Most boaters wouldn't consider a 45-foot sportscruiser a small yacht -- but when compared to most of the monsters cruising the coastal waters of the Med, it is in the minnow class.
Azimut's new 45 is, however, anything but small when it comes to accommodation and deck space. Clever design and modern construction have given the stylish sportscruiser as much usable space as most 60 footers. You could take a dozen of your mates out for a day and not feel crowded.
Two versions of the boat, which has just been unveiled in Venice, are available: a two-cabin and a three-cabin version. The two-cabin version is the pick of the bunch as both the owner's suite and the VIP cabin have ample space and their own en suites. If you have another couple staying overnight, the saloon table and lounge convert into a double bed.
The most striking thing about the Azimut 45 is the extraordinary room available on the flybridge. The flybridge covers more than 12 square metres and has a package of rotational furniture that can be converted, within seconds, to a dinette, a sofa area with L-shaped or C-shaped seating or an enormous sunpad.
When the skipper is steering from the flybridge there is room for nine other people and just near the helm station is a large opening hatch that allows direct communication with anyone in the main saloon or the galley. The flybridge extends all the way aft to cover the entire cockpit, should you need to escape from too much sun or inclement weather conditions.
The helm on the flybridge has full instrumentation including a 14-inch Raymarine display linked to all the technology modern boaters demand. There is an optional bimini top for protection when using the upper helm.
The cockpit is also an entertainer’s delight. It features a folding table and a 50-litre fridge or an icemaker. The large swimming platform can be either fixed or retractable. The retractable version can take a load of 350kg and has running boards on the sides to assist getting on or off the vessel.
The main saloon comes with two large sofas and a pouf, so there is seating for eight people. The table’s height can be adjusted at the flick of a switch to be either dining or coffee table height. A couple of steps up from the saloon is the fully-equipped lower helm area that has sofa seating for two.
A couple of steps down from the saloon gives access to both the galley and the two en suite cabins. The central cabin is located under the main saloon and is fitted with a double bed that can be turned into singles if required. The owner’s cabin is in the bow and has ample hanging space and a huge storage drawer underneath the bed.
The three-cabin version features bunk beds and shares the bathroom with the centre cabin.
The galley is particularly roomy on the two-cabin version with a marble worktop that is 3.2 metres long. That gives room for a dishwasher, a microwave and a 165-litre fridge underneath. The galley is located below the helm station but it is open to both that area and the main saloon so the cooking experience can be shared by everyone on board and no one feels isolated.
The interior is finished in a honey-coloured oak with a breathable finish and the furniture is covered with Jakarta leathers.
With a classic variable dihedral hull shape, with 21 degrees of deadrise amidship, the Azimut offers superior wave absorption and excellence performance. The hull is entirely built using an infusion process to ensure strength, high quality construction and low environmental impact.
The vessel is fitted with twin 480hp Cummins diesels, with shaft-mounted props, that can push it to a top speed of 32 knots and a comfortable cruising speed of 27 knots. Docking is a breeze with two handling options that allow joystick control of both engines and the bow thrusters. The joystick control also allows satellite position holding so that neither tide nor wind can shift the boat.
With a maximum draft of just 0.86 metres, the Azimut can negotiate shallow bays and harbours in safety and enable access to cruising spots denied to deeper vessels. Carrying 1300 litres of fuel and 500 litres of water, the vessel is comfortably self sufficient for a weekend or more.
For more information or a dealer list click here: www.5starmotorcruisers.com.au