BEHIND THE QUALITY

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Summary page 4 The making of a boat page 6 Stefano Righini, concept page 10 Carlo Galeazzi, interiors page 14 The Collections page 20 Working for quality page 24 Working with fibreglass

Made in Italy is excellence

page 28 The robots at Avigliana page 32 Defining the fittings page 36 Health & safety and quality certification page 40 Electrical and hydraulic plant page 44 Guarantees and customer assistance

• Introduction •

The Azimut Benetti Group occupies a leading position in the boat-building sector worldwide; its collections are able to satisfy the varying tastes and trends of very different enthusiasts of all things marine. The Group has acquired its leadership thanks to our success in overcoming many challenges, obstacles and contests, yet in every new model we maintain a common denominator, a fundamental ingredient that is apparent in all our production: a large slice of passion. Both our own and that of our employees. And it is this that has always driven us to improve our products and our industry. We believe in research and design, in the development and constant renewal of

production techniques, and in a relationship with our customers that does not end with the sale contract.For over 40 years, quality has been the company’s modus operandi. Controlled processes, controlled materials. controlled suppliers. Everything that is part of the value creation chain is constantly monitored as to level of quality. Azimut has interpreted the laws to the point of making them become concrete values, thereby creating a substantial difference between ourselves and those satisfied merely with applying them. Assuring ourselves management systems for both the environment and health and safety is an important challenge

and a difficult one to maintain. Our desire to do so, and the fact that we have gained both 14001 certification for protection of the environment and Ohsas 18001 for the creation of a uniform system for operating the group’s boatyards with regard to the health and safety of the workers, bears witness to our striving for excellence. Environment and Safety require knowledge, respect and active involvement from every one of the Group’s employees. Only in this way can a safe and clean environment be assured for ourselves and for everyone else. And this too contributes in a major way to the quality of the final product.

Paolo Vitelli, President of Azimut Benetti Group with his daughter Giovanna

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From prototype to delivery of the boat: Azimut’s collections are created through a series of no less than 20 passages, all undertaken with scrupulous care. Every action is effected in conformity with detailed procedures and concludes only after passing a stringent series of quality tests imposed by the yard, which can boast no less than three certifications: ISO 9001 for the product, ISO 14011 for the protection of the environment and OHSAS 18001 for safeguarding the health and safety of workers.

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Good ideas are qualityStefano Righini is responsible for the design and concept of Azimut boats. His work has introduced innovation throughout the world of leisure boating, and his ideas have been sources of inspiration for several yards.

How does one create a quality boat? “The design of a boat is multi-faceted affair, a complex process that requires many kinds of experience and all the requirements to be brought together in combination. There are many aspects contributing to the overall quality: ideas, technology, regulations, costs. But in order to be considered a success, a boat has to be beautiful for as long as possible, and its quality must last over the years. This is the result of the alchemy provided by a good design project”.What does a new boat start from? “I never set myself any limits; when I have an idea of forms in

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A-Stefano Righini, designer of numerous boats and innovator in yachting style.His look has been copied throughout the world, confirming the leadership of Italian design.B- Righini’s work includes a highly manual creative phase, in which the good old-fashioned pencil still has an important role to play in translating new ideas into doable forms. Space becomes a material that can be worked, and volume takes on concrete form.

relation to contents, I record it right away. Then with the yard I check that my ideas don’t create any problems in the various sectors. To take an example: I have always favoured flush-fitting windows that follow the curve of the superstructure because they give a clean form that can be seen even in a three-quarter view. With the yard, we can assure the correct curvature to obtain the right visual effect, thicknesses and weights”.Do you start with specific research or with an intuition?“I have always designed one-off boats for private clients and this is a great way to work, offering plenty of freedom, as these boats are made to measure for eccentric clients without the constraints of a more industrial production. Then I realised that designing boats for the industry is enjoyable too, where these are made to last over the years. When I first started to work with Azimut, I was given a totally free hand to invent the new models from scratch. As we moved forward, the process was one of continuous express and

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Inventing a boatThe project for a boat starts with the definition of the market and collection’s needs. It passes through the drafting of concepts, for the large part being done with Stefano Righini’s models and then goes through a series of internal offices and the hands of collaborators for the interiors, such as Carlo Galeazzi, who is responsible for much of the decor. Engineers and architects work in Azimut Benetti’s Research & Development Office, headed by Giovanni Bizzarri and in the Azimut Yachts Styling Office, directed by Federica Bertolini. In close touch with the production department, they define in detail every project, creating definitive forms for the ideas. The whole process is controlled by the Quality Office directed by Simone Virginio.

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evolution for me, and I have been able to work with the strength of imagination that leads to an entire range”.Let’s shed some light on the word ‘design’“As I pointed out at the beginning, good design affirms itself over time; the rest is just words. In my work, there’s an aesthetic element, but also an important underlying idea, a basic philosophy. In a boat, the excitement comes from the nature outside, so one must work on the relationship between inside and outside, like in a Greek temple. I have started changing the layouts, opening my boats out towards the light and sea, creating a sense of communication with the exterior. I have created new windows and passages for light. Before, one was accustomed to “go down” below decks; there were boats that were good to look at but difficult to live in. In the end, design is also a constant striving to stimulate the emotions with technology”.Which in your view are the finest innovations to be offered?“The in-hull window is one of the elements that has been most copied by other boatyards, but there are other, less visible ones.

C- The interior of a large fly bridge in a photograph that gives a good idea of Stefano Righini’s philosophy, namely that of assuring dialogue between indoors and outdoors, allowing for the passage of plenty of light and air.D- A two-dimensional drawing of the side-view of a motoryacht at a still traditional phase of a project which then evolves into a three-dimensional simulation to assess volumes and forms.

