Constructing a whole deck from carbon fibre puts Azimut ahead of the pack – the exquisite detailing, finish and volume are all a very welcome bonus Text: Dave Marsh Photos: Azimut

Azimut 72BoaT rePorT

MAY2016 47

Constructing a whole deck from carbon fibre puts Azimut ahead of the pack – the exquisite detailing, finish and volume are all a very welcome bonus Text: Dave Marsh Photos: Azimut

Azimut 72BoaT rePorT

MAY2016 47

mby.com/az72

See the VIDeO Carbon fibre is not the material you expect to find in huge swathes on a 72-foot flybridge cruiser built by one of the world’s mainstream powerboat builders. For sure, some builders

occasionally slip a few square centimetres of carbon in here and there so their marketing departments can sprinkle their glamorous brochures with buzz words like ‘high-tech build’, ‘aerospace engineering’ and ‘lightweight fuel efficient hull’, and still sleep at night. But to build the entire deck structure from the side decks upwards out of resin-infused carbon – flybridge and hardtop too – well, there has to be an extremely good reason to use such a vast amount of what remains a stubbornly expensive material.

Azimut’s train of thought runs like this. These days, even builders of the most glamorous looking boats accept that palatial accommodation and ample deck spaces drive the sales of their flybridge cruisers like nothing else. So everybody wants to offer that little bit more than their neighbours. However, it’s all very well packing in yet more solidly built accommodation, upping the headroom everywhere to deal with an increasingly lanky population, and then adding the ubiquitous hardtop – but at some stage you have to call a halt if you don’t want your boat to perform like one of Drake’s 16th century galleons.

But Azimut did not want to call a halt just yet. So its solution to this conundrum was remarkably simple – it built the entire deck structure out of carbon. The Italian company is not claiming that its resultant 72 is any lighter or faster than the opposition, merely that in return for the 30% or so weight saving it made with the deck, the customer effectively gets a slightly bigger boat with four ensuite cabins, terrific deck spaces and exceptional headroom.

Yet also one whose handling does not suffer from a voluminous top heavy superstructure.

Space travellerSo do Azimut’s claims stack up? The foredeck is a good place to start, with its generous seating area and a vast sunbed that could have come from a 90-footer. However, part of that is due to Azimut’s archetypal squared off bow which widens the foredeck, so it’s not case closed just yet. It’s easier for designers to achieve good headroom throughout the middle of the boat if they have a step to play with, but the height of the 72 has allowed Azimut to provide a single level saloon, and very generous headroom too. Okay, 6ft 9in (2.06m) in the saloon is not unheard of on a 72-footer, nor is 6ft 6in (1.98m) throughout the owner’s cabin. But 6ft 8in (2.03m) in the engineroom is small superyacht territory, and the capacious flybridge feels deep and secure too.

Finally, all four cabins on this 74ft long cruiser are ensuite, and that’s a big plus. Of course, you only need to squeeze up a little in size to achieve that goal – the 76ft 5in Pearl 75 does just that. Princess’s new 75 also has four ensuite cabins, but then it is 78ft 8in long; its outgoing 72 had to make do with three ensuites. All told then, Azimut does seem to have achieved its aims – it’s not claiming to have discovered the secret of Dr Who’s Tardis, but it does seem to have squeaked a little extra here and there. And you know what Tesco says, don’t you?

glamorouS interiorWith all that talk of lightweight carbon, we should talk about the handling and performance first. But to wander into the Azimut 72 is to be seduced by the very thing Azimut has focused on – its glamorous interior. The standard of finish, both visible and behind the scenes, is outstanding, probably the best I’ve seen on the last dozen or so

The standard of finish, both visible and behind the scenes, is outstanding,

probably the best I’ve seen on an Azimut

The mid-saloon galley is close to the dinette and helps create

three separate socialising areas

Highly polished stainless steel is used to create useful handholds, table legs and furniture supports

The capacious flybridge feels deep and secure and

has options to suit all needs

The single level floor and generous headroom create a relaxed, spacious feeling

The squared off bow allows for a huge sunbed

Boat report

MAY2016 49

mby.com/az72

See the VIDeO Carbon fibre is not the material you expect to find in huge swathes on a 72-foot flybridge cruiser built by one of the world’s mainstream powerboat builders. For sure, some builders

occasionally slip a few square centimetres of carbon in here and there so their marketing departments can sprinkle their glamorous brochures with buzz words like ‘high-tech build’, ‘aerospace engineering’ and ‘lightweight fuel efficient hull’, and still sleep at night. But to build the entire deck structure from the side decks upwards out of resin-infused carbon – flybridge and hardtop too – well, there has to be an extremely good reason to use such a vast amount of what remains a stubbornly expensive material.

