varnished fiberglass and aluminum panels and includes two big Raymarine E120 chart plotters with full control on a separate screen, a digital Benetti screen for managing electrical parts and all plants on board, the Raymarine pilot, the windows washing and flap control joysticks and the digital engine instruments on one side, while on portside there are the gear levers, the bow thruster and engine joystick and the vhf. The wheel is adjustable.
INTERIORS
The initial part of the saloon, with a surface of almost 247 sqft, has
impressively large and shaped windows on the two sides, larger than
the 27-sqft windows of the 68 Evolution model. To starboard, two
opposite sofas starboard and some coffee tables/poufs offer
comfortable seating and support with view on the sea. Opposite, there
is a cabinet with doors concealing the TV set. Forward, one step up,
there is the dining area with a C shaped sofa, wooden and leather
chairs and table. The galley is on starboard side, it is separated
from the rest of the saloon by means of curved oak bulkheads, each
having openings in the center, through which food and crockery may be
passed. The galley has countertops in brownish Emperador marble with
light veins. At the entrance there is a two-door cupboard, then the
ceramic hobs with vertical extractor fan concealed when not in use.
Opposite, there are the two stainless steel sinks with a glass shelf
used as food hatch. The 63-US gallon refrigerator and the freezer are
opposite the cupboard at the entrance. All household appliances
onboard the test boat are Gaggenau (optional fittings).
At the other
end of the galley there are lockers, drawers, the dishwasher and the
microwave oven. The stairs taking belowdecks are aside the dashboard
and the watertight door. On starboard side there is the cabin with
twin beds featuring leather rim, leather buttoned upholstered
headboard surrounded by a mirror, central bedside table and hanging
cabinet. En suite bathroom with glass rounded shower stall with wooden
grid, fiberglass countertop, Botticino marble sink and marine toilet.
Down three steps, aft, there is the master stateroom, with central
double bed, leather headboard and mirror, on starboard side there is a
raised private sitting room with two small sofas and a wood and
crocodile-printed leather table/vanity, opposite, on portside, below
the large windows there is a cabinet with objects holder area. There
are several drawers along the bulkheads and vertical handholds in
communicating areas.
On portside, behind the headboard there is a
spacious walk-in closet and on starboard side, there is the bathroom
with a rectangular plan. The bathroom has to starboard a countertop in
Botticino marble and two sinks with cabinet and closets underneath;
above, there are two hanging cabinets between which there is the
porthole. In the center, there are the toilet and the bidet and to
port there is the square-shaped shower stall with glass doors,
bulkhead-fitted hydromassage and chromotherapy lights in the ceiling.
Forward of this cabin and to port, there is a second twin guest cabin,
almost a duplicate of the first one, with ensuite bathroom having
identical design but with double door and sink in the corner. Forward,
there is the VIP stateroom with raised central double bed and drawer
beneath, on the two sides of the bed there are shelves under the
windows. On portside there is a hanging locker with two doors and on
starboard side there is the ensuite bathroom fitted with a corner
wooden cabinet with Botticino marble countertop, marine toilet and
round shower stall with wooden grid. In all guest cabins there is iPod
connection and in the VIP and master staterooms there is the Bose
sound system. Aft, accessing from a watertight door, there are the
crew quarters with two single cabins or a single and a double cabin
with bathroom and a crew dining area with table and microwave oven.