One is the stern design that gives a more sweeping look and, especially, gives an extra metre of space in the cockpit and thus more volume within. We introduced this with the Leonardo and now everyone does the same around the world. Another simple feature is the circular window around the dining table on the upper deck on large boats. No-one before us had done this in such a way that these windows should be linked up to leave the table exposed”.Is the yacht a mature object?“It might seem so, but there’s always something to discover, as in everything. For example, the arrival of the transmission pod has created a scenario for a different way of arranging interiors; new solutions can be used in the after area to gain space”.What is your relationship with the regulations?“When I wanted to put windows in the side of a boat, it was necessary to show that glass can be as impact-resistant as steel if well-glued. I knew that there are glued-in elements underwater in oil platforms. The certification bodies had to check up on all

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this but then they were convinced. Regulations can be a stimulus too, sometimes”.What work tools do you use?“I still draw with a pencil; this might be seen as “limiting” but my work is a bit like that of a writer who deals in content and the medium he uses isn’t terribly important. In the boatyard, they’re very skilled at using 3D tools, and without the new technologies it would be impossible to finish a project in just a few months while defining in such detail the perfect spaces for furniture and where to pass the cables, tubes and electrical wiring”.What relationship do you have with luxury? “My relationship with nature; the reply might seem rather banal, but it is always nature that man needs. So I consider luxury to be a beautiful, perfect organic home that makes the most of and maintains a dialogue with the landscape in which it is set. A boat is a means for enjoying nature, for dreaming; you can travel by night and at dawn find yourself in a different landscape to that of the evening before. That is luxury; the rest is a question of details”.

The definition of the internal layout involves every part of the company and is an aspect of the boat that undergoes constant evolution, as it refers both to production requirements and to the solutions invented by the designers, but also to the market’s taste, which varies and evolves constantly. There is never a pause in the search for new solutions as regards comfort and functionality, even in the most traditional boats, such as the Flybridge Collection. Alongside are the interiors of the Azimut 45, offered in two versions since the design phase. Some models can offer several variants to meet the owner’s requirements more closely.

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Quality from the projectCarlo Galeazzi is a widely-known interior designer with a flair for innovating decor and layout, leading motor-yachts towards a new style that exalts the Italian style.

Their collaboration has now lasted more than 16 years since the first boat, the AZ 46. Since then, the interiors of the Fly and S collections and the respective models of the Grande Collection have all sprung from the pencil of Carlo Galeazzi of the Galeaz-zi e Minotti Architetti Associati studio. As Carlo Galeazzi himself recalls.Azimut yachts bear his signature for the interiors and de-cor, that of Stefano Righini for the concept and exteriors. How does this partnership in design work?“A clear relationship was immediately set up with Stefano Righi-ni and the result is a coherent product: the boat is a “machine” and has to work within and have a form compatible with its

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Carlo Galeazzi is one of the most innovative architects to work in the field of leisure boating. His work has led to great changes in the styling of interiors that were still tied to layouts, colours and materials of tastes that had since changed.B- The definition of complex areas, such as the bridge, involves many parts of the yard, since recent technological and electronic innovations, such as new multi-function displays and the arrival of new servo-controls such as joysticks for Easy Docking manoeuvres, are changing the appearance in this zone too.

functions. There has to be a relationship between exterior and interior. A yacht is nowadays and extremely complex, and a number of skills are required, as well as an excellent relationship with the yard.”In what does Azimut’s strength lie? “With Azimut, one can be innovative or even impose a new st-yle and be a trendsetter in the market. Some models, indeed, represent a starting point for new developments that others ha-ve continued. With the Style office of Azimut, we enjoy a con-stant exchange of ideas: we provide our proposals for the reali-sation of interiors and decor, discuss and examine them with the yard until we find the definitive solution. Whether it is a new

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range or a new model expanding one that already exists, there is constant renewal.”Do you prefer custom designs or series, or rather custom-made series?“With the yard, the various divisions can speak the same lan-guage and the potential client is an abstract concept; we need to work hard to understand the taste of groups of customers, and mediate between what we feel and the direction the mar-ket is taking, which has to be sensed. It is highly stimulating, and we have great interest too in focusing on industrialisation and technology. If a strong relationship is not also created with the new owners, the product suffers as a result, even though in

Fluid dynamicsAn image of a simulation of a boat’s behaviour using a fluid dynamics computer program. These programs have been widely used in the aviation and car industries before arriving in the marine sector via major international regattas. The simulation of a boat’s behaviour at sea is complex as it is a matter of evaluating the interaction between two fluids that act in different ways on the hull, but it makes it possible to arrive rapidly at an idea of how a vessel reacts. This research can help improve performance, but also reduce fuel consumption by enhancing the smoothness with which a hull moves through the water; it can also improve seakeeping.

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large boats the intervention of the owner is always evident.”How important are aesthetics?“In a boat, aesthetics are also the result of a functional study: the central point is that the project must start from within. There are boats in which, for aesthetic reasons, the windows are not positioned where they actually serve any purpose, and areas where they are needed and would be useful. Sometimes, it is the technical and functional constraints that suggest the form. A successful outcome comes from the best integration of the various aspects.”What input do you receive from owners?“The skills and maturity attained today enable the potential owner to weigh carefully a wide range of elements. These are not limited to aesthetics and speed: the owner will also be looking at the safety of the boat and turns to yards able to offer this. The large yards boasting research offices can more easily develop new products with a high technological content and better design.”

C-D-E. The choice of materials with which to make the interiors is done in collaboration with the Azimut Styling Office, which can look to a large number of suppliers. For most the collections, owners can apply their own taste in a series of details, from fabrics to some layout options.

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The Azimut Collections A yacht for every owner. This is the principle that inspires the production of Azimut Yachts. Divided into three collec-tions, they share the results achieved by the R&D offices and quality of the industrial construction processes.

Founded to meet the demands of a specific target, every collection boasts strong distinctive elements. For the owner, it is thus easier and quicker to identify which boat best corresponds to his dreams among the models of the Flybridge Collection, the first to be formed and the largest, the S Collection, presented in 2003 and including the sportiest models, and Magellano Collection, with new eye-turning products. After over 40 years of history, written by Paolo Vitelli, founder and current President of the Azimut Be-netti Group, the sea and a passion for all things nautical remain at the service of owners and at the centre of Azimut’s philosophy. Those choosing Azimut have a truly vast selection to make from

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A. The Magellano project is destined to expand and become a point of reference for customers who enjoy spending long periods at sea and are sensitive to ecological issues. This is the first collection with this specific aspect as its main premise, and for this reason, the greatest care is taken in its design. The Azimut Benetti R&D offices are working on a wide range of innovations in every aspect of boat-building, from plant to propulsion, to conserve the group’s leadership in this sector too.B. With the 68S, the first example of the S Collection, Azimut has introduced major innovations in the concept of the open, creating a hybrid that combines some aspects of open motorboats and some of fly boats. With the door and canopy, an isolated space can be created which can be climate-controlled.

Azimut was the first to succeed in making hull windows, which has enabled a genuine revolution in how interiors are laid out. Having brilliantly resolved the structural problems resulting from their position in an area subject to major loads, the application of the possibilities has led to a new way of designing the owners’ cabins, which – at last – can offer both light and a view. The first boat to be built with this innovation was the Azimut 68S. Since then, hull windows have become a must in the nautical sector.

