Azimut Yachts
Azimut creates some of the finest motor yachts on the market. From the high volume Magelano series to the sport yachts of the S range, nothing is missing. The yard recently introduced their superyacht series, the Grand, reaching up to 37m with the Azimut 37m Grand Trideck.
History
Azimut Yachts started in 1969, when Paolo Vitelli founded Azimut Srl and started chartering sailboats. In 1970, the ‘Amerglass’ brand of yachts chose the company to distribute their boats in Italy.
From 1979, Azimut expanded its activities: in addition to distribution, it began to design new yachts. As part of a joint venture with Amerglass, she designed the AZ 43′ Bali, a mass-produced fiberglass boat. The company expands its range by focusing on the lower segment of the market – with the launch of the AZ 32′ Targa in 1977, the “Ford T” of the boating world – and high end – with the launch of the Azimut 105′ Failaka in 1982.
In 1985, Azimut acquired Benetti. This historic brand, based in Viareggio, has been manufacturing boats since 1873 and designs the concept of the mega-yacht.
From the end of the 1990s, with the acquisition of new shipyards in Fano, the restructuring of the Benetti shipyard in Viareggio and the construction of a new shipyard in Avigliana, in the province of Turin.
The beginnings
Azimut Yachts came about in 1969, when the young university student Paolo Vitelli founded Azimut Srl, and began chartering sailing boats.
The first steps towards success
In 1970 some prestigious yachting brands appointed the company to distribute their boats in Italy.
Azimut quickly expanded its operations: Apart from distribution, it began to design new yachts. In a joint venture with Amerglass, it designed the AZ 43’ Bali, a mass-produced fibreglass boat, which was an immediate success.
The company gradually expanded its range, focussing on the lower end of the market – with the launch of the AZ 32’ Targa in 1977, the “Ford T” of the boat world – and upper end too – (with the memorable début of the Azimut 105’ Failaka in 1982, the biggest mass-produced yacht in fibreglass at the time).
