Italian beauty

From the drawing board to its first taste of water, the Azimut 50 has been designed with the future of luxury yacht production in mind, while living up to the Azimut dedication to quality and excellence. Perhaps the most exciting part of traveling on these fifty feet of elegance is the sightlines. From the lower helm we have almost 360° visibility with an ample windshield, carefully designed windows on either side and full-width glass panels aft of the saloon and sliding glass door to the rear cockpit.

Overall, the 50’s layout and a top speed in excess of 32 knots, it is hard to fault her performance. Although her roll motions are most pronounced at slow speeds, it diminishes as she picks up speed and reaches a plane; however, spray on the deck, becomes more pronounced at higher speeds. Nevertheless, she never pounds or slams, even at her 37-mph top speed with seas on the nose. The new pilot console includes the installation of a stern thruster and joystick steering, already successfully adopted on the larger Azimut models. From both her helm stations, her hydraulic steering is effortless, and at higher speeds she tracks well, responding nicely to the controls. She can easily thread her way down crowded marinas, and with her bow thruster and a pair of high-torque Caterpillar C12 diesels, she is able to comfortably back into a narrow slip.

 

 

 

The swim platform is ideal for boarding and water sports. And two matching stairways on either side lead to the main deck and a comfortable open seating area for informal meals or evening cocktails. On the main deck of the Azimut 50, the saloon boasts elegant and high-quality matte cherry wood furniture with perfumed cedar interiors. An exceptionally spacious kitchen, only three steps lower than the saloon, allows the chef to socialize with the guests. It is roomy, with copious storage spaces and appliances sized for real cooking. Forward of the stove is about four feet of open counter space for food preparation.

 

 

 

The master and guest suites are similar; both are big and bright with three-sided access to double berths. The guest suite offers plenty of headroom and ample sitting space above the bed. Teak flooring in the bathroom and the separate shower area add a classy touch, as does the polished glass countertop, complete with a stainless steel sink. Buffered from the guest suite by two full baths, the master suite, all the way forward, is a private get-away with a lot of storage. The nicest feature of the suite is built into the aft bulkhead. It’s a small fold-up dressing table, complete with built-in makeup mirror and lights. Folded up, it disappears into the beautifully lacquered panels on the bulkhead.

The Azimut 50 is a roomy, well laid-out, and beautifully appointed midsize luxury yacht. The elegant flow of her circular interiors add movement and softness to the design and presents ample visual space. Given her abundant stowage and creative storage solutions, she’s ideal for mariners who enjoy their space with dashes of luxury Italian style.  

 

 

 

 

Text: Phil deKanter ± Photo: Azimut