  1969 - The foundation of Azimut
The Young entrepreneur Paolo Vitelli started his own company in Turin, Italy before taking his University degree, the purpose of the business being to charter sailing boats.
The founder thus transformed his passion for the sea into
a business.
1970 - Azimut starts importing and distributing boats
Amerglass, a modern Dutch shipyard producing boats
in fibreglass, conferred the first dealership contract in Italy on the newly-founded Azimut.
The business soon developed rapidly, with the distribution of sailing boats, motorcruisers and finally motoryachts from different makers such as, British Powles, Westerly,
and others.
1974 - Azimut embarks on the design and production of mid fiberglass boats
The first fibreglass motorcruiser developed, the AZ 43 BALI, was the product of a joint-venture with Amerglass and proved an instant success.
The range of motorcruisers extended downwards with the introduction in 1977 of the AZ 32 Targa model. Soon after
a full range of successful MC and MY models came onto
the market.
At the same time the activity of marketing imported boats was strengthening
the company's position. Azimut soon became the leading Italian importer of pleasure boats.
1982 - The first fiberglass motoryacht over 30mt length
Designed by Costaguta and Disdale, the Azimut 105' FAILAKA was the largest fiberglass yacht at the time produced in series. Quite revolutionary in terms of design and technology, it was able to reach speeds of 32 knots.
Among famous owners, the fabled Christina Onassis ...
1985 - The company takes over the Benetti Shipyards
This Viareggio shipyard had been owned by the Benetti family since its foundation in 1873. The yard had earned
an exceptional reputation as the supplier of yachts
in classical lines, fitted out with luxury interiors. Benetti were unsurpassed in producing top class boats based
on traditional craftsmanship. They were also a revolutionary yard, having been the first to introduce and develop the modern concept of "motoryachts", for example their "delfino" line, to quote one example. Taking over Benetti was more than just a major financial investment for Azimut - it also brought them advanced technical expertise, development and planning methods, and completely revitalised their yards and plant.
1988 - The great adventure: the Azimut Atlantic Challenger's bid for the blue riband
The main aim was to demonstrate the strength of the new Azimut-Benetti group in a major mediatised event. The race was also the occasion for the new joint entity to experiment the most advanced production techniques and technological innovations. The vessel, built in light alloy at the Benetti yard and powered by four powerful 1850 hp diesel engines, went half-way across the Atlantic before withdrawing from the contest, due to poor weather conditions. Nonetheless, the experience gained in the design and production of this "high-tech-challenger" has remained with the Azimut-Benetti yachts ever since.
1994 - Windows glued directly onto the fiberglass: a key innovation in the boating industry
Inspired by the automotible sector, and after stringent tests conducted by skilled engineers, Azimut introduced the frameless window on the market. Thanks to a special elastic paste capable of expanding its length eight times, the lateral windows were glued directly onto the fiberglass, without the need for a steel frame. The result was an unprecedented external design, characterized by a sleek and sinuous line. The AZ 43 was the first motorcruiser to benefit from this technique.
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