FITTINGS
Standard fittings: adjustable helm seat for two, forward sunbed, tender or PWC storing area, teak side decks, full engine instruments, 2 Raymarine E 120, log and speed indicator, echo sounder, Motronica display/encoder, 6002 autopilot, ST 6002 Tridata, R240VHF, compass, joystick control for flaps, plant controls on dashboard, the dashboard on the flying bridge is fully fitted, bar cabinet with sink, refrigerator and barbecue, searchlight, bow thruster, galley watertight door, electrically controlled window in the helm station, anchor windlass, anchor chain washing system, 143-lbs anchor, 328-ft 1/2"anchor chain, mesh-like side window and windscreen covers, cockpit settee, mooring winches, 1652-lbs weight capacity aft platform, hydroelectric gangway, shower in the aft platform, carpet in the saloon, 3-seat settees forward and aft, 3 tables/poufs in the saloon, LCD TV set with antenna, pickled oak furniture, radio CD player, stainless steel extractor fan, wooden flooring in the galley, ceramic hobs, microwave oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, Tecma toilet, 20-kW Koheler generator, 13 engine and service batteries, battery charger, fire-fighting system in engine room, sewage and gray water tank, seawater system, air conditioning systemOptional fittings: anchor-chain counter, chaises longues aft, maneuvering joystick, boat cover, icemaker, stern thruster, hydroelectric davit, fender holder, searchlight directional support, wooden flooring in saloon, 42"LCD TV set with electric lifting control, satellite system setup, home theater system, honey-hued oak furniture, waste shredding system, washing machine, dryer, Gaggenau household appliances, TV in cabins, stereo system in cabins, safety box, master stateroom bidet, crew quarters with two cabins and one bathroom, crew quarters with one single and one double cabin, additional 20 kW Koheler generator, batteries for the additional generator.
IMPRESSIONS
SEA AND WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING BOAT TESTINGWind: none
Sea: calm.
PERFORMANCE (with 264 US gallons of water, 317 US gallons of fuel and 8 passengers)
Time needed to reach planing speed: 13.8 seconds
Minimum planing speed at 1100 rpm's: 11.5 knots
Fuel saving cruising speed at 1,800 rpm's: 23.7 knots
Cruising speed at 2,100 rpm's: 29.1 knots
Maximum speed at 2,380 rpm's: 33.6 knots.
EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE
Seakeeping ability, turning and behavior on waves: the ride is extremely comfortable, one of the best during sea trials with Azimut yachts. The hull glides smoothly even when crossing our wake. Turns are tight, with a 328-ft diameter. The pilot is comfortable in both helm stations, steering provides effortless fingertip controlHelm stations: the interior helm station is definitely more important and fully fitted, with a high percentage of digital instruments replacing the analog and mechanical ones. A separate mechanical panel may switch off all digital bypasses in order to mechanically activate some of the most important plants. The two adjustable pilot chairs are very comfortable. The flying bridge helm station is well fitted and functional, the settee is fixed and spacious. In both helm stations the sitting position at the helm is more comfortable than the standing one. In fact, at maximum speed the main windshield and the smaller one on the console do not completely deviate the air flow.
EVALUATION OF COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY
Deck: astonishingly spacious anywhere, with ample passageways and relaxing areas. Fore and aft decks are well protected by the rail work and there are several grabrailsInteriors: skillfully designed and manufactured, shapes and the utilization of space were a main concern in the design phase. Concealed drawers that dot the yacht here and there are noteworthy
Passengers' comfort: state-of-the-art air conditioning system with rigid pipes that considerably improve the air flow thus reducing noise. Iboat and Bose sound system in cabins, LCD TV sets all over, Gaggenau household appliances
Galley: not extremely large but ergonomic. The rimmed countertop may be used under way, the refrigerator and freezer are exceptionally spacious. The double sink is very useful as is the glass shelf above the sink serving as food hatch
Bathrooms: very similar one to the other as regards size and setup, all are quite spacious and fully fitted. As expected, the master stateroom bathroom has one, or rather, two additional features: the shower with hydromassage and chromotherapy lights and the bidet
Engine room: access to the engine room is by way of a watertight door, in the crew quarters aft. The engine room is ample with the two engines in the middle. There is enough space around them and above them for easy maintenance
Electrical switchboard and plants: the main switchboard, fitted in the service room in the crew quarters, is divided between 220V and 24V depending on the relative plants and systems. In the secondary switchboard, fitted in the helm station, 12V and all electrical plants existing onboard may be controlled. 20 KW Koheler generators may be one or two.
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