Cutting-edge design

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a world offering a boat for every age, every taste, every way of regarding life aboard and going to sea.The Flybridge, a renewed traditionThis was the yard’s first collection, but is also the first in terms of numbers, with a range of 12 models from 40 to 100 feet; indeed, it is the largest range of fly motorboats in the world and unmista-kable for the elliptical windows in the superstructure, windows in the hull and trapezium-shaped bow allowing a larger cabin behind – for the owner or VIP – and a broader sun deck. The collection may be considered the showcase of the innovations the yard has gradually introduced into the market. Often the first to do so.In over 40 years, boats have been designed that have enjoyed a far longer production life, such has been their success, and these have included models that have marked milestones, with innova-tive layouts offering comfort and space that would once have been unthinkable, new and increasingly refined materials for the

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decor, and technological solutions to improve comfort on board.The fly bridge and aft cockpit have become increasingly spacious, with transformable tables and sofas. Within, the fly range offers particularly interesting solutions with regard to exploiting the avai-lable space. The galley, often positioned in the space between two bridges, becomes a separate space on the main deck as from the 53, and in the 64 is hidden from view by a leather-lined top.In the saloon, the fittings are laid out in such a way as not to block a view outwards, and one of the sofas is always available in a transformable version to offer an extra bed. The owner’s suite, often full-beam, with a bed sometimes set at 45°, also includes a little sea-level saloon from the 53 upwards. In the guests’ cabins, the twin beds can be transformed into doubles. Wardrobes hidden behind mirrors or integrated into the decor of the cabins and stowage beneath the beds offer considerable space for personal effects. Close attention is paid to details, such as the interiors of the cupboards in cedar-wood, the natural leather used to cover table tops, movable surfaces and writing desks. The careful study of light aboard assures the greatest comfort in the various situations and living spaces. Soft for moments of relaxation in the cabins, heads and saloon, spots and dedicated lighting for tables and working areas. All the models, from the smallest to the largest, can be fitted with the Easy Docking system for close-quarter ma-

noeuvres and Easy Handling, a patented helming system, that using an electronic system connects rudders and engines.

Azimut S, sport and comfortHearing and seeing the sea from below decks and creating a constant contact with it, flooding every corner of the boat with light; these the aims set out in 2003 for the creation of the 68S, the first of the S Collection, which today counts five models from 40 to 72 feet, and offering speeds that can reach up to 40 knots. Light, space, technology and elegance are the salient features that immediately strike whoever has the privilege to go aboard. The sports line also offers a new way of feeling the exterior, because the sea seems to come right into the boat, thanks to the large windows in the hull, a new major feature introduced with the Azimut 68S, and made possible thanks to the brilliance of Stefa-no Righini, show has boldly exploited the progress made in the working of this material. And with which the yard has become expert. If there are no more frontiers between exterior and interior, because one can feel oneself to be inside whilst outside and vice versa, the S Collection also reveals a new way of enjoying the interior spaces. The saloon opens out completely on to the cockpit, thanks to a sliding door, offering an extraordinary terrace overlo-oking the sea. Below deck, one can have breakfast in the owner’s

suite in close contact with the sea, and work in peace and quiet in the little dinette. The cabin is no longer a space set aside solely for the night. The layout of spaces enters a new era. The level of the deck is reserved for the saloon and helm, while the galley is located in the intermediate space between the two decks or, in the larger models, below deck, but it is never an enclosed or cupboard-like space (but it is never an enclosed or cupboard-like space with respect to the owner’s expectations), and it is always luminous thanks to the light that enters from above. As with the Flybridge Collection, the interiors and the decor make use of a light/dark contrast and have been designed by the Studio Gale-azzi. Over time, and as is natural, the S Collection has evolved: the larger models, starting with the 72 S, are equipped with a sportfly with helming station to increase the space one can enjoy outdoors.

Magellano, the new waveMagellano, for when the journey becomes more important than the destination. Now a Collection of two models (the 50’ and the 74’ but the series will soon expand), this line represents a totally new venture for the Azimut fleet, designed to satisfy a new demand that has recently emerged on the market: the pleasure of cruising under power on a vessel offering a considerable range and in the

The use of the latest 3D modelling programs has made it possible for designers to work with a complete perception of the hull’s volume, which in the former two-dimensional models was harder to achieve. The result of this new way of designing has in turn led to a close integration between interiors, deck and hull, making best use of the overall space available. And forms have become softer because it is easier to control the surfaces and their points of intersection.

3D design

C.The flybridge motoryachts have built the success of Azimut and still constitute the most complete collection available on the market. The most recent Azimut 40 and Azimut 45 projects have defined new standards for the level of comfort they offer.

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greatest of comfort, without making speed the primary concern but instead aiming to limit fuel consumption.For the hull of this semi-displacement yacht with vertical bow, Azimut sought the collaboration of Bill Dixon from the UK, the interiors layout is made by Cor D. Rover. The furnishings and decor of Magellano 50 were by the yard’s own Styling Office.Among the outstanding features are the low-emission engines, high-yield propellers, anti-UV screening windows to limit heat dispersal, the Green teak and others naturals materials. The innovative profile of the Dual-Mode hull by Dixon manages to provide the best combination of advantages of a displacement hull – a soft ride over waves, low consumption, manoeuvrability – with those typical of a planing hull – speed, in the first place. The hull has been designed to rise on the place over a certain number of engine revolutions but without penalising performan-ce at lower speeds, when travelling at displacement speeds. At lower speed, the waterline is important, and in this case goes right from the very vertical bow to below the transom board aft. At high speed, a reduced wetted surface is fundamental, as deter-mined by the hull profile. The boat offers a spacious fly bridge,

and welcoming, elegant interiors, characterised by a fine, pano-ramic window in the saloon, a 2 or 3 cabin version in the 50’ model, 3 cabins and 3 heads in the 74’ with choice of gallery aft or amidships. The decor is marked by a contemporary style that fully respect the marine vocation of the boat. The aesthetic solu-tions are aimed at functionality. The use of traditional materials such as steel and wood is accompanied by unusual thicknesses and forms alongside technical, new-generation ones, such as the fibreglass of the control panel, made using linen fibre. Great care has been paid to details that are important during long passages, such as the solid wood fiddles for the furniture, the wide compa-nionways and protective rails. The Magellano project integrates the Azimut philosophy of initiatives aimed at safeguarding the environment and boasts RINA “Green Plus”. Magellano, a modern range that assures safety and reliability for those who choose to go to sea as one used to in the past.

