A 70-foot all-carbon fibre catamaran has embarked on its maiden journey from the Sunshine Coast in what is being described as a “ground-breaking feat” of maritime innovation.
Local boat-building company Cure Marine has unveiled the Cure Custom 70, which is the first boat of its kind built in Australia in the past five years.
The hi-tech vessel is strong, robust, lightweight and poised to make waves in the global boat-building scene.
Leaving the Mooloolaba harbour, the boast will head south for Brisbane and then onto cruising the Australian east coast and Pacific Island waters.
Owners Allan and Michele Larkin named the catamaran ‘Noir’, which translates to black in French.
It has been custom designed as a sailing, diving and family boat fitted out with four queen-size cabins and six inbuilt fridges.
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The catamaran was crafted within Cure Marine’s state-of-the-art facility at Coolum Industrial Estate using high-tech equipment, including the southern hemisphere’s largest 3D printer.
The printer, provided by sister company Zone RV, enabled Cure Marine to produce tooling and prototypes in a fraction of the time that the industry traditionally had seen.
Cure Marine CEO Carl Bird said the launch marked the beginning of a new era for the company.
“The Cure Custom 70 is the largest sailing vessel ever launched by Cure Marine and indeed the first all-carbon sailing catamaran to be launched in Australia in the last five years,” Mr Bird said.
“The launch not only reinforces Cure Marine’s commitment to innovation but also solidifies our position as a major player in the industry.
“We are grateful for Sunshine Coast Council’s investment support services, which played a crucial role in bringing this ground-breaking project to life.”
Over the past 12 months, Sunshine Coast Council has provided support to Cure Marine including logistics and other investment support services.
Sunshine Coast Council head of economic development Chris Le Serve congratulated Cure Marine on its achievement.
“The innovation and quality craftsmanship of Sunshine Coast businesses like Cure Marine help elevate our region by creating more jobs and investment through national and international markets,” Mr Le Serve said.
“The launch of Cure Custom 70 is not only a leap forward for the boating industry, it aligns with the priorities in our Regional Economic Development Strategy 2013-2033 which identified production and digital economies as essential for our region’s thriving future.”
Visit curemarine.com.au.
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