A HISTORY OF
INGENIOUS
INNOVATIONS
The university student, Paolo Vitelli, founds Azimut, a sailing yacht chartering business. In time, an increasing number of top yachting brands turn to the company to distribute their boats in Italy.
Established in 1973, it signaled the transition from an entrepreneurial venture to a structured yachting company.
In 1975, Azimut Yachts took its first decisive step from distribution to creation, bringing its own vision to life. In partnership with Amerglass, Paolo Vitelli launched the AZ 43’ Bali: one of the largest fiberglass yachts ever built at the time and the first to carry the brand’s name. Designed by Bernard Olesinski and Terry Disdale, this groundbreaking model captured the perfect balance between engineering and emotion. A yacht that marked a turning point for Azimut, transforming it from an ambitious dream to a reality.
The AZ 43’ Bali was one of the biggest yachts in fiberglass ever built at the time. And 100% Azimut.
In 1977, Azimut unveiled the AZ 32’ Targa, a revolutionary cruiser. Designed by John Bennett, she introduced a raised helm and an opening sunroof — features that invited an open- air navigation style while standing, making freedom at sea accessible to all. An international market success, this yacht became a symbol of Azimut’s ability to democratize design without compromising its distinctive looks, redefining the pleasure of everyday yachting, combining beauty, practicality, and reliability in a compact, elegant form.
In the early 1980s, Azimut redefined what was possible by launching the largest fiberglass motoryacht of its time. Envisioned by Paolo Vitelli, who famously sketched her first lines during a business lunch with a Kuwaiti prince, the Failaka fused strength, lightness, and elegance in a way no large yacht had before.
Completed in just 100 days, the Failaka 105 was delivered to Skorpios only hours before the arrival of the Onassis family.
Paolo Vitelli acquired the prestigious Benetti shipyard, marking a defining moment in Azimut’s evolution. This strategic union laid the foundations for what would become the world’s largest private group in the yacht and megayacht industry.
In 1988, the Azimut shipyard set out to conquer the legendary Blue Riband: the transatlantic record for crossing without refueling. Designed by Pininfarina and powered by four CRM engines delivering a total of 7,400 HP, paired with two Riva Calzoni waterjets, the Azimut Atlantic Challenger embodied the daring spirit of innovation for which the brand was known. At the helm, Cesare Fiorio led the crossing with Winthrop Rockefeller as one of the paying passengers. Despite a technical setback that denied victory, the attempt became a symbol of Italian ambition and bravery, an unforgettable milestone in Azimut’s quest to push beyond limits.
In 1991, Azimut invited Pininfarina, famed for its iconic Ferrari designs, to reimagine the new Azimut 65. The partnership delivered a revolutionary style statement: a yacht defined by seamless harmony between hull and superstructure, elevated air intakes that became a unique design feature, and refined details that enhanced comfort on board. The launch was accompanied by a memorable advertisement that captured its irresistible allure with a cheeky twist: “Not available in red.”
Designed by Terence Disdale in collaboration with Bernard Olesinski, the Azimut 118 Penthouse was a unique model born from creative freedom and technical audacity. The only Azimut yacht ever equipped with hydro jet propulsion, it was also the first fiberglass yacht built at the Benetti shipyard. The most striking feature was the glass-walled salon on the Upper Deck, which offered panoramic views, anticipating a new relationship between interior space and the surrounding sea.
The AZ 54’ was the first yacht ever created in collaboration with Stefano Righini, the designer who would go on to interpret the brand’s visual identity for decades. She featured solutions never seen before on a 17-meter yacht, including a lateral descent to the Lower Deck, a central, rounded helm station with a strong presence, and a salon and dinette arranged on a single level. A highly unconventional layout that delivered unprecedented space, flow, and onboard livability.
In 1999, Azimut unveiled the 68 Plus, a yacht that introduced curvilinear glazing to the nautical world. This unprecedented window format allowed fiberglass and glass to be combined, enabling the superstructure to achieve fluid curves, generous volumes, and a sportier look.
