Photo Credit: Irisha – Carlo Borlenghi / Bottom Waterline Media
The world’s most outstanding superyacht designs have been honoured at the globally acclaimed Boat International Design & Innovation Awards. Among the designers and yachts picking up prizes were the 106.7m eco-focused sailing superyacht Black Pearl and 74.5m motor yacht Elandess, which took home four awards for her inspired design and impeccable engineering.
An impressive 197 entries across 61 yachts and 17 categories were put to a panel of design experts for this year’s rigorous judging. The judges score the yachts on a variety of aesthetic and technical criteria, as well as awarding marks for innovation.
This year featured a new category, The Game Changer, awarded to 72m Solo for her unique curved structural glass bulwarks, walls and pool for views across the whole vessel as well as an incredible 180-degree glass-walled winter garden.
The competition also recognises upcoming talent in which students compete for the title of Young Designer of the Year. The challenge to design a modern, elegant 80-metre motorsailer yacht was topped by Yihharn Liu for her innovation and creativity in the development of the vessel’s design.
The final prize of the gala presentation, which itself kicked off a two-day Superyacht Design Symposium also hosted by Boat International Media, unveiled the Lifetime Achievement Award to New Zealand-born yacht designer Ron Holland, whose career spans more than five decades. Among his many famous sailing superyachts are Mirabella V, Juliet, Felicita West, Diamond Forever, Cyclos, Perseus III, Ethereal, the world’s first hybrid sailing yacht.
For full details of all the 2019 Boat International Design & Innovation Awards and winners visit the website.
Louise Walker is AGLAIA’s Editor in charge of all content creation and management. She splits her time between London and Miami, and can always be found at a swanky hotel bar sipping on a Negroni. Contact her for any questions or if you would like to become an AGLAIA Contributor: hello@aglaiamagazine.com
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