Italian shipyard Azimut has launched its flagship Grande 44M motor yacht in Viareggio, marking a significant milestone for the builder with the seventh unit sold to owners. The 44-metre yacht is scheduled for completion in September ahead of her world debut at the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival.
The yacht's exterior is the work of Alberto Mancini, while interiors have been penned by m2atelier. Meanwhile, the hull design was developed by the Azimut-Benetti Group R&D department, with P.L. Ausonio Naval Architecture partnering to create the Dual Mode hull design.
The Grande 44M embodies what Federico Lantero, head of design product at Azimut, calls the "flagship of intentional living", with a design philosophy that centres on creating spaces that adapt to the owners' lifestyles, daily routines and entertaining preferences.
The inspiration behind the design stemmed from a simple question: "What if we free space?", which led to the addition of a fourth deck, which Lantero described to BOAT as "the real game changer".
The fourth deck houses the wheelhouse, completely freeing the upper deck of all technical spaces and transforming it into a private owner's sanctuary with customisable terraces that can serve as a gym, dining area or lounging space.
What would traditionally be the wheelhouse benefits from large panoramic windows, usually reserved for navigation purposes. "Once the upper deck space is freed up, designers can play more with the layout, which clients love because they can express and adapt according to what they desire, stage of life, or daily routine preferences," Lantero shared with BOAT.
Supporting the innovative design is the Mild Hybrid system, developed in partnership with Asea Nautica, which features two 50 kW electric motors configured as shaft generators and a 188-kWh battery room expandable to 230 kWh.
This configuration enables the yacht to remain at anchor with generators completely off, providing three to four hours of silent, emission-free operation during the day and eight to 10 hours at night, eliminating both fumes and noise.
The system's efficiency is further enhanced by its ability to fully recharge the battery pack in just two hours while cruising at 15 knots, allowing the yacht to use the average repositioning time between destinations to restore its Zero Emissions hotel load autonomy for the next anchorage.
Complementing the hybrid system, 30 square metres of integrated photovoltaic panels on the fourth deck provide additional renewable energy to support the hotel load, further reducing the yacht's environmental impact.
Interiors, which have become increasingly important to clients, focus on extending space and creating more light on board. Working with the mindset of "what if" against the designers' "why not", Milan-based interior designer m2atelier crafted spaces that challenge conventional yacht layouts.
Thoughtful design features can be found throughout the yacht. A standout element is the use of diagonal walls in the owner's en suite, instead of traditional doors, which shifts the usual perspective and extends the sense of space. Additionally, two panels in the owner's suite walls remain completely transparent to extend spatial perception and allow more natural light to filter in.
A striking highlight on the main deck is a blue marble table made of Azul Macaubas, a Brazilian quartzite renowned for its shades of light blue and violet, creating an impressive focal point.
The bow area serves as a pivotal, transformable space on board. It can become a veranda dining area for twelve, a private media room featuring a projector, or a lounging space for guests.
Large floor-to-ceiling windows open to reveal 180-degree views of the outdoor bow lounge, which offers a firepit area. While this configuration is standard across the series, some clients have chosen an al fresco dining area instead, with the 180-degree windows ensuring each model can be customised.
Aft, the Grande 44M features a mezzanine deck, a defining element of the Grande Trideck series, with a glass pool that can be viewed from the beach club below. The sundeck provides a private space on top for gathering all guests together or for more intimate quality time with smaller groups.
In terms of technological innovation, the Grande 44M incorporates sustainably focused features, positioning her as the flagship of Azimut's Low Emission fleet.
The contemporary motor yacht combines Hull Vane foil technology with extensive carbon fibre construction, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the vessel, to achieve a reduction of CO2 emissions of up to 30 percent compared to traditional naval architecture of the same size.