For many years, the Azimut Benetti shipyard has been regarded as the most productive address in the world when it comes to building yachts over 24 metres in length. Relevant statistics regularly show this. Azimut in Avigliana is responsible for the smaller formats up to around thirty metres in length, while Benetti caters to the demand above this, now even up to over one hundred metres in length. If you look at the latest addition to the Azimut portfolio, it is likely to secure its place at the top. The Italians have extended their S Collection, one of four model series, upwards with the Grande S10: almost thirty sporty metres, which Azimut's marketing department describes as a "balanced mix of comfort, driving pleasure and exceptional luxury for sports yachts".
Azimut commissioned Alberto Mancini, who is currently in great demand, with the exterior design. The Italian, born in 1978, who also designs for Fairline and Overmarine, among others, and whose creative roots lie in automotive design, started the S10 project with a huge leap of faith from the shipyard. Only the length and width, i.e. just under thirty and a good six metres, were the basic parameters specified by Azimut. In addition, the yacht was to be sporty, but at the same time functional and elegant.
"I drew most of my inspiration for the development of the S10 from a villa on the beach in Malibu, in addition to car design," says Alberto Mancini. "Its terraces sloped so beautifully towards the sea that I used this concept for the yacht and designed it on three levels that also open up completely to the sea." A quick glance at the floor plans reveals what he means by this. The first level is the bathing platform, which can be extended by 1.20 metres (!) at the touch of a button, the second level is the stern of the main deck and the third is the flybridge, which is connected to the main deck by a centrally positioned carbon fibre ladder. The aft area on this middle level of the S10 is unrivalled, as Mancini split it into two parts. Two staircases connect the bathing platform with the main deck, on which two sofas initially face each other and form the usual configuration. Shortly behind this, the aforementioned central ladder leads up to the flybridge; under the overhang, however, there is another sofa facing inwards. Shaped like a slight U, this seating area forms an extension of the saloon when the sliding doors are open - an excellent place for an aperitif or afternoon coffee. It is a small but ingenious design move by Mancini that makes you wonder why no designer before him has thought of it. "The idea for it," says the 41-year-old, "came to me when I was looking at large mega yachts and J-Class yachts - they inspired me with their similar configuration."
The internal layout of the S10 is then quickly revealed. Eight guests are accommodated in four cabins on the lower deck, with the owner's suite located amidships across the full width of the yacht. The bed here is - somewhat unusually - in the centre of the room, creating space for a chaise longue and a desk on the port and starboard sides. Directly above this suite, the saloon forms the centre of the yacht with its dining area for these eight guests and a spacious seating area complete with TV. An electrochromic skylight and large windows provide the necessary brightness and a direct connection to the surroundings. Francesco Guida was responsible for the harmonious design, who describes the look as restrained and elegant with its white, brown and carbon tones. "When you work for shipyards like Azimut, whose products are intended to appeal to many potential customers, you always have to keep this in mind. At the same time, the shipyard's design DNA has to be taken into account, but the designs still have to surprise - but not too much! It's a balancing act." There is no doubt that Guida, who is currently one of the most sought-after interior designers in the Italian yacht business, has achieved this brilliantly. Anyone exploring the S10 is surrounded by a maritime lightness that is so typical of Italian interior design and is also the reason for its success. The use of wood as flooring and ceiling panelling in the saloon area is particularly pleasing, creating a smooth transition from the outside to the inside. Azimut also installed a second sliding door on the main deck precisely in the area where the wood and carpet meet, not only to visually separate the complexes, but also to offer owners and guests the greatest possible privacy during lunch or dinner. Guida: "The combination of wood and white lacquered surfaces gives the rooms a light, sporty touch."
The captain of the sporty Grande S10 works at the very front of the main deck, as is usual on such formats. Azimut developed the bridge together with Simrad-Naviop; the design of the modern and ergonomic helm station comes from CentrostileDesign and blends in perfectly with the interior concept. The performance of the almost thirty metre long yacht also matches this. At his workplace, the captain controls two 1938-kilowatt MTU M96L diesels, which ensure a top speed of 35 knots. Humphree interceptors regulate the trim and help the yacht to reach planing speed quickly, which significantly reduces fuel consumption. The steering system from SeaStar Solutions provides steering behaviour similar to that of a super sports car. With a cruising speed of 28 to 30 knots and a tank capacity of 9500 litres, the S-Collection flagship is ideally suited for short, uncomplicated trips to the hotspots of the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf and Central and South America - exactly where the majority of Azimut owners prefer to enjoy their maritime activities.
The fact that the S10's fuel consumption is not exorbitant despite its sportiness is thanks to its carbon fibre construction, which Azimut has been using for several years. The lightweight and high-strength material not only allows more volume for the same length, but also reduces the weight of the yacht and therefore also its fuel consumption. The carbon fibre construction was also an important element for Alberto Mancini. "The shipyard is pursuing a policy of reduction that allows us to give the S10 a profile that has never before been realised on an open yacht." One prominent detail is of course the cut-out of the bulwark in the bow, which with a little imagination could be a stylised shark's bite, but at least looks aggressive. The reduction mentioned by the designer is also reflected in the absence of a steel railing. The shipyard replaced it with a carbon one, which the designer had fitted with LEDs to give the glider an unmistakable silhouette even in the dark. "I imagined," says Mancini, "an owner returning to his yacht late at night with the tender from Cala di Volpe. When he discovers his elegantly illuminated S10 among all the yachts at anchor - even the much larger ones - he will be delighted to come on board. This lighting is a fantastic piece of equipment!"
Back on deck, the area under the overhang on the main deck, the Sundeck with its sofas or, of course, the bow lounge with its two cosy seating areas, from which the view of the large formats anchored off Porto Cervo is probably the best, are ideal for the last drink of the evening. This is a great place to ponder whether life on sixty, seventy or even more metres is really so much better than on the mature Grande S10...
