There’s one thing at the heart of every memorable yacht: exceptional craftsmanship. That’s why, at BOAT International, we are launching BACA, an awards event celebrating artisans who spend countless hours creating the finer details on board that take these vessels to another level of luxury, a talented part of the industry that is often overlooked.
If you are an artisan who has recently worked on a yacht design, we would love to hear from you. If you are a designer who has commissioned something for a yacht that you believe is noteworthy of an accolade, encourage the studio to enter below. Winners will be announced in February 2024.
Here is everything you need to know about categories and entry criteria...
The categories
The BOAT Artistry and Craft Awards will launch with the following two categories:
Category one: Excellence in Craftsmanship
This award recognises an object whose construction is, in the judges’ view, second to none. Whether it uses time-honoured skills such as marquetry and leatherwork, or new techniques that push the boundaries of sustainability, technology and materials, the object must be bespoke work created specifically for a new yacht.
Criteria: The object must have appeared on board a yacht (new or post-refit) delivered between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023. There is no restriction as to what form the object takes – it could be a standalone piece or integrated into the yacht, and it can be any size, big or small.
It must be designed and crafted specifically for the yacht and can be created by one individual or a team.
Examples of entries could include artwork commissioned for the yacht such as a painting or sculpture, a certain decorative feature such as a wall panel or floor, staircase or chandelier, or a piece of furniture. Entrants can submit only one object per entry. If you have any questions as to the conditions of entry, please email events@boatinternationalmedia.com.
Find out more on what you will need to submit your entry.
Category two: Emerging Artisan of the Year
This award brings to light an artisan whose object has recently appeared, or will soon appear, on board a yacht for the first time, and who shows outstanding talent and promise.
Criteria: The entrant must be an artisan whose work has recently, or will feature, on board a yacht.
The entrant can be any age, but they must be a new entrant to the industry (within two years of the date of submission), and demonstrate exceptional craft and a positive attitude. They could be part of a studio team working on the object or work autonomously creating a bespoke object themselves.
The object must be designed and/or crafted specifically for the yacht. There is no restriction as to what form the object takes – it could be a standalone piece or integrated into the yacht, and it can be any size, big or small.
Examples of entries could include artwork commissioned for the yacht such as a painting or sculpture, a certain decorative feature such as a wall panel or floor, staircase or chandelier or a piece of furniture.
If part of a design duo, and both parties are new entrants, then nominations for both individuals will be considered and judges may change the category to Emerging Artisans of the Year. If you have any questions as to the conditions of entry, please email events@boatinternationalmedia.com.
Find out more on what you will need to submit your entry.
The judges
The select panel of judges brings hundreds of years of collective experience and are knowledgeable and experienced industry names. It is their personal interest that drives the judging process, and we owe the judges an enormous debt for their enthusiasm and generosity.
Find out more information about our judges.
How to enter
The deadline for submissions is 13 October at 11:59pm (GMT).
View the terms and conditions.
Please email events@boatinternationalmedia.com for any further information or nominations.