Azimut’s train of thought runs like this. These days, even builders of the most glamorous looking boats accept that palatial accommodation and ample deck spaces drive the sales of their flybridge cruisers like nothing else. So everybody wants to offer that little bit more than their neighbours. However, it’s all very well packing in yet more solidly built accommodation, upping the headroom everywhere to deal with an increasingly lanky population, and then adding the ubiquitous hardtop – but at some stage you have to call a halt if you don’t want your boat to perform like one of Drake’s 16th century galleons.

But Azimut did not want to call a halt just yet. So its solution to this conundrum was remarkably simple – it built the entire deck structure out of carbon. The Italian company is not claiming that its resultant 72 is any lighter or faster than the opposition, merely that in return for the 30% or so weight saving it made with the deck, the customer effectively gets a slightly bigger boat with four ensuite cabins, terrific deck spaces and exceptional headroom.

Yet also one whose handling does not suffer from a voluminous top heavy superstructure.

Space travellerSo do Azimut’s claims stack up? The foredeck is a good place to start, with its generous seating area and a vast sunbed that could have come from a 90-footer. However, part of that is due to Azimut’s archetypal squared off bow which widens the foredeck, so it’s not case closed just yet. It’s easier for designers to achieve good headroom throughout the middle of the boat if they have a step to play with, but the height of the 72 has allowed Azimut to provide a single level saloon, and very generous headroom too. Okay, 6ft 9in (2.06m) in the saloon is not unheard of on a 72-footer, nor is 6ft 6in (1.98m) throughout the owner’s cabin. But 6ft 8in (2.03m) in the engineroom is small superyacht territory, and the capacious flybridge feels deep and secure too.

Finally, all four cabins on this 74ft long cruiser are ensuite, and that’s a big plus. Of course, you only need to squeeze up a little in size to achieve that goal – the 76ft 5in Pearl 75 does just that. Princess’s new 75 also has four ensuite cabins, but then it is 78ft 8in long; its outgoing 72 had to make do with three ensuites. All told then, Azimut does seem to have achieved its aims – it’s not claiming to have discovered the secret of Dr Who’s Tardis, but it does seem to have squeaked a little extra here and there. And you know what Tesco says, don’t you?

glamorouS interiorWith all that talk of lightweight carbon, we should talk about the handling and performance first. But to wander into the Azimut 72 is to be seduced by the very thing Azimut has focused on – its glamorous interior. The standard of finish, both visible and behind the scenes, is outstanding, probably the best I’ve seen on the last dozen or so

The standard of finish, both visible and behind the scenes, is outstanding,

probably the best I’ve seen on an Azimut

The mid-saloon galley is close to the dinette and helps create

three separate socialising areas

Highly polished stainless steel is used to create useful handholds, table legs and furniture supports

The capacious flybridge feels deep and secure and

has options to suit all needs

The single level floor and generous headroom create a relaxed, spacious feeling

The squared off bow allows for a huge sunbed

Boat report

MAY2016 49

Azimuts I’ve tested. Not that Azimut was trailing behind its rivals before, it’s just that on our 72 there seemed to be an extra je ne sais quoi which shines through. Azimut admitted that it wasn’t easy to achieve the perfect lustre on the high gloss ebony that runs through the boat as a contrast to the limed oak, but it simply rejected and replaced the parts which were not up to scratch.

Style is a subjective thing, so who am I to judge? But to my eyes, these two woods are the perfect partners; the limed oak providing strong figuring and character but a light interior too, and the ebony dishing up an indulgent dollop of glamour that an Ian Schrager boutique hotel would be proud to emulate. That overt glamour is matched by the 72’s terrific detailing. Most prominent is the highly polished stainless steel that Azimut has used to create useful handholds and seamanlike fiddles throughout the 72. There are other stainless features too, such as protective cappings on table legs and furniture supports, which run through the 72 like a shimmering stylistic link.

Another practical detail I like is the use of cedar to line all the wardrobes; not only does it smell lovely, it acts as a natural moth deterrent. The heavy doors all close on to rubber gaskets which cut the transmission of noise and stop the doors rattling under way. Although the furniture looks very modern and trendy, it is almost impossible to find a sharp corner to fall against accidentally – almost everything benefits from a softly rounded corner or a curved edge, the most beautiful of which is surely the stainless capping on the dressing table in the owner’s cabin (see A Closer Look).

