It’s a sultry day in Viareggio, the Tuscan seaside town that’s part beach resort, part shipbuilding hub, and the new Azimut Magellano 60 has just arrived in town. Ahead of its debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival, we enjoyed a sneak preview of the latest model in a series that comprises boats from 18 to 30 metres and look similarly good across the entire gamut.
The Magellano series kicked off with a Ken Freivokh-designed 22.6-metre cruiser that combined the no nonsense looks of a trawler with the glamour that comes with large glazed surfaces and chic, contemporary interiors. The 18.5-metre Azimut Magellano 60, lying dockside in Azimut’s Viareggio shipyard, has the same straight bow, horizontal hull lines and teak inserts in the fashion plates as her bigger sisters, and the hull colour of choice remains ottanio, a lovely dark teal that looks like deep water.
Freivokh explains the Magellano philosophy: “The 60 is the latest of a very focused line-up that started more than 10 years ago in close cooperation with the Azimut team,” he says. “In line with the most recent models, such as the 25M and 30M, the 60 benefits from a fresh approach aimed at achieving a very purposeful little yacht while further developing the timeless elegance that has been a hallmark of the range. An essential attribute of the full range is the stated objective to offer a design that is suited for living on board, for exploring and for accommodating a family in comfort. In contrast with most planing boats, the Magellano 60 is designed to really live at sea.”
Swedish naval architects Profjord AB and Azimut’s own R&D Department designed an efficient new Dual Mode hull that runs solidly with a comfortable top speed of about 25 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots. As we pull off the dock, the boat’s shaft drive propulsion system and twin 730-horsepower MAN engines let off a familiar grumble that fits well with the Magellano’s trawler aesthetic. But old-fashioned this is not: the boat can run on Eni’s HVOlution biofuel as well as traditional fuel to offer the extra value of greener navigation.
As the name implies, the Magellano series is about exploring and going the distance. Outdoor living areas are a key part of the package, and while the 60 may be the series’ little sister, her extra-large aft deck provides plenty of space for easy living. Longitudinal sofas face each other and overlook the water, while a teak-capped glass bulwark leaves views to the swimming platform free and clear. “We aimed to offer the best possible views of the ocean, and to achieve this we proposed an open transom and the incorporation of a glass cutaway transom,” Freivokh explains.
The galley is set aft in the saloon and becomes part of the aft deck by simply opening the door between the two areas and dropping a sliding window into the bar. This convivial setup, complete with bar stools, makes cooking and serving drinks for friends all part of sharing the fun.
Just one step up from the cockpit and galley, the saloon is like a glasshouse with views straight through and side to side; if the difference in temperature and humidity wasn’t so great, you could almost forget you were indoors. Freivokh points out the design highlights: “Signature details and unique features developed and improved on every successive model in the range, including the very recent Magellano 30M, have successfully migrated to the smaller yet quite unique Magellano 60. The midship seating groups enjoy these panoramic views thanks to the dropped bulwark sides.” The yacht’s teal hull colour is picked up and repeated in the carpeting, and soft, curved furnishings in shades of white are set off by black accents like the piping on a Chanel suit. The same colour scheme is used in the three bright and spacious cabins, a VIP forward, a twin and an owner’s cabin amidships, giving the boat a unified and coherent look.
The indoor helm station, just one step up from the cockpit and galley, is an integral part of the saloon so that everyone aboard can appreciate the boat at work. Raymarine touchscreens and joystick controls make navigation easy and intuitive too. But there is no better spot to helm than on the flybridge, where there is, as Freivokh points out, “great views and also excellent protection from the elements”. The elements are rather welcoming on the day of hot sunshine and flat seas we’re experiencing. These aren’t the most extreme conditions for testing the boat’s seakeeping capabilities, but it’s perfect for seeing what life on board could feel like. And it could feel good.
The helming position fore is flanked by a sunpad whose headrest slides back to become part of the seating around the dining table when needed. Owners can install an outdoor kitchen with a grill and can choose to mount a carbon fibre hardtop, a bimini or even to leave the space entirely open. The same seating with backrests to convert from sunpad to sofa is used on the foredeck, making this another versatile outdoor space that can be used all day, cruising along in the sunshine while watching the world go by or enjoying a drink at anchor.
The up/down beach platform can be used both for swimming and for launching the tender or toys, and who would guess that what looks like a storage unit on the aft deck is actually a companionway that leads to a crew cabin, an essential feature for owners who want to charter or who like to be able to kick back and fully relax after a day on the water.
If Magellano in the Azimut sense means seaworthiness, flexibility of use and efficiency, the Magellano 60 packs all of these into a tidy package. With Freivokh’s timeless exterior lines and a well-planned and elegant interior, this is one little sister that knows how to live up to expectations.