16 ShowBoats Design Awards 2016 winners

Naval Architect: Michael Peters

Exterior Styling, Interior Design: Michael Peters and  Hodgdon Yachts

Builder: Hodgdon Custom Tenders

A total of 12 tenders were entered in the ShowBoats Design Awards and it was clear that the limousine-style tender has truly come into its own.

This category goes first to a subcommittee to compare the entrants on such issues as horsepower-to-weight ratios, launch and retrieval methods, carrying capacity, speed, range and mission features. Those deemed the “smartest” are presented to the full panel.

Top marks went to a new development by U.S. builder Hodgdon Yachts for a longer, aft helm version of its Venetian water taxi-inspired limo. Here, Michael Peters has evolved the graceful lines of the taxis into an elegant yet sexy sculpture on the water.

The aft helm model offers the option of being inside or outside. Ample outside seating forward, a climate-controlled cabin for 10 with standing headroom and a generous aft deck with commanding views is manifested in a low profile with a rigid bimini that powers down for stowage in the tender bay. Twin Volvo outdrives power her to 34 knots while the paint and interior appointments complement the mothership.

Exterior Styling: AB Studio - Omega Architects

Builder: Heesen Yachts

The ShowBoats Design Award for exterior design and styling on motor yachts below 500GT had nine finalists featured yachts from 32 meters to 50 meters and styles from raised pilothouse to expedition.

The runaway winner was the second longest yacht in the group – Sibelle – whose radical styling combined a slight reverse or destroyer bow with a hard chine and a knuckle to broaden the bow above the waterline and blunt it at the sheerline. The spray rails at the bow were envisioned as part of a strong, deliberate horizontal design vocabulary that includes dark bands of glass that although stepped, appear continuous and help make the yacht appear longer than her actual 49.9-meter length.

The bullnosed shape of the side and aft deck overhangs reinforces the powerful look of the exterior while mirroring the curves of the built-in aft deck seating areas. Symmetry is a strong secondary design theme and this is particularly noticeable on the mast and sun deck. The surprise of skylights in the sun deck hardtop, however, and the picture window opening onto the aft swim platform add a light touch and remind us that Sibelle is a yacht of delightful, engaging contrasts.

This award is sponsored by MAST.

Exterior Styling: CG Design

Builder: Feadship, De Vries

The nine finalists in the exterior design styling category for yachts over 500GT ranged from 55 meters in length to nearly double that, which gave considerable real estate for exterior stylists to exploit.

This is the first exterior design for CG Design, a Paris-based architectural firm, although principal Cristina Gherardi designed the interior of the owner’s previous semi-custom yacht. This relationship and a thorough grounding in contemporary architecture established a design envelope for Savannah that deviated little from the first sketches brought to Feadship and De Voogt Naval Architects.

The key design exercise is to allow guests to maintain a functional relationship with the sea. In fact, there is an unbroken cascade of main deck living areas from the dining room, through the open salon, across the pool deck and down to the sea. In other places, huge expanses of glass link the interior with the world beyond, from her partially submerged “Nemo” room at the stern to the bow’s hidden observation room.

The slim, smooth silhouette and plumb bow convey a sense of speed while the metallic silver-green exterior finish extending even to the exterior deck overheads magically reflects the changing colours of sea and sky.

This award is sponsored by Blohm+Voss.

Exterior Styling: Nauta Design

Builder: Baltic Yachts

Of the six sailing yachts chosen as ShowBoats Design Awards 2016 finalists for their exterior looks, two were very traditional. While the judges appreciated their adherence to iconic style and gleaming brightwork, it was the efforts the balance of the designers made to distinguish their projects among the fleet of modern yachts that captured their interest, especially considering that the same combination of naval architect Judel/Vroljik and exterior stylist  Nauta Design had two remarkably different yachts in the running.

The judges chose to make  Nikata the winner because of Nauta Design’s sympathetic response to the owner’s brief to not compromise the yacht’s regatta-style performance in delivery of an attractive profile and a high level of comfort at sea.

The very low deckhouse is a masterwork of joined geometric shapes that create a single line and subtle contrast between the smooth, iron grey hull and the light silver top. The fact that the pale teak deck is splined with grey caulking showed a comprehensive approach that took the styling that extra step. From the opening transom that will create a grand entrance for guests to the well-designed crew access point aft, her functionality is beautifully designed.

This award is sponsored by Cantieri di Pisa

Interior Design: Sorgiovanni Designs

Builder: Alia Yachts

The hotly contested ShowBoats Design Award for interior layout and design of yachts below 500GT always draws a lot of entrants and this year was no exception, thus the shortlisting committee was hard-pressed to limit the number of finalists to just 10.

The interior designers ranged from newcomers to well-known industry stalwarts and their concepts ranged from traditional to industrial chic. What excited the judges most was the design by Australian Sam Sorgiovanni for a compact five-stateroom yacht that lives large thanks to a nearly nine-meter beam and features smart flow for excellent crew service. Among Rüya's interior features is a three-deck atrium staircase clad in a marble surround.

The owner’s brief was for a casual, family-oriented yacht with an upscale yet unpretentious resort ambiance. Sorgiovanni’s design keeps things fresh and lively with a broad array of materials and textures used to geometric effect and a colour palette of ochre and turquoise blue inspired by northwestern Australia. The open grains of the wood surfaces — primarily bamboo and Australian silky oak — and patterns of hand-hewn stone are allowed to take center stage to create a compelling and modern backdrop for exploring the world.

