Italian builder Azimut Yachts presented details about its new flagship, the Grande 44M, at the recent Palm Beach International Boat Show.
Alberto Mancini is responsible for the concept and exterior styling, with interiors on the Grande 44M by m²atelier, which has offices in Milan, Italy and New York City. The m²atelier company is a new partner for the Azimut shipyard.
The Grande 44M is the largest model that Azimut Yachts has ever offered. Five hulls are already sold ahead of the yacht’s public debut, which is scheduled for the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival.
“Grande 44M is proof that true innovation anticipates what owners really desire,” Marco Valle, Azimut-Benetti Group CEO, stated in a press release. “This is confirmed by the five units sold even before the official presentation of the project, all bought by Azimut owners who understand the shipyard’s values and wish to grow with us.”
Those values include more of a focus on sustainability. Azimut says the Grande 44M reduces carbon-dioxide emissions by 20 percent to 30 percent compared to traditional vessels of the same size. The Grande 44M’s hull platform is based on a Dual Mode hull. It also includes Hull Vane foil technology and the Mild Hybrid Plus Zero Emission Hotel Mode system.
The Dual Mode hull, which Azimut’s team developed in partnership with P.L. Ausonio Naval Architecture, has a bow section that is typical for fast displacement boats. From midships to the stern, there’s a chine commonly found on planing hulls. Azimut says this design allows for a considerable reduction in fuel consumption and emissions at every speed range.
As for the foil technology, the Grande 44M will mark its first installation on an Azimut Yacht. The builder worked with Hull Vane in the Netherlands to fit the carbon wing to the vessel’s stern. Azimut says this design element will suppress the stern wave and generate forward thrust, providing further reduction in overall drag as well as damping of pitch, sway and roll underway.
Azimut says the four-deck yacht also has a focus on livability. The upper deck can be outfitted as an owner’s deck because the helm station is up on the fourth deck. Other options include using the upper deck for dining or a media room.
Aft, the Grande 44M has a Sea View Terrace similar to the one on the Grande Trideck. The Grande 44M’s terrace incorporates a see-through pool.
Can any other Azimut models be ordered with a Zero Emission Hotel Mode system? Yes. It’s available on six models, allowing owners to stay at anchor for four to eight hours with the generators off. On the Grande 44M, this technology is combined with the Mild Hybrid Plus system, which includes electrification that Azimut developed with Asea Nautica.
Take the next step: go to azimutyachts.com