The structures of the hull are calculated after careful simulation of the loads to which they will be subjected. Thanks to years of experience, the programs used now offer absolute precision. During this phase, account is taken of the impacts with the water in various conditions and also of the different international regulations. Structure and thickness of the laminated layers of the hull are subject to rules defining fundamental characteristics to assure the required level of safety. Azimut conforms to and exceeds the most stringent of regulations.

The structures

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D-E. Azimut yachts are designed to make use of all the space possible outdoors too, creating different relaxation areas. The forward area with sunba-thing elements can be very valuable at times, such as in port, when one seeks a little privacy as far as possible from the quayside. The rigid hard top and almost total covering of the cockpit meet an increasing demand for protection from the sun.

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Pursuing excellenceThe strength of a major boatyard lies in its industrial organisation, how major objectives and quality are attained while controlling the entire construction process. Dott. Paolo Casani, CEO of Azimut Yachts, explains.

What are the special features of the Avigliana site?“The Avigliana site, where Azimut boats up to a length of 72 foot, from the Flybridge, S and Magellano Collections are produced, lies at the foot of the Alps, and is a single establishment occupying an area of 120,000 square metres. This enables us to control all the special phases of the construction process. With its highly organised spaces and production possibilities in Brazil, Turkey. Azimut applies a philosophy we call ‘made in Azimut’. External suppliers must apply a rigid protocol to match our quality level”.What are the advantages of this way of building almost everything in house?“In the first place, we attain a greater quality control for each component, based also on the pride of the 1100 direct employees, who are proud to work for Azimut. We are able to do more

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Dott. Paolo Casani and the launch of Azimut 45 in Venice, in the final and satisfying phase for all those who worked on its design and construction. A boat created at a time when the market is seeking new, long-lasting and worthy products. At its launch, the Azimut 45 exceeded its competitors in terms of equipment and volumes, establishing a new point of reference.B. A view of the boat finishing line in the factory at Avigliana. One of the most modern production units in the world, with unique quality control and production.

The laying down of the various layers of glass fiber and other materials, such as Kevlar and carbon fiber, is done with dry materials. These form the laminate used to make the hull or deck of a boat in moulds with a vacuum infusion process. The pieces of fabric are pre-cut and ready to lay down with little extra needed from the operators; in the most difficult areas, marked by curves and corners, the fabric may be held in place with a glue. In collaboration with its suppliers, Azimut has designed fabrics with special characteristics in the disposition of the weaves.

Lamination

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to assure the respect and protection of the environment and safety at work, which are all fundamental aspects for our yard.”We are used to considering these aspects as being pure costs that are hard to transfer to the client.“The care taken over safety in the workplace, together with the focus on the quality of the production process results, in Azimut, in products of excellent quality and safety. Likewise, the care taken over the single worker translates into respect for the customer, and sensitivity for environmental themes takes material form in sustainable research and experimentation. Azimut Magellano is a ‘green’ boat in which we have been able to use-compatible materials, seeking innovation too in the liveaboard facilities. Safety & Environment, as much as quality if not more, must have neither cost nor price. They are basic values which if deeply rooted in a company constitute no cost; indeed, they are a value that is transformed and integrated into the product realized”.What other advantages are there of a highly-evolved industrial process in the leisure boating sector?“Decades of experience have shown Azimut how to obtain

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the maximum level of quality in each of the many vessels that annually leave the Avigliana site. The design and industrialisation have the task of ensuring the operator makes no mistakes. The principle underlying the greatest quality is that of dividing the production chain into defined production phases, within which the operations that need to be undertaken by workers can be standardised and made repetitive.”In the nautical sector, we are accustomed to attributing great value to craftsmanship, creating an antithesis with the industrial values acquired instead by other means of transports and more generally with the objects in our lives.“We are convinced that in order to offer a good guarantee of quality, we need to make the production process as standardised as possible. In industry, repetitiveness is synonymous with quality in the same way as more highly-trained and specialised operators make fewer errors and so assure a greater precision of operation. In our plants, in order to assure precision, the contribution made by the infusion process used for every laminate and that of the three robots on the production line of each Azimut vessel, are fundamental. The repetitiveness of the production process concerns

the structural parts and does not influence the possibility for personalisation guaranteed by Azimut for the client: the engineering of the process nevertheless leaves room for the uniqueness of the product. Azimut boats result from the combination between the best of craftsmanship and the best of industrial processes, exploiting the benefits of both worlds. In a luxury product, we want to bring together some industrialised features that guarantee quality and at the same time, some craftsmanship aspects. Every boat is finished with due care and precision, adapted to each single requirement. Every boat made by Azimut is unique, as is the client who buys it.”How is product quality controlled?“At the end of each of these production phases, there is a gate in which what has been done is checked rigorously, using a check list predefined by the quality control programme. If a defect is found, the item cannot pass on to the successive production phase. This control system is one of the main points of the ISO 9001 requirements. Obviously, at the end of the production process, there is a final careful and meticulous inspection. And finally, at Savona, the sea trial.”

C.Two historic models of Azimut’s production, bearing witness to the continuous striving for progress in all the functions on board. To the left, an AZ 36 and to the right, an AZ 60 Solar. In this generation already, the horizontal surfaces of the flybridge have been developed to a maximum extent, with the double function of assuring shade for the cockpit and more space in the sun.

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Infusion technology is a relatively recent invention. Initially used for making items of particular significance, such as racing boats, the bodywork for Formula One cars or aircraft parts, the process has now spread in the cruising sector for its clear advantages over the traditional technique of working by hand. The piece made has better mechanical characteristics and the process itself is less polluting.

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The fiberglass partsMost leisure boats are made of fiberglass. The latest development is infusion, a method that has significantly improved quality and revolutionised the way this material is produced.

