T here are yachts that could be built anywhere, and others that carry the unmistakable imprint of the place that shaped them. The Seadeck 9, the new flagship of the Seadeck Series by Azimut, firmly belongs to the latter. Launched in Avigliana, at the foot of the Italian Alps, the 26-metre yacht stands as the largest vessel ever built at the historic shipyard and a clear statement of the group’s technological and manufacturing maturity.
Avigliana is not a conventional setting for yacht building, and that is precisely its strength. Decades of accumulated expertise, combined with a €50 million investment programme initiated in 2023, have reshaped production spaces and workflows, enabling the construction of yachts up to 27 metres entirely in-house. From composites to carbon fibre and final outfitting, Seadeck 9 is the product of a vertically integrated process that pushes craftsmanship and industrial precision to their limits.
As Giovanna Vitelli, Chair of the Azimut|Benetti Group, notes, building yachts among the mountains has driven the shipyard to constantly rethink solutions, exceed technical boundaries and turn ambitious visions into reality. Seadeck 9 emerges as a culmination of fifty years of challenges met and possibilities expanded.
Designed externally by Alberto Mancini and internally by Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez, the yacht represents the most complete expression yet of the Seadeck philosophy: a return to nature. The aft “Fun Island” unfolds across three levels, with expansive terraces, a mirrored pool and a platform that physically reaches down to the sea. Spanning 60 square metres, this area redefines the idea of outdoor living, placing shared experiences, movement and water contact at the heart of life on board.
The interiors echo the same mindset through the principles of Conscious Design developed by Thun & Rodriguez. Rather than imposing formality, the spaces favour warmth, balance and an intuitive relationship between people and their environment. Floor-to-ceiling glazing and abundant natural light allow the sea to permeate the yacht’s architecture, creating interiors that feel alive, responsive and deeply connected to their surroundings.
Sustainability remains central to the Seadeck project. Building on the direction set by the Series, Seadeck 9 is prepared for the installation of a Volvo Penta hybrid propulsion system, reinforcing Azimut’s commitment to innovation that reduces environmental impact while enhancing quality of life on board.
Scheduled for delivery in the summer of 2026, Seadeck 9 will make its public debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival later the same year, carrying with it not only the future-facing vision of the Seadeck Series, but also the distinct identity of the mountains where it was born.
Azimut Yachts is represented in Greece by AZ Yachting Hellas
