Luuk V. van Zanten, the visionary behind Curvelle and designer Mauro Giamboi, have been awarded the most innovative yacht award in the 24-50m category for their 34m power Curvelle catamaran Quaranta at the Cannes Boat Show.
The duo were delighted to receive the Lux Media award in front of 750 industry peers at an evening awards event at the Carlton Beach Hotel, Cannes, a glittering occasion with a yacht parade and fireworks.
After the award Luuk expressed his deep satisfaction that the yachting industry as a whole enthusiastically endorsed his vision, five years in the making, of a new era in smart thinking and innovation in the superyacht arena.
He said, ”When I started out with the Curvelle programme I had already had years of immersion in all aspects of the yachting business, from yacht brokerage giants like Camper and Nicholsons to development and construction of large yachts in China and later as Marketing Director of Abu Dhabi MAR.
He added, “Drawing on this experience I had come to the conclusion that something completely new in the way of thinking was needed to deliver a compact, cost effective, efficient, roomy, stable and stylish motor yacht. I put together a talented team to produce a range of yachts that boasts Dutch vision, Australian naval architecture, Italian styling, UK interior designer and Turkish build quality.”
Every part of the yacht design was an opportunity to think through a different way to do things. The basics were a fast, stable catamaran constructed in a carbon hybrid composite (believed to be the world’s largest).
This configuration formed the design platform to use the extra space and volume to be really creative as the programme developed. Huge picture windows in the main accommodation with it’s unique re-configurable layouts; powered stern platform that can take the custom tender, a 4×4 car, wheelchair or a submarine…and then be a beach club!