With twin rudders and a hull influenced by Humphreys’ Open Class race boats, the Azuree 46 is billed as a true dual-purpose yacht. At the same time, it addresses liveaboard needs with generator and air-conditioning provisions.
Design and Construction
The 46 is an Open-style twin-rudder boat, developed from the design philosophy behind Humphreys Yacht Design’s Open 60, Volvo 70, and Class 40 programmes. That racing background is clear in the hull form. A plumb bow and curved, low-profile coachroof sit above ample beam, while hard chines run aft from amidships. The wide, powerful hull has upright immersed sections and, surprisingly, a low wetted-area form intended to minimise viscous drag. Its long waterline and easy lines give the boat the feel and power of a larger yacht.
Sirena Marine builds the Azuree 46 in Turkey. Construction details include oversized, securely backed keel bolts and integrity in the infused laminates of the hull and deck. Stainless-steel work, joinery, and upholstery are produced in-house.
The test boat’s cockpit had teak floors and trim. Below, the joinery combined solid oak trim with handsome oak veneers, while synthetic Alpi wood floor panels resisted stains and scratches.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Azuree 46 carries a generous sail plan on a tall rig, pairing a large, fully battened mainsail with a smaller, slightly overlapping 110 percent jib. The mainsheet is double-ended, allowing it to be trimmed from either side of the cockpit, and it’s within reach of the helmsman. The main sheets to a traveller across the cockpit sole.
Massive cockpit winches—two of them electric—are backed by cabin-top winches, including another electric model. During testing, the optional electric Harken winches made raising the main and sheeting the jib a fingertip operation.
Jefa steering is butter-smooth, and the twin rudders give the boat very nimble handling. The dual helm stations also offer excellent sightlines on either tack. Humphreys optimised the hull and rig to rate well under both IRC and ORC rules.
In a breeze, the boat is fast and exhilarating downwind while remaining powerful upwind. Even in light-air testing on Narragansett Bay, it produced 7 knots of speed over ground while sailing upwind and up-current. It can slog around Ushant in the teeth of a south-westerly, yet remains a very capable cruising yacht.
Cockpit and Deck
The enormous cockpit is central to the boat’s cruising appeal. Its bench seats fold out into wide lounging and sunning beds, transforming the space into an enveloping reclining area. A large table with folding leaves can seat up to eight for open-air meals, and the transom lowers to form a broad stern swim platform.
A large garage beneath a hatch in the cockpit sole provides additional stowage. At anchor in Göcek, the overall arrangement provides exuberant comfort.
Interior and Accommodation
The tested three-cabin layout has a large master suite forward with a double V-berth. Its port-side head includes glass panels that close off the shower stall. Two quarter cabins lie aft, with a second head to starboard beside the companionway.
In the saloon, a huge U-shaped dinette to port seats five and converts into a large double berth. The starboard settee incorporates a chart table. The galley is also to port and includes two refrigerator units—one top-loading and one drawer-style—along with a three-burner stove and double stainless-steel sinks.
Cruising World describes three double cabins and two heads. The aft cabins sacrifice some berth width to outboard cabinetry, while the forward head has doors separating the shower from the sink and toilet. The navigation desk can also be lowered to create a full sea berth.
Machinery and Liveaboard Provisions
A 55-horsepower Volvo Penta engine with saildrive turns a Flexofold propeller. The boat is also fitted with a bow thruster, and the engine produced very little vibration at cruising speeds.
There’s space for a genset and watermaker, while the design also includes provisions for generator and air conditioning. Because most components, from stainless-steel work to upholstery, are produced in-house, matching replacement trim and hardware is simpler.
Construction Notes
The oversized, securely backed keel bolts and intelligently arranged electrical panel reflect a sound build rather than corrections to a known problem.
The Verdict
The Azuree 46 is a genuinely dual-purpose 46-foot flagship. It applies Open Class design principles to a hull and rig tuned to rate well under IRC and ORC, then combines them with a roomy, well-built cruising interior.
Its wide hull, low wetted area, long waterline, twin rudders, and tall rig provide real performance without sacrificing the enormous cockpit, three-cabin arrangement, and liveaboard provisions expected of a serious cruiser.
Pros
- Open-style twin-rudder hull with low wetted area and a long waterline, providing speed and the power of a larger yacht
- Hull and rig optimised to rate well under IRC and ORC handicapping
- Enormous, transforming cockpit with fold-out lounging beds and a lowering transom swim platform
- Three double cabins and two heads, plus convertible dinette and navigation-desk berths
- Oversized, backed keel bolts; integrity of the infused laminates; and in-house stainless-steel work and joinery
Cons
- Aft quarter berths lose some width to outboard cabinetry
- Light-air performance figures and some equipment observations come from single test sails
