The Azimut 116 is a 116-foot luxury super-yacht that was launched by the Italian boat builders in 2004 as the brand’s flagship model. Though no longer built by Azimut, the 116 was so popular that it remained in production for over a decade, winning 2nd prize at the 2014 Mediterranean Yacht Show. Still in high demand on the used and charter markets, the Azimut 116 is bound to be the standout yacht in high-end marinas worldwide for a long time to come.
This vessel’s sleek and low-slung aerodynamic profile and extensive mirrored glazing, designed by Stefano Righini, are bound to catch the eye. At the top is a large, full-beam flybridge with a jacuzzi spa pool, a curved, 8-seater leather sofa, a walk-in wet bar with a Kenyon grill, as well as an open-air helm station. One level down and you find an internal mezzanine pilot house, lined in polished timber, with supreme visibility.
Onto the main deck and the sheltered, teak-lined aft-deck provides an excellent space to enjoy leisurely breakfasts or afternoon aperitifs. There is a transom dining sofa with a table, a wet bar console and steps down to a hydraulic swimming platform. Access to the transom garage is also down here, and it is large enough to hold a pair of jet-skis and a large tender, though this space can be adapted for use as a crew quarters. Space out on the foredeck may be limited, but still hosts a sofa built into the fiberglass superstructure, as well as a raised sunbed.
The reason for the reduced outdoor foredeck space becomes evident once you step inside the elongated main deck cockpit, which stretches all the way from the rear towards the bow. This Azimut Yacht has spacious interiors have been given a stylish treatment by renowned designer Carlo Galeazzi, who has made extensive use of veneered cherrywood surfaces, rich rigatino wood floors, dark leather furnishings and wall panels, marble inserts and deluxe carpeting to create a plush and sumptuous atmosphere. A rear aft salon boasts an American-style bar inspired by the cocktail lounges of classic Art Deco hotels, four comfortable leather sofas and a dining table large enough to host 12 guests. Amidship space has been cleverly configured to provide storage room, as well as a compact cinema room and a live-in galley kitchen with zinc worktops and more equipment than a French country kitchen. Positioned forward on the main deck and benefiting from panoramic sloping windows is a stunning lounge area that can also be turned into a lavish owner’s suite.
Five below-deck staterooms for up to ten overnight guests all come with en suite facilities, while the full-beam, amidship owner’s bedroom benefits from walk-in closets, a pair of armchairs, a workstation and a bathroom with a walk-in waterfall shower, a bath, a bidet and a pair of sinks. There is also crew space snugly positioned up against the bow, with room for up to 5.
Despite the size, the Azimut 116 is a surprisingly quick and nimble mover across the water, with a pair of MTU V16 2000 M91 engines providing top speeds in excess of 25 knots and cruising speeds of 20 knots. The use of bow thrusters adds an extra level of agility, while a fuel tank of some 18,000 liters will see you venture far and wide for weeks on end. This yacht is also easy to operate thanks to a touchscreen Raymarine navigation and monitoring display.