98 Azimut Leonardo

Source: Yachtonline.it

“This is a yacht designed for luxury long-range cruising,” says Giovanni Bizzarri who heads Azimut’s Motoryacht Division at Viareggio. “It’s an absolutely stunning, brand-new fly-0pen hybrid. It has the excellent interior liveability and spacious fly of the former and the exceptional exterior spaces and supple, sporty lines of the latter.” The boat Bizzarri is so taken with is the 98 Leonardo, a 30.75-metre motoryacht of which 17 have been built in the three years since its launch ­ a major feat in itself. Not content to rest on its laurels, Azimut unveiled a new restyled version of the model at the last Genoa Show, designed to offer enhanced guest comfort and privacy. While the original 98 Leonardo concept was penned by Stefano Righini, the yard’s own technical office did the new interior décor which is very chic and elegant with lots of natural bay oak and teak, louvred doors, squared-off sofas and fabric-lined ceilings with bay oak inserts. The tender garage (home to a 4.2-metre) with a jet ski locker on either side has been moved from the bow to the stern and opens out on to a large beach-style stern platform. This meant that the bow area could be devoted to a gorgeous al fresco lounge area furnished with a C-shaped sofa, two tables (which can be joined up to create one large one) and a nice bimini top. The engine room, which is beside the control room, is home to twin 2,000 hp MTUs which deliver 30 knots at full throttle and 27 cruising at half-load. “That’s a very respectable speed indeed for a yacht with the kind of characteristics this one has,” stresses Bizzarri proudly. “But the upcoming versions will be offering the new 2,200 hp and 2,400 hp MTU common rails which will easily yield 32-33 knots. Humphree Sweden’s Active system also improves stability underway as it has a stabilising action at speeds of over 15 knots.” The crew area, which has been moved forward to allow direct access through the bridge to avoid disturbing guests, includes a large steel and bay oak galley with a crew mess and cabins for the captain and two hands. Up on the main deck, there’s a semi-covered cockpit aft with a large comfortable sofa that quickly converts to a sun pad if required. There are spotlights in the ceiling too so that the area can be used at night and waterproof speakers linked to the sophisticated sound system available throughout the boat. Moving indoors, the bright, airy open plan saloon has a lovely octagonal dining table just inside the door. It can be extended to seat up to 10 guests and is surrounded by chairs trimmed in different colours of leather. The conversation area, made up of two three-seater sofas, leather armchairs, a plasma TV and Sony home theatre system, is in the centre of the space. The stone-topped bar is in the background and includes a sink, hob, wine cooler and ice-maker. It shields the pilothouse area from view. The ergonomic bridge is flanked by a computer desk. The sleeping quarters include a full-beam master stateroom amidships which is wonderfully bright thanks to three new windows on each side. It also includes a lounge area, dressing room and a large marble-trimmed bathroom with a roomy shower. The VIP forward also has large horizontal windows. There are a further two twin guest cabins separating the two main ones. These have third jury berths and en suites (one actually has two doors and doubles as a day toilet). The fly too has been given something of a facelift: its lines are now more squared-off and its various areas are clearly distinguishable from each other. The bar corner with its sink, fridge, ice-maker and steel barbecue, is behind the pilot station alongside which there is a sun pad area sheltered by the windshield. The sun pad runs into a dinette with an extendible teak table. The other half of the fly is raised and boasts a circular Jacuzzi and lots of cushions and loungers on which to get in a little more sun worshipping too.