Azimut S6
Azimut S6 Coupe
Distinctive Italian style in a fabulous day yacht
By Andy Adams
There is an unmistakable look to the Azimut S6 Coupe that will stand out in almost any marina. The S6 is part of the Italian builder’s sport express line with the S6, S7, S8 and Grande S10 models. This line emphasizes style and performance with features like carbon fiber in the structure for lighter weight and high strength plus, the unusual feature of triple Volvo-Penta IPS 700 power on the S6. More on the performance later, but this boat loves to run.
The dramatic exterior design is by Stefano Righini, with the brand’s iconic diamond-shaped deckhouse windows giving the boat an unmistakably appealing profile. The interiors are the work of Francesco Guida.
The aft sun pad is big enough for three and is positioned to still be part of the social cockpit space. Notice the massive stainless-steel hinge that’s also a drink holder!
Outdoor living was plainly high on the design priorities list and Stefano Righini started with a vast expanse of mostly flat decking and big high railings to make the three exterior living spaces more accessible. Boarding through the starboard hull side door, there is teak decking all around which looks very attractive and is so nice to walk on in the sun. The aft seating is on the main deck level laid out in an L-shape with a cocktail/dining table.
This is a great outdoor patio with a sun bed for two or three over the dinghy garage. That can accommodate up to a 3.3-meter dinghy. Azimut used black panels on the cabin overhang to reduce glare. A sunshade system further protects this area. The aft seating is very spacious and there’s storage under the seats and even under the sun lounge where you can stow things like fenders, deck covers and more. The refreshment stand has a Vitrifrigo ice maker and electric grill. There’s also an Isotherm drink cooler drawer beside the glass door to the salon. There is a port side joystick docking control and equipment like lighting and so on.
The cockpit benefits from dark ceiling panels that reduce glare and all the upholstery on our test boat was an outdoor fabric for comfort in the sun
In the bow
In the second major outdoor living area, Azimut has given the S6 Coupe a big fore deck sun lounge plus a huge couch ahead of the windshield, accessed from a side-to-side walkthrough. This would make a very nice place to sit in the evenings after dinner. Big rails and lifelines are appreciated, but a cabin side handrail would be useful in rough water. Side decks are about 9 inches wide and make walking forward easier. There is also a manual sunshade on poles.
Cockpit and swim platform
Everyone will love the generous swim platform that lifts and lowers hydraulically and the passerelle goes out too; a very European feature.
Main deck salon
The big glass doors open up the main deck to the interior salon and the lid of the port side credenza lifts to reveal all the switches to turn the yacht on. There’s a convenient locker right there as well. Opposite is the u-shaped couch and dining area with hi/lo table on a substantial stanchion. The seat height gives a comfortable view out while dining or relaxing.
The salon has curtains all the way around except for the windshield area and there are opening window sections by the helm. The test boat was decorated with an elegant light grey bleached oak floor and a satin ebony on other wood, contrasting with the light pearl grey leather upholstery.
This view of the salon looking aft from the companionway to the open glass door to the cockpit shows the layout with galley to port and the dining area by the bulkhead.
Opposite the dining area is the galley and it’s equipped with Miele convection microwave and oven, induction cook top and there is an overhead console with storage for a big bowl! That’s perfect for serving and there are two Vitrifrigo drawer refrigerators plus a small freezer under the credenza. Built into the dashboard area is a cabinet with glasses storage including stemware and three large spaces for bottles or other objects.
Opposite are the helm seats and in the base are two drawers that are fitted for the full set of China. Convenient and very organized!
Back in the credenza is the audiovisual equipment with a large Samsung TV on a lift for viewing from the dining area.
Overhead, the sunroof is “Oh my God” big and really opens up the boat to the outdoors. The very large expanse of mirrored finish side glass is very cool looking, adds privacy and helps reflect the sun too. The big windshield sections bring in lots of light to the companionway with the forward VIP Stateroom dead ahead down a few steps.
VIP Stateroom
The design gives a spacious and very bright master cabin with fl at fl oor, en suite head and dressers port and starboard including a make-up table. Very comfortable!
