Why the Azimut Grande 32M Might Be the Smartest 105-Footer on the Water
Photo Credit Azimut
Picture this: you step aboard at dawn in Portofino, coffee in hand, and the carbon-fiber superstructure catches the first light like polished silver. By noon you are anchored off Corsica, 80 nautical miles away, having burned 30 percent less fuel than the yacht in the next slip. The Azimut Grande 32M does not announce itself with noise or spectacle. It earns attention by doing the hard things quietly — delivering superyacht space, Italian design, and genuine offshore range in a package that five crew can run without drama.
Azimut debuted the Grande 32M at the 2018 Cannes Yachting Festival, and five hulls sold before the first one touched saltwater. That early demand was not hype. It was experienced owners recognizing that a 105-footer built almost entirely with a carbon-fiber superstructure changes the math on what this size class can deliver.
Who This Yacht Is For
The Grande 32M sits in a sweet spot for owners stepping up from the 70-to-85-foot range who want superyacht living without crossing into the operational complexity of 40-meter-plus territory. At 105 feet with a 23-foot-11-inch beam, it offers the volume of yachts ten feet longer while keeping the handling characteristics that let an owner stay involved at the helm.
Families will find five staterooms that accommodate ten guests without anyone feeling like they drew the short straw. Business owners who entertain clients on the water get a flybridge, beach club, and bow lounge that function as three separate venues — no one competes for the same patch of shade at 2 PM. And for owners who want their yacht working when they are not aboard, the layout translates directly to charter appeal in the Med or Caribbean.
Design and Layout
Stefano Righini drew the exterior lines — sporty, low-slung, unmistakably Italian. But the real story is what happens below those lines. Interior designer Achille Salvagni created spaces where curved walls replace hard corners, custom furniture replaces catalog pieces, and floor-to-ceiling windows pull the ocean into every room.
The full-beam master suite lives on the main deck, spanning nearly 24 feet across with panoramic glazing and a private outdoor terrace that deploys electrically. It is 340-plus square feet of owner space that feels more like a waterfront apartment than a boat cabin. Walk-in wardrobes, twin-sink ensuite, and direct side-deck access round out a layout designed for people who actually live aboard for weeks at a time.
Below decks, two VIP cabins, a double, and a twin each have their own ensuite bathrooms. Crew quarters forward include a captain's cabin, two twin cabins, a mess area, and laundry — enough infrastructure to keep operations smooth on extended cruises without the crew tripping over guests.
The flybridge runs roughly 500 square feet under a retractable hardtop, with a bar, dining for eight, sunbeds, jacuzzi, and grill. At the stern, the beach club folds open to water level and can be enclosed with curtains to create a shaded lounge. Up at the bow, a second jacuzzi and sunpad area give early risers a private perch. Three outdoor zones, three different moods, zero conflict.
Performance and Handling
Two MTU 16V 2000 M86 engines deliver 2,200 horsepower each, pushing the Grande 32M to a top speed of 27 knots and a comfortable cruise of 21 knots. At an economic pace of 12 knots, range stretches past 1,000 nautical miles on 4,227 gallons of fuel — enough to run Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas and back several times without topping off.
The real engineering advantage is the D2P hull — Azimut's Displacement-to-Planing design by Pierluigi Ausonio. It hits peak efficiency at two distinct speed bands: 11 to 12 knots for long-range cruising and 20-plus knots when you want to cover ground. A wavepiercer bow extends the effective waterline, smoothing out head seas and reducing slamming. Combined with the carbon-fiber superstructure — which cuts weight without sacrificing structural rigidity — the result is a yacht that burns 20 to 30 percent less fuel than comparable all-fiberglass builds in the same size class.
Captains consistently note the responsive handling and composed ride, even in moderate chop. Stabilizers work both underway and at anchor, which means dinner at a remote anchorage stays on the plates instead of on the floor.
A Weekend That Sells Itself
A 55-year-old private equity partner had been running a 78-foot Sunseeker for three seasons and loved the speed but wanted more space for his family of five. He toured four yachts in the 100-to-110-foot range over six weeks. The Grande 32M was not his first choice — he assumed Italian meant high maintenance. Then his captain ran the fuel numbers: 30 percent lower consumption than the closest competitor, plus the carbon-fiber superstructure meant less topside weight and better stability in the Gulf Stream. They did a shakedown run from Miami to Bimini on a Friday afternoon, hosted twelve guests for a Saturday lunch on the flybridge, and had the kids kayaking off the beach club by 3 PM. He signed the purchase agreement the following Tuesday. Lesson: the yacht that makes the first family weekend effortless is the one that closes the deal.
Ownership Experience
A yacht of this caliber requires crew, and the Grande 32M is designed around a team of five. That is lean for 105 feet, and it is possible because Azimut engineered the systems for accessibility — centralized controls, logical service points, and a raised pilothouse that gives the captain excellent visibility without isolating them from the rest of the operation.
Budgeting roughly $900,000 to $1.1 million per year for a yacht in this class buys you predictable weekends, a maintained asset, and the freedom to say yes when the weather window opens. That figure covers crew salaries, insurance, dockage, fuel, and scheduled maintenance. Owners who charter the Grande 32M during weeks they are not using it can offset a meaningful portion of those costs — the model is highly sought after in the luxury charter market, particularly in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
Pre-owned Grande 32M yachts from 2018 to 2020 currently trade in the $7.8 to $9 million range, while newer 2024 builds list around $10.2 to $10.6 million. The model holds value well, thanks to the combination of Azimut's build quality, the carbon-fiber construction, and steady charter demand.
The Bottom Line
The Azimut Grande 32M does not try to be the biggest or the flashiest yacht at the dock. It aims to be the most intelligent — lighter construction, better fuel economy, three-zone outdoor living, and a full-beam master suite that rivals anything ten feet longer. For owners who want superyacht capability without superyacht complexity, it deserves a serious look and a sea trial.
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