Fiberglass, with which most leisure boats are made, is a composite material: this means that it is the result of the union of two fundamental elements: a uniform matrix and a fiber reinforcement. This construction system was adopted very early on in man’s history: witness, for example, the clay and straw bricks used in Mesopotamia. Fiberglass is made of a uniform matrix of resin and a reinforcing glass fiber which can be in various forms of fabric.A matrix without reinforcing fiber is not a construction material, as it is the fibers that withstand the loads and reduce the fragility of the matrix. Likewise, the fibers without matrix are of no use, because it is the matrix that holds the fibers together and transfers the loads to them, creating also protection from external agents (water, UV rays, etc.). The composite material made in this way has mechanical characteristics that are greater than the resin

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A. A part of the containers for the resins used for the construction.The fabrics used for the lamination are in some cases made to Azimut specifications, as in the case of a special quadriaxial fabric (meaning that the fibers are laid in four different axes), which can be used in the infusion process.B. The machine that mixes the resin with the catalyst before infusion. The bag that is applied to the mould to create the vacuum serving to suck in the resin.There are different procedures for this phase of the infusion, for which Azimut has perfected its own specific system in collaboration with Diab.

The detachment of the hull from the mould is an important moment in the construction of a boat, which finally starts to acquire a recognisable form, rather than being a mere project or mass of materials. After the completion of the structures, the hull is filled with the plant and interiors. The deck is worked on separately and only in the final phases of the construction process are the two parts joined and sealed. The factory in Avigliana is one of the most closely controlled from the environmental point of view, with a recycling of the air to reduce the level of toxic elements. The temperature too is maintained at close to 20°C to assure constancy in the resin hardening process, thanks to purification of the air via a rotary concentrator which eliminates impurities.

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and/or fibers that go to make it up. In general, the mechanical characteristics increase with the increase in percentage of the fibers in the laminate, reaching an “optimal point” beyond which there is insufficient matrix to link the fibers. When we speak of resin or matrix, we always mean a blend of various additives introduced in given percentages and in a given sequence. On top of the mechanical characteristics, what are important are the hardening times, which are controlled via the right percentages of catalyst and inhibitor. The glass fibers (E or S), carbon fiber (HS or HM) and aramidic fibers (Kevlar 29 or 49) are used in various forms in the nautical industry. The simplest of these is “rowing”, comprising a certain number of fibers laid in parallel. The “mat”, instead, comprises glass fibers cut at about every 4 centimetres and made to drizzle down onto a band with binder. These mats are not the same as “woven” and “non-woven” (sewn). The first are held together by the design of the fabric between warp and woof (0°-90°); the latter, more common, are held together by a mass of stitching that holds the filaments tight.

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Azimut has perfected some special fabrics, such as quadriaxial ones, which greatly improve curing times and final results. Only using the infusion process described below is it possible to use such heavy fabrics.The contemporary world has developed this construction system and there are some fine examples in which resin and fiber have been chosen to assure low construction weights: one such is the combination of epossidic resin and carbon fiber.Monolithic composites were developed for sandwich construction, namely the realisation of a laminate in which two outer “skins” enclose a neutral element, called filling.To make the fiberglass hull or other elements, such as the deck or some internal features, the materials forming the composite are prepared in a mould with a lamination operation. Once the polymerisation process is activated (that is, the transformation of the resin matrix from liquid to solid form through a chemical process of combination of elements), the object becomes rigid and takes on its final form. For many years, this process was done by hand, laying down various layers of material, but this was a slow and costly process. A major step forward of recent

years has been the introduction of the infusion process, which has marked a sharp improvement, both from the point of view of product quality (mechanical resistance, absence of trapped air) and of environmental impact, because the dispersal of toxic substances is reduced. The resin is sucked in through the creation of a vacuum (vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding), against a rigid mould and beneath a flexible and impermeable sack that serves as counter-mould and helps maintain a constant 0.9 bar of pressure. The laminate is made in a single session with optimal and uniform relationships between resin and fiber, and with no air bubbles and offering reduced weight.For its boats, Azimut uses infusion technology, initially launched in collaboration with DIAB, based on the use of the sandwich filler as the means to distribute the resin. This is achieved by creating special surface grooves over the expanded fillers, carefully positioned to facilitate the distribution of the resin and consequent elimination of “throwaway” distribution networks and the need to use “peel ply” and “release film”, as in the traditional system fed by tubes connected to the sack. Today, Azimut has broadened and engineered the process to the point of being able to produce

any type of laminate, thickness and material.The first stage of the process is the application of the gelcoat robotically or by hand, followed by the lamination of the skin-coat, the outer layer applied to highlight the surface’s finish. The successive stage consists in positioning the structural reinforcement materials.With the fabrics prepared, the resin feeding lines are installed, followed by the channels connected to the vacuum pump. Once this phase has been completed, the “vacuum sack” is sealed and positioned and the air within the laminate eliminated. The resin valve is then opened and the infusion process begins. The resin runs along the grooves and is absorbed by the fabrics over the whole piece, thus achieving the infusion required. For the construction of its hulls, Azimut uses vinyl ester resin, which offers significantly better characteristics than the more common polyester. The end of the operation is made to coincide with the start of the polymerisation process of the resin (it becomes gelatinous), and the process ends with the complete polymerisation of the composite.

Mounting the engines

C. The Azimut yard has exceeded the most severe regulations and environmental certification, and this means not only guaranteed quality for the product, which is laminated at controlled temperature and humidity to obtain the best from the resins used, but also the safeguarding of the workers’ health. The smell of styrene typical of boatyards working with fiberglass has practically vanished thanks to the abundant recycling and filtering of the air and to the use of the infusion process.

Once the engines and all the associated plant have been installed, and before the boat is completed, a complete test is run. The engines are run, since it would be complicated to replace any parts at a later stage it were to prove necessary. However, during the design process, the need to remove the engines is foreseen and as few parts as possible will need to be disassembled.

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Prefinished fittings. Some of the furniture fittings are made, assembled and in part tested on the ground before being fitted to the boat. The possibility of working around the element before it is slotted into the hull enables a far more precise control and a great saving of time. Once aboard, all that is needed is to fix and connect the unit to the structure and to the other fittings to finish the furnishing. This is one of the phases in which the intense engineering, or optimisation of the design with an eye to simplicity and reliability of construction, offers clear benefits.

Robots

Craftsmanship and industrial processes are combined in the construction of a modern yacht. Three robots are used to effect precision operations, increase quality and help in cutting environmental and noise pollution.

Robot is a word borrowed from Russian: it is a contraction of the word ‘robotnik’, meaning worker. The modern robot has become an irreplaceable help in many industrial processes. The benefits lie not only in the precision and possibility of repeating actions that are always identical. There are also some processes that would be at high risk for workers, that need to be effected in an environment full of toxic elements and which can in this way be avoided. Three robots are used on the Avigliana site.In the production process of a boat, the first robot to join the fray is the digitally-controlled one for cutting glass fiber fabric. The operation is done in such a way as to optimise the use of

A. A moment in the process of combining hull and deck, an important phase in the processing of the elements that are assembled separately.B. Two views of the robot working on the final finish of articles, cutting edges and making holes for plant, portholes and other elements. The machine works on both decks and hulls.

