The inaugural ShowBoats Design Awards took place last night at the exclusive Mar A Lago Club, Donald Trump’s private members club in Palm Beach, Florida. Following a two-day Superyacht Design Symposium, 350 guests gathered for an evening of cocktails, a gala dinner and Awards ceremony honoring the Superyacht industry’s creative talents; the architects, designers, stylists, craftsmen, and innovators in yacht technologies.
Click here for a list of The Showboat Design Winners.
Tony Harris, Publisher of ShowBoats International, opened the evening by recognizing and thanking the yacht owners who commission and enable the creative teams and individuals who move the superyacht industry forward. “While these awards are “design” awards, we are acutely aware that it is the owner who takes the risk with a designer or a technology that is untested. Without owners who are prepared to take those risks, the creative aspects of the industry would languish.”
ShowBoats Design Awards evolved from the design-focused awards previously a part of the Boat International Media World Superyacht Awards, as well as introducing a number of new categories. The jury was compromised four superyacht owners – specifically chosen for their interest in design issues – two naval architects, a senior yacht captain, an experienced yacht chef, and six design professionals with no links to the superyacht industry. With more than 200 nominations, it was an incredibly tough task for the experienced panel.
“I especially thank the finalists, many of whom are present today, for giving the jury such a hard time in deciding the winners,” said Chairman of the Judges, Roger Lean Vercoe.