To sail on an ocean-going vessel with a variable draft offers a number of advantages.

- with a centreboard or keel in the lowered position, the draft is increased, thus improving the boat’s performance considerably, particularly upwind. In this way, with a lowered centreboard, the draft on the Alliage 56 measures 3.50 m, whilst with a lowered keel, the Azzuro 53’s draft is 3.10 m.

- with the centreboard or keel raised, the reduced draft enables the safest anchorages to be accessed. Indeed, there are some idyllic shelters around the world where yachts drawing no more than 1.60 m can venture.

The Alliage yard is one of the top specialists in variable draft yachts. Thus two ranges are offered:

- the Alliage range are centreboard yachts. The light centreboard is pivoting. The internal ballast is constituted of fixed lead pigs in the bilges. The boats focus on ease of use and comfort.

- the Azzuro range are yachts with a lifting keel. The keel climbs vertically. The ballast is a lead bulb, bolted to the bottom of the keel fin. These are very high performance boats, capable of sailing at high speeds and close to the wind with a great deal of efficiency.

On a yacht with variable draft, the recessing of the centreboard or the keel in its keelbox requires a great deal of stiffness. Solely aluminium construction allows this.