The 50 square metre sun deck alone makes her stand out in her league. However, the Azimut Grande 26M scores with several features that catapult her into the category of a superyacht despite her "only" 26 metres. Laura Sandrone, the brand's Head of Communications, leads groups of visitors around the three decks in Cannes and enumerates: "The master suite on the forward main deck, the raised wheelhouse, the separate paths for guests and crew, and then this!" The lady stops at the stern and presents the so-called Deck2Deck principle. At the touch of a button, the teak-covered garage door opens upwards and enlarges the cockpit. Those present nod appreciatively.
The Grande 26M is being launched four years after the 27 Metri, which is considered a bestseller within the shipyard. This time, however, the exterior designer was not Stefano Righini, but Alberto Mancini, who currently works a lot for competitors such as the Overmarine Group and has left his signature on Mangusta's Oceano series.
Clear concept for Grande 26M
The Italian pursued a clear concept for the Grande 26M, which he summarises as follows: "A compact superyacht with five suites and an enormous flybridge." The Deck2Deck concept was also his idea, an Azimuth innovation: "We planned an unusually large cockpit for this category, which we wanted to extend to create a fully-fledged dining table with a sea view." When the table is folded out, eight people can sit comfortably on the 18 square metre area. "You can even walk round it," comments Sandrone and demonstrates how it works.
If there are more guests on the invitation to the open-air dinner, the menu is served on the flybridge. The table in the large lounge with L-shaped sofa is high and, above all, long enough. The crew adds a few more chairs to ensure sufficient seating. Mobile furniture makes it possible. In bad weather - or if it's too hot - you can meet at the table in the air-conditioned saloon. There, in front of Amare's gigantic windows, a special feature awaits the public: a wide sliding door closes the transition between the galley and the dining area. The room divider visually becomes a wall surface. As an option, customers can choose a further partition between the dining area and lounge, creating two rooms.
What is immediately noticeable both inside and outside: handrails, roof overhangs and bar counters all have rounded corners. Everything appears soft and flows into one another. Mancini's principle can be summarised in one sentence: "Every detail communicates with the interior." Customers naturally have a free choice of designer for the interior design. On the 26M presented here, an Azimut favourite, Achille Salvagni with studios in Rome, London and New York, demonstrates his skills. The Italian designer's leitmotif is also the round corner, but he also plays with subtle contrasts. Sofas, walls and ceilings shimmer in cream and white, while oak floorboards, wooden armchair frames and wall panels with wood veneer vibrate in a similar rhythm. The ensemble makes it clear where you are: on a yacht and on holiday - the perfect backdrop for relaxing. To keep things from becoming too monotonous, the professional has reached into a favourite box of tricks and livened up the ambience with imaginatively shaped side tables and lamps as well as brightly coloured details. An orange tray sits on the stool, while cushions in turquoise and poisonous green vie for attention. Long-armed ceiling spotlights with shades are mounted above the dining area. Their blue colour could steal the show from the menu. In many cases, these are all designs from Salvagni's own collection.
Separate routes for crew, owner and guests
Things become a little more dignified again in the direction of the master suite. The way there leads past the raised wheelhouse. Here you can admire the aforementioned feature of a superyacht in compact format: the strictly separated walkways. While guests, including the owner, reach the command centre via a staircase on the starboard side, the crew approaches from the port side, for example from the direction of the galley. On this side, a staircase leads to the lower deck to the quarters of the helping hands. There are wide outer decks around the saloon on three sides. This means that nobody has to walk through the guests' living areas to bring cocktails into the cockpit.
The windows in the master suite, as in the saloon, are larger than average. "The owners want to be in contact with the outside world," explains Sandrone, "very close to the water." In fact, when the waves splash a little higher, this does not go unnoticed. To ensure that the view of the elements always remains clear, Sandrone advises future residents: "Nothing should be placed in front of the windows to block the view."
Achille Salvagni's idea was to "rethink the rooms". He connected the bedroom and the bathroom in the bow of the boat via an open-plan dressing room. The walk-in wardrobe is illuminated by a shell-shaped window, an outline with a high recognition value, which is also found in the handrail of the staircase to the wheelhouse. Good design lies in the details. There are also optical tricks that only become apparent at second glance. In the suites - in the master as well as in the three VIPs plus twin cabin on the lower deck - the TV screens disappear discreetly behind tinted glass panes. In many places, cleverly integrated magazine holders keep printed entertainment within easy reach of the guests.
Innovations on the Azimut Grande 26M
With the Azimut Grande 26M, the brand not only wanted to present a sophisticated layout with a top interior, but also another innovation. The propulsion runs differently than usual on a yacht of this size, namely via pods. ZF from Friedrichshafen has developed the diesel-powered propeller pods, which propel the hull and also act as rudders. They are steered electro-hydraulically, conveniently using a joystick. With the POD-4600 system designed for sizes up to 40 metres, the engineers guarantee easy handling and the best manoeuvring characteristics; without an anchor, the yacht stays in place. The system also works very efficiently and is said to save up to 20 per cent diesel in the Grande 26M - in combination with the comparatively light hull. The approximately 30 percent reduction in weight is made possible by the use of carbon fibres.
There is also another advantage that Azimut likes to utilise for the benefit of its customers: In pod configurations, the engine compartments are significantly flatter and are located further aft. This creates more space in the hull, for example for larger guest suites or, as with the Grande 26M, for a central tender garage. This favourable position makes hauling in and launching much easier and faster. During the tour, the power of the drive system is put to the test. The two MAN twelve-cylinder engines feed the ZF pods with a total of 2420 kilowatts of power. The yacht accelerates effortlessly to a maximum of 28 knots. The cruising speed is stated in the documents as 24 knots.
Swedish trim system for optimum handling characteristics
Azimuth interceptors from Humphree are installed for optimum handling characteristics in all conditions. Trim tabs move vertically downwards from the stern to generate lift or stabilise the position, even when cornering. The resistance is automatically optimised for every speed and load. This also means greater fuel efficiency. The Swedes' trim system works fully electrically with twelve to 24 volts, and the small control unit fits in the captain's trouser pocket.
A look at the figures makes us optimistic that the Grande 26M can easily build on the success of the 27 Metri. In the first two months after the launch, the shipyard already reported 22 sales. A mega yacht in mini format.
Technical data
- Length over everything: 26,09 m
- Width: 6,30 m
- Depth:2,04 m
- Displacement (full): 84,40 t
- Material: GRP, carbon
- Motors:2 x MAN V12
- Engine power: 2 x 1156 / 1230 kW
- Speed (max.): 28 kn
- Speed (travelling): 24 kn
- Trim system:Humphree
- Fuel: 8500 l
- Water: 1500 l
- Guests: 10
- Crew: 3
- Construction: P.L Ausonio, Azimuth
- Exterior design:Alberto Mancini
- Interior design: Achille Salvagni
- Furniture & Accessories: Achille Salvagni
- Class: CE "A"
- Shipyard:Azimut Yachts, 2022
- Starting price: from 5.8 million euros