Beyond questions of taste and fancy, an aspect that owners will need to ponder is the position of the galley. Nowadays, they appear all over the place; upstairs, downstairs, next to the cockpit doors, forward in the saloon and so on. All have distinct benefits, and Azimut’s mid-saloon galley offers two. First, the galley is

as close as can be to the dinette. But legs are made to be used, so I reckon the main advantage is that it allows the seating to be split into three distinct areas; the informal lounge area aft, the formal dinette amidships (which doubles as a huge desk and workspace) and the smaller and more informal coffee-and-croissants mini dinette forward.

Handling and performanceIt’s business as usual in this department, which suggests that the weight-saving carbon did its trick. Azimut modestly predicts 31 knots, but we achieved 32.6 with a respectable load of fuel and water, plus a whopping 500kg crane and the optional outdoor kitchen on the flybridge, although no stores or tenders. So, a respectable speed for a boat this size with twin 1,400hp V12s. Handling was predictable, and although we didn’t encounter conditions that would challenge a 74-footer, the tremendous improvement that Azimut has wrought over the last six or seven years with its hulls and their rough weather abilities, plus the feel of the boat on the water, suggest to me that the 72 would be happier in rougher weather than we found.

High point for me, literally and figuratively, was the inside driving position. A dwarf could sit down in the plush driver’s seat and still have an unimpeded view out thanks to the huge range of vertical adjustment. And that view is helped by the fact that there is only a single central mullion – carbon fibre clad, naturally – interrupting the panorama.

With pod drives making inroads even into traditional fare such as trawlers, it’s good to be reminded of one of the benefits that good old fashioned shafts provide over them, and that is a significant improvement in fuel consumption as the speed drops. Those prepared to take it easy will see their fuel consumption improve at least down to 19 knots, where it’s 37% better than it is flat out. That’s one way of helping to pay for the optional €128,500 Seakeeper Gyro.

FOREDECKHow many times has the ‘mine’s bigger than yours’ claim left you feeling cheated? Here though, azimut’s sunbed is vast for a 72-footer. optional powered bimini lies neatly around the perimeter.

DETAILINGThe 72 is peppered with stainless steel detailing, combining glamour and practicality. The capping on the dresser in the master cabin provides a useful handhold and rounded table edges.

CUSTOMISATIONour test boat had the mini dinette forward of the midships galley, but on the first boat, this area had been customised for the owner so he could have a pull-out desk, as shown here.

THE ENGINEROOMThe engineroom has plenty of big boat features. Some are visible, such as the guardrails around the engines, the light on a wandering lead, and a deeply fiddled tray (just out of shot) for engineers to corral their tools. other details remain hidden, one of which is the waterproof connectors that azimut uses to bridge the bulkheads so that the engineroom remains 100% watertight and as noise-tight as possible.

a CLOSER LOOKwiTH DaVe MarSH

Ebony dishes up an indulgent dollop of glamour that an Ian Schrager

boutique hotel would be proud of

The cedar-lined wardrobes are a nice touch, providing a lovely scent and acting as a natural moth deterrent

Even in the cabins, there’s plenty of headroom

All four cabins have stylish ensuites

Ebony and limed oak make perfect partners in the stylish VIP suite

Limed oak provides character and a light interior in one of

the two ensuite guest cabins

Boat report

MAY2016 51

Azimuts I’ve tested. Not that Azimut was trailing behind its rivals before, it’s just that on our 72 there seemed to be an extra je ne sais quoi which shines through. Azimut admitted that it wasn’t easy to achieve the perfect lustre on the high gloss ebony that runs through the boat as a contrast to the limed oak, but it simply rejected and replaced the parts which were not up to scratch.

Style is a subjective thing, so who am I to judge? But to my eyes, these two woods are the perfect partners; the limed oak providing strong figuring and character but a light interior too, and the ebony dishing up an indulgent dollop of glamour that an Ian Schrager boutique hotel would be proud to emulate. That overt glamour is matched by the 72’s terrific detailing. Most prominent is the highly polished stainless steel that Azimut has used to create useful handholds and seamanlike fiddles throughout the 72. There are other stainless features too, such as protective cappings on table legs and furniture supports, which run through the 72 like a shimmering stylistic link.

