At over 57ft, the Azimut Seadeck 6, the first in a new motoryacht series, that was recently joined by the 71ft 2in Seadeck 7. The team behind the new series includes Names Studio for the naval architecture, Alberto Mancini for the exterior lines, and architects Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez for interiors.
“When we started work on the Seadeck concept, we asked ourselves what the needs of today’s more environmentally-conscious yachtsmen were,” says Federico Lantero, Head of Product Design at Azimut Yachts. “We identified three key points: reduced emissions, sustainable materials and the chance to enjoy the sea in a very direct and authentic way.”
The new approach to yachting and living at sea that Azimut identified called for a yacht that was new even below the waterline; that is where Names Studio came into play.
“We have been collaborating with the Azimut-Benetti Group for years, but this is the first time we were entrusted with the creation of an entirely new hull,” says Francesco Rogantin of Names.
“The input from the shipyard was very clear: design the most efficient hull possible, not so much in terms of pure speed but in terms of cruising speed, with the objective of minimising impact on the marine environment and lowering operational costs through efficient fuel consumption.”
Weight considerations were key and the choice of pod propulsion, with its well-known fuel efficiency and lowered noise and vibration levels, was almost a given. The new hull was purpose-designed to accommodate three Volvo Penta D6-IPS650 pods, a first for Azimut.
With a length of 17.5m and a beam of 5.05m, the Seadeck 6 has a wide stern and streamlined bow that allows it to begin planning at lower speeds while ensuring a smooth ride.
“We used computational fluid dynamics simulations to calculate performance potential: 33 knots at top speed and 24 knots at cruising speed,” Rogantin says. “Our predictions were confirmed and even bettered during the first sea trials.”
Even construction materials helped to meet Azimut’s ‘green’ goals. The Seadeck 6 has a hull built of PVC, while its superstructure (part of the deck and bulkheads) is constructed in recycled PET, with elements such as the superstructure in sturdy and weight-saving carbon fibre.
Above the waterline, the Seadeck 6 was designed by Alberto Mancini. The taut, clean lines he has created for his latest collaboration with Azimut are the starting point for a redefinition of the relationship between the boat and the natural environment around it.
The Seadeck 6 is about being together at sea with a more conscious connection to nature. Spaces are open, movement is fluid, and the combination of technology and design is seamless. With exterior and interior areas that are in constant communication, barriers are imperceptible, allowing an immersive experience in nature that gently carries you away from the cares of everyday life.
Gentle is the keyword that defines the Azimut Seadeck series. The hull design is gentle on the environment, the exterior lines are harmonious and easy on the eyes, while the interiors are soothing for the body and soul.
To create the Seadeck 6 interiors, Azimut called in Milan-based Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez, a world-renowned architectural studio famous for creating spas and wellness retreats using a ‘conscious design’ approach.
Their concept of life at sea led to the removal of unnecessary elements, to bring out the essence of the natural or recycled materials used aboard, and to create calm by using a delicate, light and bright colour palette. Their Seadeck interiors redefine the concept of luxury at sea, bringing a feeling of wellness to the forefront through a living experience that’s as profound as it is essential.
The eco-conscious approach is evident as soon as you board the boat and feel cork, not teak, decking underfoot.
The benefits that cork brings create a multiple-win situation. It’s a natural material that’s easier to harvest and regenerates at a much faster rate than teak so it’s better for the environment. It also has better heat-insulation properties that make life on board more comfortable and has excellent grip, so enhances safety.
But it’s the comfort-conscious aft-deck setup that really wins you over. A large sunpad overlooks a convertible beach platform that reveals a wide staircase when it’s lowered down into the water.
This area’s ‘fun island’ setup incorporates features from the Azimut-Benetti Group’s Oasis line of superyachts with their opening side platforms. Just deploy the Seadeck’s side platforms and you’re lounging in the middle of a princely terrace with wide open spaces and the easiest possible access to the sea.
The sunpad flips up to reveal storage space for toys and its sliding backrest does double duty to become a dining banquette. The aft cockpit is sheltered by an automatic awning, while ‘barely-there’ glass side panels keep the area dry but leave the visuals wide open.
Also wide open is access to the saloon. The galley with countertops in Lapitec – a durable sintered (high-temperature heated) stone material that is heat- and scratch-resistant – is separated from the aft cockpit by a drop-down window so that cooking, serving and savouring can all happen at the same time and in the same place.
Saloon windows are so large you can hardly tell the difference between indoors and out. Adding to an easy-going beach house vibe is a large skylight that lets sunshine filter through a slated shade.
Materials are luxurious but, in keeping with the Seadeck’s calling, they are also ecologically produced. Carpeting, for example, is in Econyl, a high-quality fibre made from regenerated nylon fabrics and fishing nets.
The Seadeck 6 is designed to accommodate up to six guests in three cabins on the lower deck. The VIP cabin is fully fore at the bow with a centrally placed bed, and it shares a bathroom with a twin cabin.
The luxurious full-beam owners’ cabin is midships, with the bed starboard and a couch on the port side, while a crew cabin is accessed from a hatch in the aft cockpit. A washer-dryer in the guest cabin lobby is a nice extra, especially for those with family cruising in mind.
Created for owners who enjoy helming as much as they like living in close contact with the sea, the Seadeck 6 offers fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and ease of use thanks to Volvo Penta IPS propulsion and joystick steering. Comfort aboard is ensured by a Seakeeper 9 gyroscopic stabiliser and there are solar panels mounted on the boat’s roof that can produce up to 1.4kW of energy.
This extra solar energy can supplement the boat’s 42kW lithium battery pack and help to run the boat’s Mild Hybrid Zero Emission hotel mode, where the batteries provide power for up to four hours during the day or eight hours at night when the boat is at anchor with the generators switched off. Another eco-friendly feature is water warmed up by recovered engine heat.
Giovanna Vitelli, Chair of Azimut-Benetti Group, says: “The Seadeck series represents a new chapter in our history. It is the synthesis of the group’s know-how and state-of-the-art technology to lower the environmental impact of our yachts.
“Sustainability is a word that is sometimes abused, but it’s a concept we have been consciously working on for more than two decades – not just in the last couple of years since the expression has become fashionable.”
From the looks of things, the Azimut-Benetti Group is going well beyond the usual eco-friendly lip service and putting their money where their mouth is. If you’re looking for a sweet and gentle spot for enjoying time on the water, the Seadeck 6 is not just a pretty package backed by an astute marketing campaign, but the real deal.
azimutbenetti.com
marineitalia.asia
This article was first seen on YachtStyle.co
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