As the Superyacht Design Festival approaches in Kitzbühel, Austria (2-4 February), BOAT takes a closer look at some of the presentations set to headline this prestigious event.
Composites are now widely utilised in some areas of yachting, allowing for sleek, streamlined designs, reduced weight and enhanced speed. But now a number of leading-edge startups are developing radical new and sustainable next-generation composites, many of which are being developed into exciting prototypes and concepts within the small boat industry.
Could we see some of this out-of-the-box thinking filter down into superyachting? This subject will be covered at the Superyacht Design Festival (2-4 February) in an insightful presentation entitled Next-gen Composites: What Boats Could Be Made Of In Future.
Nico Voorzee, marine sales lead from composite specialists STRUCteam Ltd will take to the stage to talk us through these new alternatives and potential applications for the superyacht industry, after which boatbuilding pioneer Alessandro Stagni, CTO of nlcomp, will present his novel ideas and innovations.
As marine sales lead for STRUCTeam, an independent engineering consultancy with specialised expertise in composite technologies, Nico Voorzee has over 10 years of industry experience spent designing, manufacturing and delivering composite marine applications. STRUCTeam offers customised engineering solutions and consultancy services, covering everything from concept design to high-volume production. They assist clients with composite selection, new technologies and supply chain optimisation.
Alessandro Stagni, CTO of Northern Lights Composites (nlcomp), leads an innovative startup whose mission is to address the yachting industry's end-of-life challenges. They have developed a patented recyclable composite called rComposite which uses natural or recycled fibres and offers a lower environmental impact compared to traditional materials. To demonstrate its real-world effectiveness, they built sailing boats such as the award-winning ecoracer25 and ecoracer30, the world's first recyclable production boat. Their expertise has also driven successful composite projects for renowned Italian shipyards, including Cantiere del Pardo and Sanlorenzo.
The Superyacht Design Festival 2025 (2-4 February) will see some of the biggest names in design come together with experts from the wider luxury community for exciting discussions, plus a social programme, the Design & Innovation Awards, the Young Designer of the Year Award, the BOAT Artistry and Craft Awards in association with Parkway England and the famous Ski Cup, sponsored by Lürssen.
Read More/Everything you need to know about the Superyacht Design Festival 2025Attendees can expect an exciting lineup covering all areas within the sector. This year’s talks include presentations by top New York kinetic artist Zolty and immersive film-maker Cinesite, an update on the much-anticipated sailing proposition Project Zero, a panel discussion on nuclear propulsion and a special talk from the designers of the Paris Olympics’ silver horse, the semi-submerged catamaran that ‘galloped’ along the River Seine at the opening ceremony.
The Superyacht Design Festival is taking place on 2-4 February. Tickets are selling fast so secure your ticket now to avoid disappointment.
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