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the fibers that are cut so as to reduce waste as much as possible. The pieces obtained are grouped into kits, codified and linked to the piece and its design. This facilitates the reading of the designs by the operators creating the fiberglass and so reduces the risk of error and enables them to concentrate on assuring excellent quality. Many of our glass fibers are made specifically for Azimut with the double aim of improving the mechanical characteristics and reducing processing times.The second, important robot works in the lamination and infusion department in the yard, and is dedicated to the application of the gelcoat, which consists of the painted surface of a yacht. The head of this robot is fitted to a trolley that moves on the overhead travelling crane. Usually, the processes for this robot

are planned for the night shift, when there are fewer other operations under way. Azimut was the first Italian yard to make use of this type of robot.The third robot is used for trimming and making holes, and it operates in a dedicated sealed space controlled by an operator and computer. Pieces that have just been moulded are sent to this unit, and thanks to some input points supplied by the operator, the robot is able to recognised the piece in space, thanks to a special software developed to Azimut specifications. It is thus able to undertake the required operations, including trimming and cutting out holes. The piece emerging from this process can be perfectly matched with the rest of the hull’s components, thereby eliminating any potential problems of vibration or noise.

C. Another view of the head of the cutter and drill robot; on the right, one can see the complete plant with the control cabin.Alongside, a view of the head of the robot that applies gelcoat to the moulds, an operation that has greatly improved the surface finish of the boats and the workplace environment. For this latter reason, the process is often done at night when there are few workers in the yard.

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The deckThe assembly of the deck undergoes a similar process to that of the hull, with any fittings, protective elements, electronics and aerials almost all being installed before coupling with the hull. In this phase, the boat starts to take on its final form and is recognisable in all its features.

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Within the boatThe quality of the interiors is the result of considerable research work into new solutions and materials. With the aim of always offering the best comfort and solutions attuned to the latest trends.

While the engineers of the Azimut Yachts site at Avigliana work on infusion, safety, hulls and plant, the architects seek out aesthetic, function and rational solutions. For the production of the interiors, there is a precise series of phases controlled by the yard’s Style Office, directed by Federica Bertolini, which works mainly with the studio of architect Carlo Galeazzi – who has been designing interiors and decors for years – and with other internationally-acclaimed studios such as, for example, Cor D Rover, responsible for the Magellano 50, which knows the technology, production processes and evolution of Azimut inside out. Because in Azimut, the choice of professionals with whom to work follows the same philosophy as applied to the

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A-B. One of the directions taken by Azimut for its interiors has been of assuring light in both the day areas and cabins. This has been a major revolution for all of the leisure sector, accustomed to interiors – and cabins above all – that are dark and cramped. Cabins used merely to be places in which to sleep, but now they are in many cases also places in which to enjoy the day.

After fitting into the hull and testing on the ground of engines and generators, all of the rest of elements needed for the boat’s functioning are added: interiors, hydraulic and electrical plant, finishes. There are several kilometres of electrical cable aboard a boat. Azimut Yachts has defined new standards in this sector too, with a system of high-quality cables. The furniture and floors are protected by covers as work progresses to protect them in later phases of construction. The workers operate in teams with different specialisations.

Assembly of fittings and plant

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construction: attention and continuity in the name of excellence. Creative workThe key word in the Style office’s work is the detail in design, made possible by 3D software, in which the yard has invested many resources. The design process is perhaps less romantic than that used in a 2D process, but faster and without doubt leads to more precise results than before. The project for a new boat is translated into a preliminary design, visualised using a three-dimensional rendering that makes it possible to maintain a detailed control of the whole volume. The starting point for those responsible for the interiors, rendering is a work tool that step by step makes it possible to see the boat as it will appear, effect any required modification and arrive at the finished boat without surprises. The yacht ready for the sea will be in every way the same as the final rendering; this may be surprising for those not in the industry, but is the stuff of everyday business within Azimut.

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Whether a new range or a new model expanding an existing series, the indications supplied to the Studio Galeazzi lead to proposals for the realisation of the interiors and decors, verifying the geometric constraints associated with the technology used. Day after day, the boat takes shape “on paper” in a continuous exchange of information travelling in both directions with the Azimut Style Office. Each analysis starts with the spaces below deck, and advances subsequently with the main deck, whose geometries are defined by deck, deckhouse and superstructure.Together with the reliability afforded by a modern industrial process assuring construction quality, Azimut offers its owners the possibility of choosing numerous alternatives in wood, fabrics, panelling, padding, skylights, marble or technical tops for the galleys for each line of product. All the materials are carefully selected from the best producers in the world, with the kitchens of the larger boats being designed by Boffi and fitted with Miele appliances.The analysis of the evolution of owners’ taste has made it possible to produce boats with innovative aesthetic choices

while maintaining a stylistic continuity. The polished cherry interiors have given way, first to a matt finish, and then to oak (offered in the two decapé and honey versions), which has marked a shift in nautical decor. Zebrano has replaced Wengé while maintaining a contrast between light and dark tones, but introducing a new veneer in line with current trends. Ceiling lights and panels with Led lighting have replaced halogen spots for a soft lighting without sharp shadows and offering low consumption as a plus.The numerous aspects involved in the interiors are worked on simultaneously and without pause by the various divisions of Azimut: the Style Office for the new materials and finishes of the decor, and the chemistry laboratory testing their suitability in a marine environment. This structure has made it possible to introduce eco-compatible materials, as in the case of the control panels made of linen fibre, or leathers treated without chrome, and first quality woods, with oak, walnut and green teak, with the double result of having better materials that last longer and respect the environment.

Hull and deck are prepared separately and the operation to bring them together is a major step and one of the last before the final finishing and delivery of the yacht. To install the interiors, for the most part pre-mounted on masks simulating the hull, it is necessary to lower them from above. Over the years, Azimut has perfected this operation to guarantee maximum structural strength. After the final test, some parts, such as the rollbar of the fly are dismantled to enable transportation by road.

The joint between hull and deck

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C. The painting and cutting phases of the interiors are done by digitally controlled machines in the Avigliana factory. The yard is able to produce every part of the interiors, from the upholstery to the finish of the furniture.

