Azimut’s Fly range, which spans from 50 to 78 feet, has long been the go-to style for yacht owners who are particular about sleek Italian aesthetics but want plenty of onboard space. Its new Fly 72 fits both of those requirements, combining a quality build with the style and panache Azimut owners have come to expect.
As I boarded the boat at the Miami show, the 72 was immediately recognizable for its Alberto Mancini-penned exterior. Mancini, a longtime Azimut collaborator, imbued this vessel with lines that are at once low-profile and slick, but also masculine, thanks to a lightly squared off bow, reverse shearline, and a steeply raked windshield, punctuated with a dark visor. It is dramatically different than the last generation Fly 72, showing Azimut’s ability to dramatically refresh its line without losing the essential DNA.
Mancini’s counterpart on the 72 is the Turin-based interior designer Fabio Fantolino, who has inherited the Fly interiors away from noted architect Achille Salvagni. What Fantolino created in the yacht’s salon feels very much like an apartment in Rome, both elegant and functional. Details like leather satchel straps on the sofa set the boat apart, but in a functional way. The cushions slide to make the seating larger or more intimate. A portside galley amidships probably doesn’t have the food stowage you’d want for longer trips, but its central location makes it the hub of a chic onboard cocktail party.
One of my favorite features of this yacht’s design was a detail on the outer edge of the galley bar where lacquered, aquamarine slats call to mind the louvers common on La Dolce Vita–era runabouts. They share the same veneer as the alfresco dining table supports in the cockpit. That material, in fact, shows up across the boat, helping Fantolino create a vibe that is equal parts fun and sumptuous.
As one might expect for a yacht with Fly in its name, the 72’s flybridge is a major focal point. Though its primary use is for entertaining, an upper helm there offers a chance for the captain to enjoy fresh breezes as well as excellent lines of sight. The flybridge stretches aft to cover the entire cockpit, with a rear glass bulwark that makes the deck feel even more spacious than it is.
The U-shaped dining settee with a teak table to port is positioned opposite an amply sized wetbar, while other lounge seating options are both forward and aft. The hardtop overhead has glass sections to let in sunlight as well as electrically actuated shades for when the rays becomes too strong.
A plush flybridge might be something you’ve come to expect from Azimut, but a pleasant surprise on these boats is the improved work space. Historically, Azimut has not been known for functional details, but the 72 has a third steering station with joystick controls in the cockpit for easier docking, as well as a work area at the bow for crew members working the anchor. That foredeck, by the way, has a large social area with lounges and sunbeds.
Under the cockpit, the twin 1,400 hp MAN V12s were housed in an engine room that offered good access to all work points. Reported speed numbers are 31 knots at the top end, with a 26-knot cruise. Range at 26 knots is 310 nautical miles, enough to make it from New York City to Nantucket, or Miami to Nassau without refueling.
