Azimut Grande 27M - A well-rounded affair
Yesterday, the mistral would have thwarted our plans. This morning, the Golfe de La Napoule lies calm and sparkling before us. There is only a little residual swell in the bay off Cannes in the south of France, but this is no obstacle for our test candidate - the Azimut Grande 27M measures 26.78 metres over all.
With this model, among others, the Azimut Benetti Group is reorganising the upper class of the Azimut Yachts brand. The Azimut Grande 35M, the bigger sister of the 27M, was launched at the same time. While the exterior styling was created by Stefano Righini, Azimut's in-house designer, Achille Salvagni was hired for the interior.
The still relatively young designer with offices in Rome, New York and London is primarily known for furnishing residences or large formats such as "High Power III" (ex-"Numptia") or "Aurora". Salvagni certainly seems to have grasped the essence of maritime life.
While many yachts have sharp edges that you don't want to come into contact with in rough seas, you will look for them almost in vain on the Azimut Grande 27M. Most of the furniture has rounded corners, and curved, soft lines predominate throughout the interior.
They fit perfectly on board a yacht, just as hard geometry naturally also has its place in interior design - although, according to Salvagni, more so on land. He calls his style the "new Italian Renaissance" and his design is actually modelled on this era from the 15th and 16th centuries, when the great artists included da Vinci and Michelangelo.
Naturally, the furniture also has to match this approach. It also bears Salvagni's signature and was specially made for the 27M. What is quite common for large formats from around 50 metres in length is an exception in the class in which the 27M plays, and underlines the standard with which the shipyard approaches this model.
The layout of the yacht is also in a slightly different league. While the saloon is rather conventionally equipped with a seating area - nine seats, coffee table, hidden TV set in the ceiling - and a dining area for ten guests, this area is followed by the owner's suite on the main deck.
This type of solution, which was reserved for 40-metre-plus yachts just a few years ago, is now increasingly finding its way into the entry-level superyacht class. It will certainly bring the shipyard from Avigliana in northern Italy and its dealers one or two additional customers. The fact that the Mastersuite extends across the entire width and therefore has a decent volume is perhaps another selling point.
The cabin is generally appealing because it is divided into several levels. When you enter it, you first descend four steps and inevitably get the feeling that you are entering a different and more private part of the yacht; you then descend a further two steps to the bathroom. Around four square metres of centrally reinforced windows provide the cabin with daylight, and Salvagni's furniture is harmoniously integrated. A dressing room completes the ensemble.
The look of this Azimut Grande 27M, which consists primarily of oak, walnut and mahogany, is called "Riviera". Other furnishing variants are "Gran Milano" and "Dolce Vita", with the latter being the most classic decor option.
We now take a look at the lower deck, where four cabins were installed on this test yacht. If you wish, you can order one less. Owners who do not intend to charter out can thus treat their guests to somewhat larger accommodation. However, if the intention is to charter at some point, the four-cabin version is the first choice.
Both the single and double cabins are extremely cosy. Incidentally, the access downstairs is particularly successful: Achille Salvagni designed a curved staircase that is an absolute novelty in the standard and semi-custom segment. His flowing style is repeated throughout the vehicle.
But what about the performance of the Azimut? Instead of the so-called Raised Pilothouse, i.e. the control station that has been moved up from the main deck, we now slowly push the throttle levers forward on the flybridge. Two 1397 kW MAN V12 engines get going in the engine room.
At 1000 rpm, the GPS shows a speed of 9.4 knots, the consumption is now 70 litres per hour for both engines combined. At 1500 rpm it is 14 knots and 230 litres, at 2000 rpm the instruments show 21.5 knots and 500 litres, and at maximum speed (2355 rpm) we measure 28 knots and 700 litres. At the peak, we even exceed the value given in the official specification. There, the shipyard states a maximum value of 27 knots.
The noise level varies in the range from 1000 to 2355 rpm between 53 and 65 decibels in the wheelhouse; in the saloon and in the owner's suite on the main deck it is 71 and 73 decibels respectively at full speed. If we were travelling at a constant 22 knots, the tank would last for 370 nautical miles non-stop after adding a ten percent reserve. At ten knots less, we could travel 800 miles without refuelling. The bunkers in the hull hold a total of 9500 litres of diesel.
Incidentally, Azimut Yachts reduced the weight of the Grande 27M by making extensive use of carbon fibre - a technique that is almost standard in sailing yacht construction. In any case, the entire superstructure, including the flybridge and hardtop, is made of this lightweight black material.
What could already be observed last year with the smaller 72 Fly is confirmed with the Grande 27M: carbon allows for more volume, a lower centre of gravity and promises higher speeds. After several years of development, Azimut invested in a 26 metre long, six metre high and eight metre wide oven in which complete decks and superstructures can be "baked" in one piece.
At up to 100 degrees, 24 separately controllable fans distribute the heat in the room, while sensors transmit the data to computers that monitor the process. A baking process can sometimes take up to a day - depending on the size of the part. Although the technology is more expensive than GRP processing, the additional costs are not passed on to the customer, according to the shipyard.
Is there anything wrong with the new Azimut, we ask ourselves after the test drive. You really have to think about it. We overlook a few minor processing faults due to the fact that this is the first model to be built. However, the staircase creaks and creaks a little and may need a better fit in the interior. Otherwise, the Grande 27M gets the thumbs up.
