During the gala dinner, awards were presented to some of the signature models built by the Group, which continues to stand out in the industry for the innovative design, indisputable glamour and advanced technology of its yachts.
The gala evening on September 11 was a milestone for Azimut|Benetti Group, which won some of the top awards at the World Yachts Trophies organized by SG Publications, the publisher of magazines Yachts France, Yachts Italia and Yachts Europe.
During the event, which was held as it is every year in Cannes with about 700 guests, 30 awards were made to winners chosen from 69 finalists. The panel of journalists, historians and yachting experts chose six models built by Azimut|Benetti Group, which continues year after years to see a rise in the number of awards received by its fleet.
In the 45 to 64-foot (13.70 to 19.50-meter) category, Azimut 53 Fly won the Best Interior Design award. Designed to offer a family the chance to organize long stays on board in complete comfort, not least because of a significant increase in both the space on board and its perception, the 53 Fly stands out for a day area laid out almost entirely on the same level, with the galley and the living area separated by a difference in height of just 25 centimeters, and for the great sense of airiness and freedom of movement this brings, which is enhanced by side windows that run uninterrupted right up to the windshield. The night area is also very generously sized, featuring a spacious owner’s suite midships and a particularly roomy VIP cabin offering much more storage space and distance between the bed and the bulkhead than the market average.
In the 64 to 80-foot (19.50 to 24-meter) category, Azimut 68 Fly won the Best Layout award. Making her world debut at Cannes and designed in partnership with Alberto Mancini (exterior styling) and Achille Salvagni (interior design), the 68 Fly puts the owner’s desires front and center with three proposed layouts, the first of which has an elegant lounge at the entrance to the Main Deck, with the galley off to one side, separated by a solution that combines ribbing and plexiglass. The second version has an open-style galley for owners who prefer a less formal setting, while the last version has the galley at the entrance to the Main Deck to facilitate direct flow between interior and exterior, with the living area set apart towards the bow. The Azimut 68’s three interior layouts all have a multi-purpose area midships on the Main Deck.
In the same category, Magellano 66 won the Best Interior Design award. For owners who refuse to put any limits on their cruising, the 66 is a modern long-range yacht, 20 meters in length, with hugely comfortable interiors and a layout that ensures a high level of privacy. The entire day area is all on the same level, with no steps, for free and safe movement. And with the stairways down to the Lower Deck positioned laterally in the midship section of the yacht, the wheelhouse and galley are separated from the rest of the day area, allowing the crew to go about their business without disturbing guests. On the Lower Deck, in addition to the owner’s stateroom, there are two guest cabins and a fourth “wildcard” space, which can be used as a storeroom for provisions, a garage for sports equipment, or an additional cabin with bunk beds.
In the category spanning yachts from 98 to 164 feet long (from 30 to 60 meters), Azimut Grande Trideck won the Best Interior Design award. Azimut’s new flagship, not to mention the largest yacht ever built by the shipyard and the first three-deck model in the range, the Trideck has interiors by Achille Salvagni, who abandons the preconception of attributing specific functions to the various areas and transforms the boat into a more fluid and shapeshifting space. The interiors have been expanded in width and perfectly integrated with the exteriors, each becoming an extension of the others. Salvagni doesn’t stop at redefining the onboard environments, but enriches them with a powerful effort in terms of the decor, putting the accent on the tension in the forms and the purity of clean lines. The perceived quality of the setting as a whole is of the highest level, thanks to the skilful alternation of materials, the refinement of how they are combined, and the choice of colours and finishes.
In the same category, the Best Innovation prize was awarded to Benetti Motopanfilo 37M, the ambitious project presented at Cannes which draws inspiration from the past and projects it into the future, bringing with it an approach to life and design that is typical of a certain period, along with references to the cultural heritage of Benetti and its most iconic yachts from the 1960s. The concept developed by the Shipyard, in concert with designer Francesco Struglia for the exterior styling and the firm Lazzarini Pickering Architetti for the interiors, has its raison d’être in the past but embraces the latest stylistic, technical and technological know-how to give the yacht a fresh and modern feel. For this extraordinary project, Benetti and Loro Piana Interiors have formed an important partnership in which the Maison has fitted out both the interiors and, in part, the exteriors of the the yacht, choosing classic fabrics for summer on the water and first and foremost linen, in warm white ‘Biancore’ tones with blue and malachite accents. Connemara was chosen for the upholstery and bed covers, while Papeete, in refined Malachite, is the choice for sommiers and pillows.
Benetti Zazou, lastly, won the Best Layout award in the 164 to 270-foot superyacht category (50 to 82 meters). This 65-meter full custom yacht has sleek, flowing lines, a Carinthia blue steel hull, and an aluminium superstructure. The exterior styling is by Giorgio M. Cassetta, with interior and, in part, exterior design by Dutch firm Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design.
The yacht accommodates 12 passengers in 6 cabins and has has one of the largest Sun Decks in the category: over 20 meters long, it has a 5-meter long, 1.5 m deep infinity pool, a gym, a pantry, a head, a bar unit, a table seating 10 and a sunbathing area that can be converted into an open-air cinema. The sky lounge on the Upper Deck is perfectly integrated into the exterior spaces in the stern, while inside, on the same deck, a massage room that can be converted into a double cabin precedes the wheelhouse, with the ship office next to it and, on the port side, the captain’s cabin and a pantry. Aft on the Main Deck is an open area set aside for relaxation. In the interiors, the day area midships can be converted into a cinema and the owner’s suite also features a lounge and private balcony.
The beach area on the Lower Deck provides access to the exterior and the beach club interiors, while a lounge area with low table, sofa and armchair is joined by a closed space in which to store the water toys. The night area midships provides three double cabins and one guest cabin (can be converted into a double), the galley and accommodation for a crew of 14. A lift connects all decks from the Lower to the Upper Deck.
