116 Grande
The Azimut Verve 47 is a 47-foot weekend express cruiser that was launched by the Italian boat building firm in 2020. Powered by outboard motors, the Verve 47 occupies a distinctive niche between smaller day boats and larger, inboard-powered sports yachts, offering high performance, convenience, and an undeniably contemporary style. Lauded by critics upon its release, this yacht won the award for “Best Exterior Design” at the 2020 World Yacht Trophies held in Cannes and was also crowned with the title “Best of the Best” in the Day Cruiser category by luxury magazine Robb Report.
Styling to the exterior and interior is the work of Francesco Struglia, whose sleek, bullet-like design accentuates a wealth of outdoor space. This is a departure from the traditional style Azimut Yachts is used to producing with their luxury cruising boats. Out on the foredeck there is a novel, cocoon-style lounge with a U-shaped sofa right up against the bow. This connects to a large, three-pad sunbed, ideal for marina-facing sunbathing. Generous side deck access is reminiscent of a walk-around boat, leading you to an aft-deck with an L-shaped transom sofa, a breakfasting table that can be raised or lowered electronically and a full outdoor “country-style” kitchen with a double Kenyon barbecue grill, fridge, ice maker, sink and a hidden HD television. There are side steps down to a swimming platform and compact tender garage, though the star of the show back here is the fold-out bulwark that turns into a large port-side swimming platform.
Internal cockpit space is open at the sides for that elemental connection to air and sea and boasts three comfortable helm seats with superb visibility. There is direct access to the side decks from here, while cutaway, glazed bulwarks provide a truly open feel and an enhanced connection with the water.
A rare treat on a yacht of this type are the two lower-deck staterooms with room for up to four overnight guests. A master double bedroom to the bow is big enough for a queen-sized bed and plenty of storage space, while an amidship twin cabin boasts double closets. In the lower deck lobby, meanwhile, you will discover a galley stocked with Miele appliances such as a fridge-freezer, three-zone hob,and a convection oven, that sits directly across from an L-shaped dining sofa. There is also a large bathroom on this level with a shower cubicle, sink and plenty of head clearance. Below deck spaces benefit from elongated strip windows with opening portholes, and an interior treatment with pickled oak joinery, dark-tone Esthec flooring, tweed fabrics, metallic grey surfaces and recessed lighting.
Four outboard Mercury 450R 450MHP engines power the Verve 47 to top speeds in excess of 50 knots, with comfortable cruising in the range of 37 knots. A patented double-stepped V hull with a central stern tunnel, inspired by sailing catamarans, has been designed by Michael Peters for reduced resistance and improved stability when on the move, and is even shallow enough to traverse inland waterways. Confident navigation, meanwhile, is ensured thanks to the use of three Raymarine Axiom display tablets and a Mercury VesselView screen, while a touch of extra agility and responsiveness comes courtesy of a Mercury joystick and bow thrusters.
