ArtExplorer Catamaran named “Multihull of the Year” in Boat International Design & Innovation Awards
by Art Explora Festival 7 Feb 20:32 AEDT
28 January 2025
The prestigious Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2025, bringing together the leading figures of the yachting world, have once again honored the finest achievements in naval architecture, style, design, and technological innovation.
The awards ceremony took place on January 28th, 2025, in Kitzbühel, Austria.
The ARTEXPLORER catamaran was rewarded Multihull of the Year during the Boat International Design & Innovation Awards. Designed by architects Axel de Beaufort and Guillaume Verdier, ARTEXPLORER spans 47 meters in length, 18 meters in beam, and rises to 55 meters with its mast and over 1,800 square meters of sail area. It is the world's first floating museum.
Built at the Perini Navi shipyard in Italy, the catamaran impressed the judges with its groundbreaking concept. Envisioned by entrepreneur and philanthropist Frédéric Jousset, founder of the Art Explora Foundation*, this pioneering vessel hosts the Art Explora Festival, a cultural initiative across seas and oceans. In 2024, more than 220,000 visitors experienced its free innovative artistic and cultural performances.
After dropping anchor in Valletta (Malta), Venice (Italy), Marseille (France), Tangier (Morocco), Rabat (Morocco), and Málaga (Spain), the floating museum is now set for Albania, where it will make a stopover in Durrës from April 10th to 21st, 2025, furthering its mission of sharing the unifying power of art.
Frédéric Jousset, President and Founder of the Art Explora Foundation, stated: "We are very proud and honored to receive the 'Multihull of the Year' award of the 2025 Boat International Design & Innovation Awards. Following the extraordinary welcome of 220,000 visitors who joined us on our Mediterranean journey in 2024, this prestigious recognition from a panel of industry experts is a tremendous tribute to our teams, our shared passion for art and the sea, and our commitment to innovation and design in the maritime world."