Northern Light Yachts’ Offshore 34 has been selected as a finalist in the Sustainability Project of the Year category at the 2026 Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement. The 10.35-metre sailing yacht is manufactured using rComposite, a recyclable thermoplastic composite developed and patented by its parent company, nlcomp.
The awards jury selected 21 finalists from 59 entries. The Offshore 34 is among four projects competing in its category. The winners will be announced on November 18, 2026, during Metstrade in Amsterdam.
Recyclable Thermoplastic Composite Construction
The Offshore 34 is built entirely at nlcomp’s rFactory production facility in Monfalcone, Italy. Its construction uses rComposite, which is designed to provide an alternative to conventional composite materials used in boatbuilding, where end-of-life treatment and recycling remain important technical challenges.
Designed by Gianluca Guelfi and Fabio D’Angeli, the yacht is an offshore cruiser-racer featuring a scow hull and an aft-positioned sail plan. It displaces 3,600 kg, has a maximum beam of 3.60 metres, and a draught of 2.20 metres. Its sail configuration comprises a 42 m² mainsail, a 29 m² jib and a 130 m² gennaker.
The project builds on nlcomp’s earlier Ecoracer prototypes, which were developed to demonstrate the use of recyclable composites in competitive sailing. The company’s Ecoracer 25 received the Eco-focused Boat of the Year award in 2022, followed by further development of the Ecoracer 30 programme.
From Prototype Development to Production
The opening of the rFactory in June 2026 marked a transition from prototype construction to production capability. The Offshore 34 is the first production yacht built entirely at the facility, with development supported by Invitalia’s Smart&Start programme.
The project also incorporates input from offshore sailor Luca Rosetti, whose experience informed aspects of deck ergonomics and sail-plan balance. The yacht is scheduled to undergo technical launch procedures and sea trials in the Adriatic during winter 2026, ahead of its planned 2027 racing season, which includes the Aegean 600 and Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Fabio Bignolini, CEO and co-founder of nlcomp, said:
“We started in a garage, building boats to prove that our material really worked. Being a finalist alongside Azimut, Benetti, Riva and Cantiere delle Marche, with a production sailing yacht built in our own factory, is proof that we are on the right track.”
The nomination highlights nlcomp’s effort to move recyclable thermoplastic composite technology from prototype demonstrations into production sailing yachts.
Source: Northern Light Yachts | News
