116 Grande
The Azimut 40 is a 40-foot luxury flybridge yacht launched by the Avigliana, Italy-based firm in 2005. One of the more compact vessels offered by Azimut, this yacht nevertheless impresses with a wealth of outdoor space, a curvaceous Stefano Righini-designed exterior and lavish internal spaces from the artistic hand of renowned stylist Carlo Galeazzi. Though no longer in current production, the Azimut 40 remains popular on the used and charter markets as a great introduction into the world of flybridge cruising.
The open top flybridge on this model comes equipped with structural supports for a Bimini roof for added protection from the elements, and is large enough to host a rear, L-shaped sofa, a starboard side cocoon-lounge with a spacious sunpad, and an upper helm station to port. One level down and you will discover a spacious, teak-lined aft deck with a transom sofa and room for a breakfast table, as well as an electro-hydraulic passarelle and side steps down to a swimming platform that can be lowered into the water. Out on the foredeck there is also a sunpad space big enough for three sunbathers to soak up the afternoon sun. Azimut is excellent at building flybridge areas that are versatile and fun.
The main deck salon benefits from rear-sliding glass doors and cresting-wave side windows allowing for plenty of natural light to illuminate this sleek and contemporary space. There is an L-shaped leather sofa to starboard surrounding an extending teak dining table, and cabinets to port that are lined in honey-toned oak and cream leather. A couple of steps up brings you to the main deck helm station, where a chaise-style piloting seat sits in front of an ergonomic dashboard that has been equipped with Vesselview monitoring and Raymarine navigation equipment.
Steps at the front of the cockpit lead down to a compact lower-deck galley with granite worktops and Miele appliances, large enough to rustle up hearty breakfasts or light dinners. There are two staterooms on this level, each with en-suite bathrooms featuring circular, teak-lined shower cubicles, Tecma toilets and Vetrofreddo wash basins. The amidship room boasts a pair of twin beds and a double mullioned side window, while the master bedroom to the bow features a double island bed, hanging closets and knife-insert windows, as well as a dramatic skylight.
A pair of 355MHP Cummins QSB 5.9 engines power the Azimut 40 to top speeds of around 31 knots with cruising speeds of around 24 knots at half-load. At lower speeds there is a range of 264 nautical miles, a significant achievement for a yacht of this size and more than enough to allow you to enjoy extended island hopping around the Mediterranean or Caribbean Seas. A gel-coated V-hull, meanwhile, is paired with trim tabs, thrusters, power steering and an optional joystick for optimal agility and balance when negotiating tricky marina entrances or when turning out at sea.