Another practical detail I like is the use of cedar to line all the wardrobes; not only does it smell lovely, it acts as a natural moth deterrent. The heavy doors all close on to rubber gaskets which cut the transmission of noise and stop the doors rattling under way. Although the furniture looks very modern and trendy, it is almost impossible to find a sharp corner to fall against accidentally – almost everything benefits from a softly rounded corner or a curved edge, the most beautiful of which is surely the stainless capping on the dressing table in the owner’s cabin (see A Closer Look).

Beyond questions of taste and fancy, an aspect that owners will need to ponder is the position of the galley. Nowadays, they appear all over the place; upstairs, downstairs, next to the cockpit doors, forward in the saloon and so on. All have distinct benefits, and Azimut’s mid-saloon galley offers two. First, the galley is

as close as can be to the dinette. But legs are made to be used, so I reckon the main advantage is that it allows the seating to be split into three distinct areas; the informal lounge area aft, the formal dinette amidships (which doubles as a huge desk and workspace) and the smaller and more informal coffee-and-croissants mini dinette forward.

Handling and performanceIt’s business as usual in this department, which suggests that the weight-saving carbon did its trick. Azimut modestly predicts 31 knots, but we achieved 32.6 with a respectable load of fuel and water, plus a whopping 500kg crane and the optional outdoor kitchen on the flybridge, although no stores or tenders. So, a respectable speed for a boat this size with twin 1,400hp V12s. Handling was predictable, and although we didn’t encounter conditions that would challenge a 74-footer, the tremendous improvement that Azimut has wrought over the last six or seven years with its hulls and their rough weather abilities, plus the feel of the boat on the water, suggest to me that the 72 would be happier in rougher weather than we found.

High point for me, literally and figuratively, was the inside driving position. A dwarf could sit down in the plush driver’s seat and still have an unimpeded view out thanks to the huge range of vertical adjustment. And that view is helped by the fact that there is only a single central mullion – carbon fibre clad, naturally – interrupting the panorama.

With pod drives making inroads even into traditional fare such as trawlers, it’s good to be reminded of one of the benefits that good old fashioned shafts provide over them, and that is a significant improvement in fuel consumption as the speed drops. Those prepared to take it easy will see their fuel consumption improve at least down to 19 knots, where it’s 37% better than it is flat out. That’s one way of helping to pay for the optional €128,500 Seakeeper Gyro.

FOREDECKHow many times has the ‘mine’s bigger than yours’ claim left you feeling cheated? Here though, azimut’s sunbed is vast for a 72-footer. optional powered bimini lies neatly around the perimeter.

DETAILINGThe 72 is peppered with stainless steel detailing, combining glamour and practicality. The capping on the dresser in the master cabin provides a useful handhold and rounded table edges.

CUSTOMISATIONour test boat had the mini dinette forward of the midships galley, but on the first boat, this area had been customised for the owner so he could have a pull-out desk, as shown here.

THE ENGINEROOMThe engineroom has plenty of big boat features. Some are visible, such as the guardrails around the engines, the light on a wandering lead, and a deeply fiddled tray (just out of shot) for engineers to corral their tools. other details remain hidden, one of which is the waterproof connectors that azimut uses to bridge the bulkheads so that the engineroom remains 100% watertight and as noise-tight as possible.

a CLOSER LOOKwiTH DaVe MarSH

Ebony dishes up an indulgent dollop of glamour that an Ian Schrager

boutique hotel would be proud of

The cedar-lined wardrobes are a nice touch, providing a lovely scent and acting as a natural moth deterrent

Even in the cabins, there’s plenty of headroom

All four cabins have stylish ensuites

Ebony and limed oak make perfect partners in the stylish VIP suite

Limed oak provides character and a light interior in one of

the two ensuite guest cabins

Boat report

MAY2016 51

PERFORMANCE TEST ENGINES Twin MaN Cr V12. 1,400hp @ 2,300rpm. V12-cylinder 24.2 litre diesels

MBY TESTFIGURES ECO FAST MAXRPM 1,600 1,700 1,800 1,900 2,000 2,100 2,200 2,350Speed 18.8 20.4 22.3 24.4 26.2 28.2 30.0 32.6LPH 228 258 290 338 391 435 465 542GPH 50 57 64 74 86 96 102 119MPG 0.37 0.36 0.35 0.33 0.30 0.29 0.29 0.27Range 343 329 320 300 279 270 268 250

SOUND LEVELS dB(A)Helm 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75Cockpit 81 82 83 84 85 87 89 91Saloon 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76Flybridge 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 82