Beyond her striking aesthetics, the 68 Plus offered impressive performance at sea, merging design, light, and dynamism in a sleek style.
At the turn of the millennium, Azimut marked a decisive shift
in design with the launch of the Azimut 55. Stefano Righini replaced the traditional elliptical side windows with distinctive dorsal, shark-fin–shaped glazing, giving the yacht a stronger, more streamlined exterior identity while enhancing natural light. Interiors introduced a modern interpretation of cherry wood, paired with a spectacular wheelhouse that conferred warmth and a renewed sense of contemporary elegance on board.
From classic oval- shaped windows to the dynamic ‘shark-fin’ look.
As the first sea coupé, the 98 Leonardo anticipated a new style and way of living on board designed for those who never settle for compromise. The salon’s circular door united the cockpit and interior into a single loft-like space, elevating alfresco dining and social life at sea. With twin decks and strikingly sporty lines, a generously sized flydeck, an extended cockpit created by the overhanging transom, and an opening sunroof over the helm, the design redefined openness and flow.
In 2002, the Azimut 50 introduced a refined mix of elegance and efficiency, signaling the brand’s gaze toward the future. A new hull design, mirrored lateral windows on the exterior, and highly livable interiors shaped a yacht that looked ahead in both form and function. The lounge featured two facing divans, one of which could convert into an additional bed, and a multifunctional designer coffee table that could shift from low table to dining surface or cabinet, revealing the brand’s predictive and flexible approach to onboard living.
In 2003, Azimut introduced the 68S, the first nautical “open yacht” ever launched on the sport yacht market. With a completely reimagined use of space, the 68S offered a single living area on the Main Deck, open to the air by day, intimate and concealed by night, as well as a separate galley entrance and extra-spacious sleeping quarters. She also revealed large square hull windows, flooding the owner’s cabin with natural light and uninterrupted views of the sea. A truly ingenious experience and one of Azimut’s game- changing design achievements.
The same year, with the launch of the Azimut 68 Evolution, the brand set a new standard for its flybridge range. Her sleek exterior lines were further streamlined by the shark-fin details on the upper stern, while large panoramic windows, including the signature butterfly-shaped glazing in the Owner’s suite, enhanced natural light and suggestive sea views.
The result was a yacht that balanced distinctive sportiness with ample yet cozy interior spaces characterized by the warmth of fine cherry wood finishings, becoming a benchmark of contemporary design in her class.
With the Azimut 62E, the exterior continued to echo the light- driven concept and the shark-fin details on the flybridge stern, first introduced with the 68 Evolution in 2004, expressed through broad hull-integrated windows and a sharp, sculpted profile. Inside, her interiors featured an unexpected matte cherry wood finish, reflecting Azimut’s design trend proposals at the time, favoring atmospheres with an understated touch rather than ornament, for a new kind of luxury.
In 2009, Azimut launched the Magellano 74, the world’s first crossover yacht: a modern evolution of the classic trawler, reinterpreted with Italian sophistication. Designed by Ken Freivokh, she united long-range capability with contemporary comfort, introducing the Dual Mode Hull for greater efficiency and freedom at sea. With her timeless lines and refined interiors, the Magellano 74 offered a new way to experience long-distance journeys. A pioneering creation that defined an entire category and reaffirmed Azimut’s instinct to innovate ahead of its time.
In 2013, Azimut unveiled the Magellano 50, a yacht conceived for versatile, confident cruising and family life at sea. Compact yet capable, she combined the silhouette of a true traveller with subtle proportions, abundant natural light, and flexible interior layouts tailored to different lifestyles. She also marked a historic step forward as Azimut’s first-ever eco-experiment: an Easy Hybrid configuration which enabled silent, zero-emission cruising at low speeds, developing the brand’s sensitivity to environmental responsibility years before it became a declared industry focus.
