Design and Construction
Ceccarelli Yacht Design’s full control of the Azuree 40’s architecture, exterior, and engineering produced a 39-foot-4-inch monohull on a 39-foot-4-inch waterline, with a beam near 13 feet 10 inches and a bulb keel under a spade rudder. The Cruiser version draws 7.2 feet and displaces about 7,200 kg light, while the Fast Cruiser sits deeper at 8.5 feet and sheds roughly 250 kg to 6,950 kg, a weight saving tied in the builder’s own fast version to carbon-reinforced structure. Sirena Marine built the boat in Turkey as a young production yard, and the construction followed an industrial automotive approach rather than a traditional boat-shop method. The 40 earned its performance-cruiser label in practice, not just on paper: it won the Penneti Cup at Trani in April 2011.
Rig and Handling
The Azuree 40 is a fractional sloop carrying 92 square meters of upwind sail area and a generous 222 square meters downwind, figures that place real offwind reach in the Fast Cruiser’s remit. Writing in Yachting World, testers took the finished boat out on a sail trial in Istanbul and found it a mightily impressive performance cruiser they did not want to end, a verdict that sits well with the race result and the two-version strategy. Power comes from a Volvo Penta S-drive diesel in either 40 or 55 horsepower, giving owners a choice between base cruising propulsion and a stronger auxiliary for heavier loads or frequent motoring.
Accommodations and Specifications
As a Turkish cruising-class 40, the boat pairs its performance shell with practical tankage: 120 liters of diesel and 320 liters of fresh water support extended stays. The standard 40-horsepower Volvo Penta S-drive is adequate for the displacement, while the 55-horsepower option addresses those who prioritize maneuvering power. The two-version layout philosophy means a buyer choosing the Cruiser accepts shallower draft and more weight in exchange for easier access to thin water, whereas the Fast Cruiser trades depth and weight for stiffness and acceleration.
The Verdict
The Azuree 40 is a genuinely modern performance cruiser with a single-design lineage: Ceccarelli shaped every line and system, Sirena Marine built it cleanly in Turkey, and the two-version structure lets an owner pick between draft and weight. Its racing win and press sail trial confirm the concept beyond the spec sheet. The main caveats are the limited production history of the young yard and the draft penalty of the Fast Cruiser for shallow cruising grounds.
Pros
- Coherent design from Ceccarelli across architecture, styling, and engineering
- Proven performance with a 2011 Penneti Cup win and strong press sail trial
- Choice of Cruiser or Fast Cruiser for draft and weight priorities
- Useful tankage and Volvo Penta S-drive in 40 or 55 hp
Cons
- Fast Cruiser draft of 8.5 feet limits shallow-water access
- Built by a young production yard with limited pre-2010 track record