This award is sponsored by Boutsen Design.

Exterior Styling: Nauta Design

Builder: Baltic Yachts

Because Nikata is the third custom Baltic build involving Nauta Design, the firm was well aware of the yard’s capabilities for lightweight construction. In fact, to meet the performance characteristics and speed required by her owner, the overall light displacement of the yacht was kept to just 88 metric tons, yet he was not interested in compromising on modern conveniences or comfort.

Another of the interior constraints was that the design needed to accommodate a lifting keel, which meant designing the owner and VIP guest accommodation around a large, vertical keel box. The layout smartly places crew cabins, navigation station, galley and access to machinery spaces aft with direct access to the helm area on deck.

The use of pale oak paneling and furniture keeps the four-stateroom (plus crew) interior light, while an innovative T-shaped coachroof skylight offsets the small window area of the deckhouse and brings plenty of light to the open plan living space below that features a separate TV area off the salon. The contemporary theme is matched by the smooth and simple interior décor style distinguished by consistent use of natural materials.

This award is sponsored by Videoworks.

Naval Architecture: Andre Hoek to original lines by Frank Paine

Builder: Holland Jachtbouw

Because redrawing a classic yacht to meet a modern racing rule is a rare task, the jury chose to award a second naval architecture prize to Topaz. J-8, as she is known in her class, is a so-called Super J because of her 88-foot waterline.

She was designed by Frank Paine for the 1937 America’s Cup but never built. Topaz’s owner tracked her plans to MIT in Boston and bought the package. Included in the documents was a hand-drawn lines plan that was neither symmetrical nor fair. From this baseline Andre Hoek re-designed the yacht and rig in 3D, optimized to perform under the current J Class Association handicap system.

Mast position, stability, sail area and hull stiffness were extensively researched and compared with all existing J Class hulls. The hull and deck structure was augmented to take very high runner loads in order to reduce head stay sag.

The yacht’s deck layout suits both top-end racing and easy handling when cruising with good visibility for the helmsman and most importantly direct communication between the trimmers and the helmsman. The main cockpit can accommodate eight people for dining in comfort, something never imagined aboard a J in 1937!

This award is sponsored by RINA Services.

Exterior Styling: CG Design

Builder: Feadship, De Vries

Based on the number and strength of candidates for this ShowBoats Design Award category, the judges chose to split motor and sailing yachts.

Savannah is a yacht that presents herself differently from various angles and if seen bow-on only, the judges remarked that the straight lines of her exterior seemed completely at odds with her curvaceous interior architecture.

Yet yachts are truly 3D things and soon the cascading curves of her aft decks became apparent, as did the smoothness of the metallic seafoam-green profile — which bears no lumps, bumps or glass seams — and matches the sleek contemporary nature of her interior architecture. Just as the dark, tempered glass appears as an unbroken line on the exterior, the interior hides window frames within sleek architectural features.

There is no sense that any area of the yacht inside or out has less stature than any other and stainless steel is used inside and out. The custom treatment for deck furniture and exterior lighting was also part of the detailed design approach. The fact that one hand guided both interior and exterior made for an uninterrupted aesthetic vocabulary and harmony unequaled by any other contenders.

This award is sponsored by MTN.

Exterior Styling: Nauta Design

Builder: Baltic Yachts

Sailing yachts are an area where interior and exterior features and styling are expected to work together, so choosing a standout in this category is a difficult task and the two representatives of retro styling presented strong contenders.

Digging deeper, the remark “cool serenity” was heard more than once as the ShowBoats Design Award judges reviewed the design sketches and finished photos of Nikata. They were familiar with the minimalist Scandinavian interior approach that often accompanies yachts built by Baltic, but this time Nauta Design seemed to deliberately play to that strength, creating an interior that is just as smooth as the iron gray topsides.

Among the features the judges liked was the use of a strong rectangle shape introduced in the cockpit coaming and its repetition in the fixed portlights and the skylight. The planked floors of the salon and linen wall panels echo the theme of the bleached teak of the deck above.

Everything about the yacht inside and out – even the crew area – seemed dedicated to simplicity, speed and efficiency, achieved with use of top technology and materials. Apparently, it’s a program that works, as Nikata reportedly reached 28 knots on her first transatlantic crossing.

This award is sponsored by Kymeta Panasonic.

Jury Chairman Roger Lean-Vercoe notes that the Young Designer of the Year Award judges were impressed with the high quality of the 28 entries submitted for this year’s award, and this made selecting a winner from among six finalists a particularly difficult task.

All were highly accomplished designs, and while each young designer excelled in certain areas, the judges eventually homed in on one design that best fulfilled the identical project brief given to all the competition’s entrants.

Cercio was created by Baoqi Xiao, a student of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Well considered and visually attractive, Baoqi’s GA, interior design and exterior styling for a fast 45-metre motor yacht, created to entertain the guests of a female Italian fashion designer, was considered by the judges to be a good starting point for a vessel that would completely fulfill its imaginary owner’s specific wishes.

The judges particularly admired the clear presentation and well-executed hand-drawn sketches, while the originality and harmony of the exterior styling that blended well with a highly competent general arrangement plan and understanding of the client’s lifestyle was also praised. This is a worthy winner.

The Young Designer of the Year Award is in association with Oceanco.