Vaan R5 - When Design and Ecological Transition go hand in hand

The new Vaan Yachts brand is clearly showing its ambitions with this R5, the second model to be launched, barely a year after the presentation of its little sibling, the R4. Measuring 7 feet longer – and still built in aluminum - the catamaran presented to us by brand co-founder Igor Kluin boasts a meticulous design, remarkable cruising comfort and good performance potential. The Vaan R5 is also one of the forever green multihulls leading the way in terms of environmental friendliness.

In the dock of the small service yard in Hellevoetsluis, near Rotterdam, we discovered the long-awaited Vaan R5. Hull #001 was still being finished but was to be delivered to her Owner in a few weeks, so the window for us doing a test couldn’t have been tighter! Your eye is drawn immediately to the matt black painted hulls, the metal-gray coachroof, the PET sandwich bimini structure with its canvas in black Sunbrella fabric, the black aluminum Selden mast and the cork-lined deck. The black color used here contrasts with the grey lacquered R4 and underlines elegance worthy of contemporary superyachts. With its attention to design details - the crisp deck edge, angular bows, curved tinted glass roof windscreen - I can’t help but make an association with Van Dutch, an iconic Dutch brand of Open powerboats. Igor Kluin seems to appreciate this flattering comparison, and even admits to having been inspired by these luxury motorboats.
The builder revealed to me the three main criteria that formed the genesis of his brand were “To ensure great sailing sensations, to offer a sleek, chic and comfo...