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A. The Avigliana yard undertakes all the construction of the fibreglass part of Azimut yachts up to 72 feet. The photograph shows the cleaning and polishing of the mould before applying the gelcoat, and finishing off the hole in a hull in which a porthole will be fitted.

The finishOnce the boat has been ‘closed’, it is completed with the last touches to the most delicate fittings, the mounting or inclusion of free-standing elements, which are making an increased appearance even in smaller boats for their versatility and elegance. Up to this point, the focus has been on the intrinsic quality of the product and its major features, but attention now shifts to a phase that will be more visible to the final client who will be living aboard.

Certification and safety systems

Azimut does not merely mean luxury yachts: it is a company based on traditional values. The whole company operates in line with our ethical code, based on few but solid values.

The Azimut Benetti Group applies a safety policy in conformity with the wishes of the president, Paolo Vitelli. As a document distributed to the whole company states: “[the company] fixes health and safety in the workplace as an essential value and primary asset to be safeguarded and protected”. Whence a commitment to adopt methods safeguarding both the workforce and the environment. A yard that builds boats is a “factory” but it also contains many of the risks associated with manual craftsmanship. In Azimut Yachts, the number of direct employees, a total of more than 1000, is very high compared to other companies in the sector, which make greater use of external suppliers. With a system that undergoes constant development, Azimut goes further than many legal provisions, where required, and also applies self-imposed regulations and processes.

Azimut Benetti is the first nautical group in the world to conform to international OHSAS 18001 certification (the acronym stands for Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series), which covers the handling and safeguarding of the health and safety of workers. The main thrust of this certification is the expression of the wish to prevent accidents and to spread awareness and knowledge of safety amongst all the workforce. Training courses, Rescue and Firefighting teams, continuous training, safe access in all the open-air areas. This standard is compatible with ISO 9001 for the product and ISO 14001 for the protection of the environment, and both are respected in our production chain. This system involves the whole company, and leads all our skilled staff to a general commitment with regard to results and quality.The ISO 9001 regulations certify the company’s product, defining the requisites for the implementation of a system of quality management for the better use of company processes, to improve effectiveness and efficiency in the realisation of the product and to assure/increase customer satisfaction. These are the most well-known regulations which consumers most often come across, and as they know, they are not only an indicator of quality but also have a material influence on post-

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B. The application of the gelcoat to the mould is an operation requiring great care as any tiny defect in the surface will be immediately visible. Azimut takes particular care with this phase, both in preparing the mould, which must be absolutely perfect in terms of polishing and cleaning, and in the selection of materials. The application can be done by hand or using one of the available robots. Following application of the gelcoat, the mould is prepared for the application of the fibreglass laminate and successive infusion of resin.

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production, such as the possibility of selling and, in some cases, insuring the item.ISO 14001 certification is the result of the company’s voluntary choice with regard to the central site at Avigliana to implement its own system of environmental management demonstrating Azimut’s serious intent to limit the environmental impact of its activities and systematically seek out improvements in a coherent, effective and, above all, sustainable manner. One of the yard’s tasks, for example, is the separation of all its special refuse, both to facilitate recycling and processing and to reduce the risk of accidents (inflammability, spills, etc.). Likewise, it pays close attention to reducing the emissions of styrene into the atmosphere to a minimum via a process of infusion and

the realisation of the rotary concentrator, a highly expensive air purification and filtration system for spaces in which lamination is effected. Azimut’s conformity to these certifications reveals how much the company has invested and is active today in materially applying the principles of its philosophy: attention to the quality of the product, environment and safety and health of its workforce. Moreover, these principles are intrinsically linked: for it is hard for an industry that is careful of the environment and its employees not to produce high-quality products! And of course, it is common knowledge that a happy employee works better. With its plans for health supervision, events encouraging the involvement of employees, training courses and so on, Azimut invests and has always invested in its workforce.

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C. A complete hull in terms of structure ready to receive the technical systems and interiors. In the other photograph, a yacht undergoing final tests before leaving the yard for transportation and consignment. Every boat leaves Avigliana in perfect working order and with every function tested in a pool.

Watertight tests One of the tests to which the boat is submitted is watertightness even in conditions that are unusual for a boat at sea. To test the watertightness of the seals around the windows, and of the deck-hull seals, water is fired under pressure. At times, discovering a leak, however small, is a real problem. The careful inspections are undertaken on every boat that is finished in conformity with a precise safety protocol.

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A. The engine room in a 50-foot model, with a clear view of the sphere of the gyroscopic stabilisation system which is extremely effective both at anchor and when under way. One of the requirements of technicians working in an engine room is that maintenance operations be possible without having to dismantle too many parts.B. The electrical plant is made using high-quality parts, with areas potentially requiring maintenance easily visible.C. A detail of a distributor pipe in the hydraulic system. Protection from vibration is a must to ensure long life.

InnovationThe Research & Development Office is in large part shared with Benetti and effects not only research with regard to specific models in production, but also evaluates and tests solutions for the future. One of these is this carbon-fibre propeller which has been successfully tested. The design and production have been extremely complex, requiring not only the use of vacuum infusion processes, but also of high-temperature curing in an autoclave. One can easily understand that such a propeller saves weight and could in some cases also save money, once the design and production details have been ironed out.

the client in the engine roomA series of operations forming part of a broader project increasing customer satisfaction, and also involving concessionaires in a striving for quality.

The development of a product is not only a question of style, of having an appealing line in comfortable interiors. A boat has an often hidden world, a lymphatic system of plant and engines that are often the very basis on which the happiness of a holiday is built. One has to be able to sail without problems; the boat has to last. It might seem pointless writing this, but the great work that has made the visible part innovative and complete has run in parallel with the part that makes the vessel move and come to life. In recent years, the producers of plant and engines have taken giant steps both in terms of comfort and of performance. A leading boatyard must set itself the goal of making available to its clients all the available products, and of examining and testing new breakthroughs personally. Knowing how to offer innovation has always been

• New plant •

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one of the strong points of Azimut Yachts. The desire to supply increasingly user-friendly boats, and the need to respond to some markets made up of owners, who often dedicated themselves to maintaining their yachts personally, has been one of the elements that has modified our approach with regard to plant and the engine room. For example, for American owners living in homes with their own personal mooring, as occurs in Florida along the Keys, it is important being able to depend on total reliability of the plant, which is submitted to far greater wear than in the Mediterranean. Equally important is being able to tackle personally a whole range of minor maintenance operations. An owner in Fort Lauderdale might use his boat to go to the restaurant, or to spend a weekend sailing to the Bahamas. Adapting plant to these requirements has meant making it very tidy and recognisable. A simplicity that is also transformed into a symptom of reliability. Not all the markets have this requirement, but responding to this need has certainly been one of the points that has raised

