Azimut Fly 78: Spacious Flybridge with Impressive Performance

The Azimut Fly 78 occupies a position in the flybridge class that is difficult to fill with any other model: large enough for ambitious blue-water cruising with crew and guests, yet compact enough to be handled by an experienced owner-operator team. It combines the distinctive design of the Fly series with a sense of space that is rarely executed so consistently in this segment.

By Ernst Nassl, COO at Yachtwerk – Authorised Azimut Dealer

Azimut Fly 78: Positioning within the Flybridge range

The Fly range from Azimut Yachts spans a broad spectrum – from the more accessible entry-level segment through to the premium upper tier, where the Azimut Fly 78 resides. Sitting between the Azimut Fly 72 and the Azimut Fly 82, it occupies a clearly defined role: a model designed with an uncompromising focus on maximising living space on board, without sacrificing manoeuvrability.

What sets the Azimut Fly 78 apart from its smaller siblings is the step into an altogether different category of use. At this size, we are talking about yachts that offer realistic options for long-term charter operation, professional crew management, or multi-week family voyages. This fundamentally changes the demands placed on the fit-out, accommodation and technical infrastructure.

Azimut Yachts was founded in Avigliana and is today one of Italy’s most renowned shipbuilding groups. The entire Fly range follows a design philosophy that marries Italian spatial sensibility with marine engineering functionality. The Azimut Fly 78 is the most consistent expression of this philosophy within the mid-size segment of the range.

How does the Azimut Fly 78 differ from the Fly 72?

The step from the Fly 72 to the Azimut Fly 78 is about more than sheer length. The gain in flybridge space is tangible, the saloon dimensions grow noticeably, and the cabin configurations allow greater flexibility across a range of usage scenarios. For those who regularly plan with multiple cabins for family or guests, the Azimut Fly 78 offers considerably more room to work with.

At the same time, the Fly 78 remains a model that can be managed without a professional crew – an important consideration for owners who wish to helm their own yacht. Azimut places great emphasis throughout the entire range on manageable handling characteristics, even at this size. That said, solid seamanship experience is a prerequisite.

The expansive flybridge: outdoor living across multiple levels

The most defining feature of the Azimut Fly 78 is its flybridge. At this size, the upper level is no longer simply a helm station with a lounge area – it becomes a fully fledged outdoor saloon. Dining table, lounge seating, sun pads and helm position can all be arranged so that multiple groups find space simultaneously without getting in each other’s way.

The expansive flybridge of the Fly 78 is a central purchasing argument. Particularly for use in the Mediterranean, where dining under the open sky and long afternoons at anchor are everyday occurrences, this space is practically relevant on a daily basis. Azimut has oriented the Fly range towards this lifestyle from the outset, and the Azimut Fly 78 is where this concept is realised most fully.

Access to the flybridge is via a wide, well-secured stairway – not a narrow companionway, but a considered transition between levels. This may sound like a minor detail, yet in day-to-day use it has a perceptible impact on comfort, particularly when older guests or children are on board.

Cockpit and aft platform of the Fly 78

Beneath the flybridge, the cockpit of the Azimut Fly 78 also offers considerable space. The aft platform is dimensioned so that water sports equipment, a tender and bathing activity can all operate side by side. The transition from cockpit to water is designed to be low and easy – a point that becomes directly relevant for families with children or when snorkelling and diving.

The cockpit connects seamlessly to the main saloon. This relationship between interior and exterior is a hallmark of the entire Fly series. On the Azimut Fly 78, this transition is even more fluid than on the smaller models in the range, simply by virtue of the sheer scale of the space.

Design and interior of the Fly 78

The interior of the Azimut Fly 78 follows the yard’s design approach, which favours bright, generous spaces with natural materials. The main saloon is exceptionally open for a vessel of this size, with generous glazing that draws natural light through to the interior cabin areas.

The furnishings are configurable to a considerable degree. Azimut offers several interior lines for the Fly 78, combining different materials, wood finishes and colour schemes. Buyers of a yacht in this class expect precisely that: not an off-the-shelf solution, but an interior that reflects their own aesthetic sensibilities.