Speed in knots. GPH & MPG figures use imperial gallons. Range in nautical miles and allows for 20% reserve. Calculated figures based on readings from on-board fuel gauges, your figures may vary considerably. All prices exclude VAT. 40% fuel, 100% water, 4 crew + crane + flybridge kitchen but no stores or tender. 19ºC air temp, 0.5/0.9m swell, F2/3 for speed trials

LENGTH OVERALL 74ft 3in (22.64m)

BEAM 18ft 4in

(5.60m)

FUEL CAPACITY1,144 imp gal (5,200 litres)WATER CAPACITY242 imp gal (1,100 litres)DRAUGHT5ft 11in (1.82m)RCD CATEGORYa for 16 peopleDESIGNERSStefano righini (exterior)Carlo Galeazzi (interior)DISPLACEMENT41.4 tonnes (empty)46.9 tonnes (full fuel and water)

verdictWithout a direct comparison, we’ll never be able to quantify exactly how effective the Azimut 72’s lightweight carbon fibre deck construction has been. One thing’s for sure, the 72 has to be the better for it. Whatever its precise impact, what owners get is a voluminous four-cabin flybridge cruiser that is as beautifully finished and executed as any obvious rival. Azimut has backed up the overt glamour of the interior with tremendous practical detailing throughout the boat, and that is something that you don’t always find nowadays.

There are other boats in this class, and around this size, which handle and perform

just as well. However, the 72 is the smallest flybridge boat we’ve found that manages to pack four full ensuite cabins, plus good ensuite crew quarters aft, into its carbon-enhanced form. Although at the time of writing the pound had begun to plummet against the euro, even at a ‘yet to be reached’ 1.25 pound/euro rate, the 72 seems competitively priced. All told then, a great all round four cabin flybridge cruiser.

Would I change anything? Well, I just wish there was the option of a silver carbon-effect wrap for the deck. Contact Azimut. Tel: +44 (0)20 7952 6393 Web: www.azimutyachts.com

THe DATA

THe HelM VIEW

THE COSTS & OPTIONSPrice from ¤2.7m ex VAT (twin 1,400hp)Price as tested ¤3m ex VAT (twin 1,400hp)500kg capacity flybridge crane ¤32,700Hardtop with powered sunroof ¤67,800Powered foredeck bimini ¤16,150Seakeeper gyro ¤128,500Teak-laid flybridge ¤31,700 120,000 Btu air-con system standard20kW generator standardHumphree Interceptor system standardHi-lo bathing platform standardVinylester hull, 5yr osmosis guarantee standard

RIVALSPEARL 75Price from £2.49 million ex VATUnusual monochromatic interior style looks and feels fabulous Buy the test: mby.com/pe75

PRINCESS 75 MOTOR YACHTPrice from £2.27 million ex VATSeparate private access to owner’s suite is terrific. Sports four good ensuite cabins.

= Options on test boatTo standardise the engineering installation, there is only one engine option, the 1,400hp V12 MaN

engineroom is accessed through a watertight door that leads off the crew area

it’s normal to find four cabins on a boat this size, but finding four good ensuite heads is unusual below 75ft

What owners get is a voluminous four-cabin flybridge cruiser that is beautifully finished

although yet to be installed on this boat, the azimut

72 has Humphree’s excellent interceptors fitted as standard

it’s so unusual to see the compass take

centre stage, directly in front of the helmsman and with an easy-to-read vertical card For once, the

mullions are quite modest, plus there’s only a single central carbon-clad mullion so the helmsman’s view out at any speed is excellent

The range of up-down and

forward-backward adjustment on the opulent helmsman’s seat is remarkable

azimut’s archetypal squared off bow is the bit

of trickery that bestows the 72 such a vast sunbed area

Hi-lo bathing platform is big enough for tenders,

but an optional crane would allow more toys to be stowed on the flybridge

Deep bulwarks running halfway along the 72 make

for safe and easy movement along the side decks

There are port and starboard side-boarding

gates (in the bulwarks) just forward of the mooring gear

Two big doors on the transom; one leads

through to the engineroom, the other opens on to a huge locker

Boat report

MAY2016 53

PERFORMANCE TEST ENGINES Twin MaN Cr V12. 1,400hp @ 2,300rpm. V12-cylinder 24.2 litre diesels

MBY TESTFIGURES ECO FAST MAXRPM 1,600 1,700 1,800 1,900 2,000 2,100 2,200 2,350Speed 18.8 20.4 22.3 24.4 26.2 28.2 30.0 32.6LPH 228 258 290 338 391 435 465 542GPH 50 57 64 74 86 96 102 119MPG 0.37 0.36 0.35 0.33 0.30 0.29 0.29 0.27Range 343 329 320 300 279 270 268 250

