116 Grande
Launched at the 2005 Genoa Boat Show, the Azimut 85 is an 88-foot luxury flybridge motor yacht with a sleek and curvaceous Stefano Righini exterior. Though no longer produced by Azimut, the 85 was sold to dozens of discerning buyers around the world and is still a popular choice on the used and charter markets.
The flybridge tapers towards the front for snug and focused piloting, but towards the rear extends out to full-beam width, sheltering the side decks below it. The port side of the bridge is given over to a sprawling seating area that includes a pair of sunpads, a U-shaped dining sofa with a teak breakfast table as well as a Whirlpool jacuzzi spa-pool. To the rear there is space to place a handful of sun-loungers or store a dinghy, while positioned starboard is an angled, walk-in wet bar with a barbecue grill as well as the upper helm station.
Curved steps down to the aft deck lead you to a space dominated by a low-slung transom dining sofa with table, as well as side steps down to a swimming platform with a transom garage that can be swapped out for a rear crew quarters. Out on the foredeck there is a Portuguese Bridge-style sofa in hand-stitched leather, as well as a large modular sunpad that is perfect for forward-facing sunbathing.
Carlo Galeazzi interiors are restrained and sedate, with plenty of fine upholstery, leather panelling, lacquered cherrywood and dark walnut on display. The aft salon boasts a pair of sofas, a loveseat and an armchair as well as a number of coffee tables and ample cabinetry, all glimmering in the sunlight that pours in through half-moon or wave-shaped side windows. Then comes the twist. The dining room, large enough for an eight-seater glass table, is positioned at an angle to open up space for a curved kitchen galley of live-in proportions, separated from the salon through the use of a Japanese-style screen door. It is equipped with the latest Miele appliances such as an American-style fridge-freezer, a huge convection oven, five hobs, a double-sink and dark granite worktops. Positioned forward you will find the main deck helm station with a display panel by Raytheon, as well as a curved helm sofa and steps down to the lower level.
The main attraction on the lower deck is undoubtedly the show-stopping, full-beam owner’s stateroom positioned amidship. This bedroom is accessed via a private stairwell and boasts office space, a loveseat and a walk-in dressing room as well as two en suites lined in black-veined marble, one with a waterfall shower and the other with a Teuco Hydrosonic bathtub. There are also a pair of twin bedrooms and an en suite master stateroom towards the bow on this level, allowing for a total of 8 overnight guests to sleep comfortably aboard the Azimut 85.
The Azimut 85 was the first ever Italian vessel to be fitted with powerful 1,825MHP Caterpillar C32A engines, and these fire the yacht to top speeds of around 30 knots. A Sea Energy joystick as well as a power-assisted steering wheel make this a responsive and intuitive ride, while a deep-water hull with a deadrise of 17 degrees provides plenty of cushion at higher speeds.
