It's always interesting to see what the Italians are up to, and no better place to do that than the annual Genoa Boat Show, which I have just returned from. There weren't a lot of new models--not surprising give the state of the economy. But one builder bucking that trend was Azimut, which introduced eight new models--quite an accomplishment. Eventually all will make their way to the United States, but probably not until next year's fall shows. They span the builder's entire range, starting with a new entry-level 38, then going to a 40, 53, 72, 78, 88, and culimnating with the 100 Leonardo. Here's the 38

the 40S

 the 53

the 72S

the 88

and the 100

Azimut does like colored hulls, don't they? All these are obviously beautiful boats, and each has a lot of new and noteworthy features. But at the end of the day they look pretty much like--well, Azimuts. But that's only seven boats; as I said, there are eight...

And the eighth offering definitely does not bear any family resemblence. Check it out 

Yes, it's a rendering, but I was on the actual boat and can confirm that it looks just like this, right down to the copper-colored hull. Dubbed the Magellano 74, she is Azimut's first foray into the realm of long-range cruisers--what the Italians call navettas. The hullform is technically a semi-displacement, although the builder says it's unlike any such design we've seen before. Note the very un-Italian plumb bow, designed to stretch the waterline length for maximum displacement-speed efficiency. Claimed range is 1,100 nautical miles at 12 knots, although the boat can make up to 24 knots, albeit at much reduced efficiency. Stability is ensured by the use of two large Seakeeper gyros, one fore and the other aft--the fist such installation. The interior plan, below

features three cabins plus crew quarters and is very open, and the boat is designed to be operated by a couple. 

I took a number of photos of the boat's interior in Genoa, which I'll post here shortly. The Magellano probably won't come to the United States until the fall of 2010.