SOUND LEVELS dB(A)Helm 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75Cockpit 81 82 83 84 85 87 89 91Saloon 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76Flybridge 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 82

Speed in knots. GPH & MPG figures use imperial gallons. Range in nautical miles and allows for 20% reserve. Calculated figures based on readings from on-board fuel gauges, your figures may vary considerably. All prices exclude VAT. 40% fuel, 100% water, 4 crew + crane + flybridge kitchen but no stores or tender. 19ºC air temp, 0.5/0.9m swell, F2/3 for speed trials

LENGTH OVERALL 74ft 3in (22.64m)

BEAM 18ft 4in

(5.60m)

FUEL CAPACITY1,144 imp gal (5,200 litres)WATER CAPACITY242 imp gal (1,100 litres)DRAUGHT5ft 11in (1.82m)RCD CATEGORYa for 16 peopleDESIGNERSStefano righini (exterior)Carlo Galeazzi (interior)DISPLACEMENT41.4 tonnes (empty)46.9 tonnes (full fuel and water)

verdictWithout a direct comparison, we’ll never be able to quantify exactly how effective the Azimut 72’s lightweight carbon fibre deck construction has been. One thing’s for sure, the 72 has to be the better for it. Whatever its precise impact, what owners get is a voluminous four-cabin flybridge cruiser that is as beautifully finished and executed as any obvious rival. Azimut has backed up the overt glamour of the interior with tremendous practical detailing throughout the boat, and that is something that you don’t always find nowadays.

There are other boats in this class, and around this size, which handle and perform

just as well. However, the 72 is the smallest flybridge boat we’ve found that manages to pack four full ensuite cabins, plus good ensuite crew quarters aft, into its carbon-enhanced form. Although at the time of writing the pound had begun to plummet against the euro, even at a ‘yet to be reached’ 1.25 pound/euro rate, the 72 seems competitively priced. All told then, a great all round four cabin flybridge cruiser.

Would I change anything? Well, I just wish there was the option of a silver carbon-effect wrap for the deck. Contact Azimut. Tel: +44 (0)20 7952 6393 Web: www.azimutyachts.com

THe DATA

THe HelM VIEW

THE COSTS & OPTIONSPrice from ¤2.7m ex VAT (twin 1,400hp)Price as tested ¤3m ex VAT (twin 1,400hp)500kg capacity flybridge crane ¤32,700Hardtop with powered sunroof ¤67,800Powered foredeck bimini ¤16,150Seakeeper gyro ¤128,500Teak-laid flybridge ¤31,700 120,000 Btu air-con system standard20kW generator standardHumphree Interceptor system standardHi-lo bathing platform standardVinylester hull, 5yr osmosis guarantee standard

RIVALSPEARL 75Price from £2.49 million ex VATUnusual monochromatic interior style looks and feels fabulous Buy the test: mby.com/pe75

PRINCESS 75 MOTOR YACHTPrice from £2.27 million ex VATSeparate private access to owner’s suite is terrific. Sports four good ensuite cabins.

= Options on test boatTo standardise the engineering installation, there is only one engine option, the 1,400hp V12 MaN

engineroom is accessed through a watertight door that leads off the crew area

it’s normal to find four cabins on a boat this size, but finding four good ensuite heads is unusual below 75ft

What owners get is a voluminous four-cabin flybridge cruiser that is beautifully finished

although yet to be installed on this boat, the azimut

72 has Humphree’s excellent interceptors fitted as standard

it’s so unusual to see the compass take

centre stage, directly in front of the helmsman and with an easy-to-read vertical card For once, the

mullions are quite modest, plus there’s only a single central carbon-clad mullion so the helmsman’s view out at any speed is excellent

The range of up-down and

forward-backward adjustment on the opulent helmsman’s seat is remarkable

azimut’s archetypal squared off bow is the bit

of trickery that bestows the 72 such a vast sunbed area

Hi-lo bathing platform is big enough for tenders,

but an optional crane would allow more toys to be stowed on the flybridge

Deep bulwarks running halfway along the 72 make

for safe and easy movement along the side decks

There are port and starboard side-boarding

gates (in the bulwarks) just forward of the mooring gear

Two big doors on the transom; one leads

through to the engineroom, the other opens on to a huge locker

Boat report

MAY2016 53