The cabin layout of the Azimut Fly 78 is designed for a use pattern in which the boundaries between owner and guest areas are clearly defined. The owner’s accommodation sits traditionally below the saloon and offers the greatest degree of privacy on board. Crew cabins are spatially separate – an aspect that matters when operating the vessel professionally.

Galley, technical systems and infrastructure

The galley of the Azimut Fly 78 is designed for serious on-board operations. Ample worktop space, professional-grade equipment and a sensible spatial connection to the saloon are standard at this level. Those planning to have a professional chef on board will find the necessary foundation here.

The technical infrastructure – generators, cooling systems, air conditioning, water supply – is designed for continuous operation. The Azimut Fly 78 is not a weekend yacht; it is a vessel intended to complete multi-week voyages without external support. Fuel capacity, range and the specification of the engine room all reflect this.

Performance and propulsion

The Azimut Fly 78 is neither a pure performance boat nor a slow trawler-style yacht. The Fly range is engineered around a sensible compromise between cruising speed, range and fuel efficiency. In practice, this means solid cruising speeds that allow genuine distances to be covered in a single day without disproportionate fuel consumption.

The propulsion configuration of the Azimut Fly 78 relies on proven marine diesels in a power bracket suited to the overall displacement and operational profile of the model. Details of current engine options and configurations are available directly via the Azimut Fly 78 model page on yacht-werk.de.

Azimut collaborates closely with the design studio that has worked with the yard for many years when developing its hulls. The result on the Azimut Fly 78 is a hull that planes efficiently in calm conditions whilst offering reassuring reserves in a seaway. This balance is important for the typical operating environments of the Mediterranean and Adriatic.

Behaviour in a seaway and stabilisation

In the size class of the Azimut Fly 78, stabilisation systems become a worthwhile option. Gyroscopic stabilisers or fin stabilisers significantly reduce rolling behaviour at anchor – a comfort benefit that is most noticeable during nights at exposed anchorages.

Azimut offers various stabilisation options, the availability of which depends on the specific model. For the Azimut Fly 78, it is advisable to resolve this question early in the ordering process, since factory integration is considerably simpler than a retrospective retrofit.

Which cruising grounds suit the Azimut 78?

The Azimut Fly 78 is first and foremost a Mediterranean yacht. The Adriatic, the western Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Tyrrhenian Sea are its natural operating grounds. In these waters, one benefits from the combination of speed, range and the onboard space required for multi-week voyages without being tied to a fixed home port.

Yachtwerk maintains its own base at the Marina D-Marin Mandalina in Šibenik, Croatia. This location is strategically well-placed for owners who wish to base their Azimut Fly 78 in the Adriatic. From Šibenik, both the Dalmatian islands and the Montenegrin and Greek coastlines are within realistic day-sailing range.

Marina Mandalina is one of the best-equipped marinas on the Dalmatian coast and offers suitable berths and technical service capacity for yachts of the Azimut Fly 78’s size class. For owners wishing to winter their yacht in Croatia, this is a significant practical advantage.

Is the Fly 78 suitable for offshore passages beyond the Mediterranean?

The Azimut Fly 78 is not an ocean-going vessel in the sense of the Magellano range, which is explicitly designed for passagemaking and trawler-style comfort. Nevertheless, the model is not fundamentally unsuited to well-prepared Atlantic passages or voyages to the Canary Islands – provided weather windows are chosen carefully and the technical preparation is thorough.

Those intending to spend extended periods on long ocean passages should take a closer look at the Azimut Magellano 25M, which was conceived specifically for that purpose. For everyone else – and that is the vast majority of buyers in this class – the Azimut Fly 78 is the more compelling choice.

Purchase, financing and delivery

Purchasing an Azimut Fly 78 through Yachtwerk typically begins with a personal consultation. Our showroom is located at Motorworld Grünwald near Munich – a location that was not chosen by chance. The clientele interested in a yacht of this calibre are accustomed to experiencing premium products in an appropriate setting.

At the Yachtwerk showroom at Motorworld Munich, we are able to present configuration models, demonstrate interior samples and advise on the basis of real-world experience – not catalogue descriptions. Current pricing for the Azimut Fly 78 and available specification options are communicated exclusively in direct conversation, as list prices at this level rarely tell the full story.

