Open yachts make up the fastest-growing segment of the industry. These sleek, high-speed composite motor cruisers – sized from 50 to well over 100 feet – first gained a foothold in Europe and rapidly became an acquired taste among North Americans. The Azimut 86S model, from the Italian builder’s Viareggio yard, typifies the class, but also sets precedents in design and engineering that other builders will eye as benchmarks for achievement.

"When the boat is traveling fast, the view from in here is just incredible," says Errico Riggio, Azimut’s technical development manager. "At first it’s even a little scary because you don’t really notice the windows are there. You get the impression of being right in that water."

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Topside, the hardtop rolls back with the touch of a button, stowing itself in the roof of the aft cockpit and opening the salon to blue skies. Sliding back the salon’s triple glass doors to the aft deck creates nearly 600 square feet of uninterrupted space that blends indoor and ooutdoor living. This openness is perfectly matched by Carlo Galeazzi’s luxurious summer-feeling interior, which features dark wengé floors, amaranth leathers and light cotton fabrics edged in a burgundy that matches the distinctive hull color of this yacht series.

This styling carries through to the full-beam, ensuite owner’s stateroom belowdecks with walk-in dressing room, as well as the VIP suite and the two ensuite guest cabins. Crew quarters and a fully equipped galley are located aft and accessed from a stairwell in the salon.

The 86S also offers substance with its style. Displacing a relatively light 55 tons, the composite carbon fiber and Kevlar hull is powered by twin 2,000-hp MTU 16V 2000 M91 diesels. These can be paired to either Hamilton waterjets or optional Arneson drives with surface-piercing props. Unique anti-vibration tubular couplings further improve passenger comfort.Both drive systems offer top speeds around 45 knots. With the Arneson drives the yacht makes a fantastic rooster tail to demonstrate her swiftness. The jets give a more sophisticated performance with better acceleration and less vibration. But the real benefit of the jets can be seen in the joystick control system, which couples sophisticated styling with pinpoint piloting – although you do pay for the privilege. The 86S is also equipped with stern sensors and bow and stern thrusters.

On the water the 86S drives through the waves as if they didn’t exist, though at higher speeds her powerful chines make themselves known. The 86S turns like a sports boat; directional stability is excellent even with the jet version. Facing rough seas during her delivery from Viareggio to Genoa, the 88-foot yacht averaged a staggering 40 knots in 10-foot swells.

"At times I have to say I was holding my breath," says Riggio. "We hit three-meter swells – a lot of water. I was really pleased with the performance, especially as it was the first time we had done anything like that in such bad conditions."

Contact Azimut Yachts at 39 0584 3801555. www.azimutyachts.net