This is a mostly rectangular cabin with a regular queen berth. There’s a deck hatch as well as generous sections of hull side glass with opening portholes on port and starboard giving the boat a nice open feel. You can stand up and walk around without encountering any steps. There is also quite a bit of closet space here. Azimut did a clever thing and put the crew cabin in the point of the bow by moving the rest of the cabins back slightly, facilitating this regular cabin shape for the stateroom. The crew cabin has its own separate head and it’s oriented sideways making the most of the shape of the bow.
The forward stateroom also has access to the day head that is equipped with a Tecma toilet, private glass door shower stall and bowl sink in a vanity.
Guest Cabin
To starboard of the companionway aft of the day head is the Guest Cabin that has standing height, includes a hanging locker, two single berths and an opening porthole. A TV on an adjustable mount will provide entertainment.
Master Stateroom
The surprising Master Stateroom is midships with an angled queen berth by a huge section of hull side glazing. It feels very spacious, has lots of flat floor and features an en suite head with shower that has a seat, Tecma toilet, medicine chests behind a two-section mirror and an opening porthole. Dressers on both sides included a mirrored make-up table on our test boat. There’s more storage under the mattress. A mirrored bulkhead reflects the six-section side window from the berth. Venetian blinds give privacy and indirect lighting throughout the boat should make it very elegant at night. The master stateroom also has an audio system with Samsung TV.
Helm and performance
As you would expect with the Azimut S6, the glass helm is both modern and elegant with excellent outward vision for relaxed long-distance cruising. The test boat had a radar system and also satellite TV.
The Azimut S6 was designed to accent the yachting lifestyle in the Mediterranean with the emphasis on the outdoors in a design that brings the outside in. Ocean views are all around you all the time.
Passengers can relax and enjoy the ride from the salon or the cockpit seating, and an owner could too, if they have crew to handle the boat, but that would be giving up too much of the fun. The twin leather helm seats look like they belong in an exotic sports car. They adjust and have flip up bolsters and footrests. Azimut placed the wheel on the centre line with the companion seat on the starboard side.
The view out is impressive. There are two enormous windshield wipers and twin Raymarine 16-inch screens plus the Volvo engine information on a separate centre screen making it easy to operate the boat. The steering wheel tilts for comfort and the joystick for docking is near the centreline with a nearly unobstructed view all around. For more challenging docking with this big boat, there’s a second joystick control in the cockpit.
We mentioned earlier that Azimut has endowed the S6 with triple Volvo-Penta IPS 700 diesels. These compact and powerful units allow more usable interior space while delivering impressive performance.
The S6 is a performance yacht and it certainly moves along, cruising at 27.9 knots at 2500 RPM which was 88% of engine load. The trim tabs are interceptor types and seem to be effective, but it’s hard to tell, the boat runs so easily! The steering is light and precise with great engine response from the triple Volvo IPS drives. I found myself driving 32.6 knots without even realizing it out in Lake Ontario. Although it was a bit overcast, we had a warm summer day and driving with the huge sunroof fully open and the salon door open made this sixty-foot yacht feel like a sport runabout.
The joystick docking system also works well and the test boat also had a bow thruster just in case you had to dock in a real blow. Another great feature is that the S6 had a Seakeeper gyro built in. To test it out, we held the boat in a beam sea and then turned it off to see the difference. It was quite significant!
An owner could set up the Azimut S6 a crewed yacht, but it was so easy to handle and so responsive to run that you would hate to miss the experience!
Specifications
Engines: Triple Volvo-Penta D8-IPS 700 drives, D8 diesel engines, 550 mHp, in-line 6-cylinder, 7.7-liter, common-rail diesel with a twin-entry turbo, and supercharger, pod drives and counter-rotating prop sets.
RPM SPEED in MPH
600 6.8
1,000 10.24
1,500 13.6
1,900 20.7
2,100 24.6
2,400 27.8
2,500 32.1
2,700 36.0
2,850 38.0
3,000 40.3
Length overall (incl. pulpit) 18 m (59’ 1”)
Beam max 4,75 m (15’ 7’’)
Displacement (at full load) 29,5 t (65.036 lb)
Keel Deadrise 15.5° at transom 21.2 midship
Head compartments 2 + 1 crew
Fuel capacity 2600 l (686 US Gal)
Water capacity 590 l (155 US Gal)
Price: See dealer for information
Test boat supplied by: Pride Marine Kingston, Ontario, www.pridemarine.com
