Design and Construction
The 46 is an Open-style twin-rudder boat whose roots lie in the world of Open Class racing, sharing philosophy with a development line from Humphreys Yacht Design's work in Open 60, Volvo 70 and Class 40 programmes. That sporting pedigree shows in the hull form: a plumb bow and curved, low-profile cabin house sit over ample beam and hard chines carried aft from amidships, while the hull itself is wide and powerful with upright immersed sections that represent a surprisingly low wetted-area form to minimise viscous drag. A long waterline and easy lines give the boat the feel and power of a larger yacht. Sirena Marine builds the 46 in Turkey, and the construction reflects a serious approach—from the oversized and securely backed keel bolts to the integrity of the infused laminates in the hull and deck, with stainless-steel work, joinery, and upholstery produced in-house. The cockpit we sailed was fitted with teak floors and trim, while the joinery throughout used solid oak trim with handsome oak veneers, and the floor panels were a synthetic Alpi wood that resisted stains and scratches.
Rig and Handling
The 46 carries a generous sail plan on a tall rig, with a large fully battened mainsail and a smaller, slightly overlapping 110 percent jib. The mainsheet is double-ended so it can be trimmed from both sides of the cockpit and is within reach of the helmsman, who can use the electric winches to grind in the sails; the main is sheeted to a traveler across the cockpit sole. Massive cockpit winches—two of them electric—are backed by cabin-top winches that also include one electric model, and the optional electric Harken winches made raising the main and sheeting the jib a fingertip affair in testing. Jefa steering is butter-smooth, and the dual rudders provide very nimble handling, with great sightlines from the dual helms on either tack. Humphreys optimised the hull and rig to rate well under both IRC and ORC rules, and the boat is fast and exhilarating downwind in a breeze while remaining powerful upwind in the same conditions—light-air testing on Narragansett Bay still produced 7 knots of speed over ground upwind and up-current. She is able to slog it round Ushant in the teeth of a south-westerly, yet remains a very capable cruising yacht.
Accommodations
Below and on deck the 46 is arranged for comfortable living. The enormous cockpit transforms into an enveloping reclining area, with bench seats that fold out to wide lounging and sunning beds and a large table with folding leaves seating up to eight for open-air meals; the transom folds down to a wide stern swim platform. The tested three-cabin layout places a large master suite forward with a double V-berth, a port-side master head with glass panels closing off a shower stall, and twin quarter cabins aft with an after head to starboard by the companionway. The saloon's huge port-side U-shaped dinette seats five, drops to a large double berth, and the starboard settee carries a built-in chart table. The galley to port holds two fridge units—one top-loading, one a drawer—alongside a three-burner stove and double stainless sinks. Cruising World describes three double cabins and two heads, with aft cabins giving up some berth width to outboard cabinetry, a forward head with doors separating the shower from the sink and toilet, and a nav desk that can lower to a full sea berth. A large garage space under a cockpit sole hatch adds stowage, and the boat provides exuberant comfort at anchor in Göcek.
Known Issues
The oversized and securely backed keel bolts and the intelligently laid out electrical panel reflect a sound build rather than corrections to a known problem.
Refits and Ownership
Owners considering the 46 will find a platform already provisioned for expansion: there is room for a genset and watermaker, and the design attention to live-aboard details includes generator and air conditioning. The 55-horsepower Volvo Penta with saildrive turns a Flexofold propeller and is fitted with a bow thruster, with very little vibration at cruising speeds. Most everything from stainless to upholstery is produced in-house, which simplifies matching replacement trim and hardware.
The Verdict
The Azuree 46 is a genuinely dual-purpose 46-foot flagship that borrows open-class design discipline for a hull and rig tuned to rate well under IRC and ORC, then wraps it in a roomy, well-built cruising interior. Its wide, low-wetted-area hull, twin rudders, and tall rig deliver real performance without sacrificing the enormous cockpit, three-cabin layout, and live-aboard provisions that define a serious cruiser.
Pros
- Open-style twin-rudder hull with low wetted area and long waterline for speed and power beyond its size
- Hull and rig optimised to rate well under IRC and ORC handicapping
- Enormous transforming cockpit with fold-out berths and lowering transom swim platform
- Three double cabins and two heads with flexible dinette and nav-desk berth conversions
- Oversized backed keel bolts, infused laminate integrity, in-house joinery and stainless
Cons
- Aft quarter berths give up width to outboard cabinetry
- Light-air performance figures and some equipment notes come only from single test sails