In 2014, Azimut pushed yacht innovation forward with the 55S, introducing the triple Volvo IPS propulsion. This advanced configuration delivered higher efficiency, reduced noise and vibration, and exceptional manoeuvrability while freeing valuable space on board. The gain translated into one of the model’s most distinctive features: a pivoting beach platform that redefined access to the water, transforming the stern into a dynamic extension of life on board. Combined with carbon- fiber structural elements, expansive glazing, and a muscular profile, the 55S expressed speed, comfort, and direct contact with the sea all in one.
In 2015, Azimut unveiled the Azimut 72, the brand’s first Carbon-Tech Generation yacht, leading to an authentic breakthrough in both comfort and performance. Her all-carbon superstructure enabled a stronger yet lighter body, featuring a larger flybridge and expanded living spaces without adding weight or compromising dynamic stability. With this creation, Azimut became a pioneer of carbon technology in yacht construction, setting a new benchmark for design and efficiency.
In 2016, Azimut revisited the concept of the modern weekender with Verve 40, marking its entry into the walkaround segment. Dynamic yet unmistakably elegant and powered by outboard engines, she blended performance, safety, and style, becoming the go-to yacht for spontaneous escapes, day cruising, and extended moments at sea. Every area was designed to maximize usability and comfort, with fluid circulation, generous relaxation spaces, and a strong focus on social life. The pivoting teak swim platform completed the experience, offering direct, effortless access to the water and reinforcing the Verve 40’s versatility and pleasure at sea.
Built for last-minute escapes.
From 2017 onward, Azimut reinterpreted the S Series with a focus on conviviality. Without altering its trademark performance-driven character, the restyling placed greater emphasis on shared moments by redesigning the cockpit with a more open, social layout. This move reflected a broader shift in how sport yachts were experienced back then: not only as expressions of speed, but also as environments designed to bring people together.
In 2018, Azimut unveiled the S10: the new flagship of the S Series, embodying a powerful evolution of its sport yacht identity. The design expressed a more sculpted, automotive-inspired language, with sharp lines and dynamic proportions that reinforced the Series’s core character. Extensive
use of carbon fiber contributed to a lighter, more agile build, supporting both aesthetics and performance, and consolidating a renewed visual and technical direction.
In 2021, Azimut expanded the boundaries of the traditional triple-deck concept with the innovative “three decks + one” configuration featured on the Grande Trideck. The addition of a breathtaking half-raised aft deck generated a sequence of four cascading terraces, reshaping onboard architecture into a fluid, multi-level experience. A design that transformed exterior and interior volumes, creating a unique and continuous dialogue with the marine environment.
In 2024, Azimut presented the Seadeck Series with the Seadeck 6, unveiling its vision of future yachting rooted in a more conscious and harmonious relationship with the sea. As the brand’s most eco-advanced Series, Seadeck translates environmental responsibility into a new way of living on board, combining efficient naval architecture, hybrid propulsion, and mindful material choices to redefine comfort and pleasure through a deeper connection to nature. It marks a milestone in Azimut’s Green Route, introducing a progressive hybrid strategy structured across four scalable electrification levels, conceived to suit diverse yachting needs, from Zero-Emission Hotel Mode to the Full Hybrid lifestyle.
Presented at the Palm Beach International Boat Show in 2024, the Grande 44M is Azimut’s new fleet flagship and the largest yacht ever built by the shipyard. An expression of its mission to unite technological innovation, visionary design, and environmental responsibility, progressing the brand’s low-emission yacht concept. With bold, flowing lines and a four-deck layout designed by Alberto Mancini, with interiors by m2atelier, Grande 44M redefines onboard lifestyle with an unexpected twist.
Her defining feature is the Upper Deck, transformed into a private Owner’s Deck with uninterrupted sea views both forward and astern, made possible by relocating the helm station to the fourth deck. A new-generation flagship beauty for a new way of experiencing the sea.
Grande 44M, the biggest ever built.