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the level of quality of Azimut yachts. After going down this new road to redefine its various systems, Azimut implemented the capillary bundling of all the plant every 20 centimetres, as dictated by the most severe construction standards, with the goal of preventing any problems deriving from sailing in wearing conditions and from vibration. Moreover, a detailed labelling system has been introduced making it possible to identify all the plant on board according to function, a system inherited from military and mercantile shipbuilding. Azimut has worked on accessibility to the plant and in particular on all systems requiring frequent or constant maintenance, such as air-conditioning filters, seacocks and electrical protection. And with the same aim of withstanding the stresses imposed by use, the greatest attention to detail is taken, using Loctite products on all the metal carpentry on board, or designing all the tubes passing through bulkheads or which could rub with isolating material with a view to what Americans call “chafe protection”. All metal components installed in the bilges and technical areas are treated with a protective spray to protect

from corrosion. Azimut has also worked on the electrical plant, improving materials; all the cables below the waterline are tinned: in other words, the copper strands are plated with tin. Another innovation is accessibility to the boat’s documentation: a USB port with resident memory has been added to the switchboard and can be linked to any PC to download all the technical documentation and layout of the electrical systems concerning that model. In this way, a technician has no need to find paper documents that are frequently lost. There is a control and management system for the plant, from which all the boat’s data can be accessed. For reasons of reliability as stated above, the switchboards themselves are traditional ones, but Azimut is experimenting with new control systems to attain a high level of reliability that has not yet been attained by current production. Azimut has also worked a great deal on the entertainment systems, collaborating with leading brands and favouring Bose systems, which remain at the cutting edge of technology.

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The K model The R&D office can make use of a boat, called the K model, on which to test its new technical solutions which will then be transferred to production models. Examples of systems tested include electronics, propulsion systems and engines. The latest Easy Docking systems employed for mooring integrate a series of functions to control the engines and bow thruster easily through the use of a joystick. Under way, instead, there is the Easy Handling system.

D. The materials quality control laboratory at Azimut has several instruments available for inspecting the products used; these can simulate conditions of use, with temperature changes and traction, and also undertake surveys at a molecular level.Above, one of the hangars dedicated to lamination. The complex air system that recycles and purifies the air within can clearly be seen. The space is also maintained at a constant temperature so as not to alter the polymerisation processes.

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A. The areas of innovation include the control of sailing and boat management functions. The possibility of easy close-quarter manoeuvring for even the largest boast is one of the goals in terms of quality but also as regards the spread and broadening of the market.B. The assembly and assistance centre at Savona, where boats are prepared for consignment. Finally under way with a model from the S Collection.

Final preparation Boats remain in the Avigliana pool for all the final checks and finishing of details. Set afloat, they are used as though at sea for a few hours, all watertight seals are checked as are the various systems, even though, as in the case of the engines, these were given a prior inspection when first mounted.

Azimut Yachts means great services

Azimut Yachts attends to the boat throughout its life, from the moment it leaves the yard, via a widespread assistance network of official concessionaires who are all trained to a high level.

Choosing Azimut Yachts does not mean just high-quality industrial products, but also being able to make use of a flexible structure that follows the client in his purchase and use of the boat. An Azimut customer has at his disposal a widespread sales and service network, comprising concessionaires distributed throughout the world, and the two direct assistance centres of Viareggio and Savona.The staff of the Azimut concessionaires undergo continuous refresher courses offering specific training covering both the part built by Azimut and most of the accessories and plant on board produced by third parties, in order to be able to effect authorised repairs without losing the benefits of the dedicated guarantees. This makes it possible to provide a fast and efficient technical assistance and repair service. A technological tool

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based on a platform portal called Sestante was set up in 2004 to be able to control and operate all the technical assistance, guarantees and distribution of spare parts for Azimut Yachts.Accessed through the Internet, Sestante provides constant communication in real time between the yard and customer assistance service around the world, so as to handle all the service and technical assistance services, guaranteeing a reply within 24 hours.In addition to the interactive section linking the yard and assistance network, the Sestance platform also contains the complete database of all the technical information, electrical diagrams, operative instructions and updates for all the models, and these can be accessed without limits.The coverage on the ground is assured by the official network of Azimut Yachts dealers, which can guarantee an extremely high level of technical assistance, supported by the sending of technicians as required.Azimut Yachts foresees a programmed maintenance plan recommended by the yard, enabling the concessionaire to

• warranties• 45

assure the perfect operation of every vessel.The need to respond to the requirements of very different markets, some of which particularly strict and restrictive as the United States, constantly contributes to improve the overall quality of the product, which from the design stage is planned to satisfy the requisites of severe regulations and standards.All boats and ships built by Azimut Yachts are covered by the ordinary guarantee as required and governed by the country in which they are sold; for the European market the Leisure Sailor’s Guarantee covers defects in manufacture emerging within 24 months of delivery of a boat to a customer. For boats destined for professional use and charter, there is a Professional Guarantee that covers the same defects for 12 months.Engines and inverters are guaranteed by the makers and their guarantee is activated separately. In addition, Azimut Yachts offers an additional guarantee

covering the boat for structural defects and osmosis for 5 years from delivery to the customer, on condition that all the Programmed Maintenance Servicing planned for the boat be effected correctly and within the established timeframe.Any repairs under guarantee must be undertaken exclusively by the Azimut Assistance Centres around the world.The yard’s commitment in offering additional guarantees stresses the confidence it has as regards the quality and reliability of its boats.The option of extending the guarantee to 36 months is also available to customers via the Master Peace packet, which also includes the planned maintenance of the hull annually. The Master Peace guarantee extension can be acquired from the moment a new Azimut Yachts is ordered until the expiry of the ordinary guarantee, and can be transferred to new owners for its entire duration.

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B. The assembly and assistance centre at Savona, where boats are prepared for consignment. Finally under way with a model from the S Collection.

Delivery The boats are prepared for the voyage from Avigliana to Savona, for most of those that are to sail in the Mediterranean, or towards other destinations if transportation by land is foreseen. For the voyage itself, a series of protective precautions are taken for both the interiors and the exteriors. Moreover, from the design stage, the various dimensions are carefully planned with a view to road transportation, and some parts can be dismantled for the trip.

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