Financing arrangements for an Azimut Fly 78 are complex and depend on tax, legal and personal factors. Yachtwerk works with experienced financing partners who specialise in boat and vessel finance. Further details can be found on our Services page.

How does delivery and registration work?

A new yacht is typically collected directly from the yard in Avigliana or from one of Azimut’s delivery centres. Yachtwerk organises the delivery to the buyer’s chosen destination – whether that is a home berth in northern Germany, a marina in Tuscany or Marina Mandalina in Šibenik. This process includes flag registration, technical surveys and a full owner handover and briefing.

Registering an Azimut Fly 78 for operation within European waters requires compliance with the EU Recreational Craft Directive. As an authorised dealer, we manage this process in its entirety. Buyers who wish to operate their yacht under a foreign flag will receive qualified initial advice from us on the commonly used flag states and their respective frameworks.

Comparison with other Azimut ranges

The Azimut Fly 78 shares its platform family with the other models in the Fly range, yet differs clearly from Azimut’s other lines. The Seadeck range – represented by models such as the Azimut Seadeck 9 – pursues a fundamentally different concept: more open, lower profile, with a hybrid-capable powertrain option and a stronger emphasis on exterior space at main deck level.

The Grande range, which includes models such as the Azimut Grande Trideck, operates in a larger size and price category. Those seeking maximum interior volume, three full decks and superyacht infrastructure will find a better fit there. The Azimut Fly 78, by contrast, remains in a class that does not require a full-time crew contract or superyacht-grade marina infrastructure.

The S range – exemplified by the Azimut S8 – stands for sporting performance with a low profile. Those who prioritise speed and sportiness over living space will find their yacht there. The Azimut Fly 78 makes a different promise: life on board, not merely passage-making.

S series, Atlantis, Magellano – which range suits whom?

The Atlantis range is the sport coupé segment of the Azimut portfolio: sleeker, lower, with less exterior deck space but a pronounced sporting character. It is aimed at owners who favour weekend cruising and have less need for extended time living on board.

The Magellano range, finally, is the counterpoint to the Fly: deliberately slower, optimised for range and fuel efficiency, with a focus on the comfort demanded by long ocean crossings. The Azimut Fly 78 sits precisely in between – and for many owners cruising the Mediterranean, that makes it the most sensible choice of all. A full overview of all available models can be found in the Azimut model overview on yacht-werk.de.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Azimut Fly 78 cost?

The exact purchase price for the Azimut Fly 78 is available on request only, as configuration choices, specification packages and market conditions all have a significant bearing on the final figure. In this class, we do not work with publicly advertised list prices, as any comparison without a defined configuration basis would be misleading. Please contact us directly via yacht-werk.de/kontakt for a confidential conversation.

How does the purchase of an Azimut Fly 78 through Yachtwerk work?

The process begins with an initial consultation – either in person at our showroom at Motorworld Grünwald near Munich, or by telephone. This is followed by a configuration consultation, a visit to the yard in Avigliana by arrangement, and the drafting of the purchase agreement. The lead time between order and delivery depends on the yard’s current production schedule, which we communicate transparently throughout.

Are financing options available for the Azimut 78?

Yes. Yachtwerk works with specialist financing partners for boat and vessel loans. Structures range from classic leasing arrangements and bank financing through to more complex constructs that incorporate tax and flag-state considerations. All details are discussed individually and in the strictest confidence.

What after-sales services does Yachtwerk offer for the Fly 78?

As an authorised Azimut dealer, we provide full warranty service, refit management, technical inspections and winter storage. Our base at Marina D-Marin Mandalina in Šibenik serves as the central service point for owners based in the Adriatic. The Yachtwerk Services page provides an initial overview of the full scope of services available.

Can I base my Azimut Fly 78 in Croatia?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions from buyers at this level – and the answer is an unequivocal yes. Croatia offers an outstanding cruising ground, and our own infrastructure at Marina Mandalina makes Šibenik a logistically attractive home port. We also provide guidance on the Croatian legal aspects of basing a foreign-flagged yacht in the country.