Boat Builder Awards highlights importance of innovation, environment, and talent

Boat Builder Awards at METSTRADE 2021 © Pieter Magielsen

This year's Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, jointly organised by IBI and METSTRADE and held in association with Raymarine, saw Leon Slikkers honoured for Lifetime Achievement, Elan Yachts' Marko Škrbin named as this year's Rising Star and boatbuilding companies and their supply chain partners praised for achievement in innovation, collaboration, sustainability and marketing.

The seventh edition of the Boat Builder Awards received more than 100 nominations this year, with 21 companies from 11 countries named as finalists, from which seven winners and five Honourable Mentions were named. The awards ceremony was held today, Wednesday 17 November, under the carefully controlled Covid protocol of RAI Amsterdam within METSTRADE.

The Retail Marketing Initiative category, sponsored by Kohler, was won by Princess Yachts for the Princess Yachts Series. This builder encompassed social media, high quality television and virtual events that opened huge access to every level of the company's operations, greatly expanding audience reach. Ferretti Group received an Honourable Mention for its bold digital marketing campaign positioning yachts as private islands, free from restrictions.

The Innovative Onboard Design Solution category, sponsored by Fusion, saw a close debate over all four entries that resulted in a joint win for the progress made towards mainstream application by Candela Technology's C-7 and C-8 electric hydrofoils and the brilliantly conceived design of Sunseeker International's 65 Sport Yacht SkyHelm™.

Each year the entry field in the Environmental Initiative category, sponsored by Confindustria Nautica, gets stronger and 2021 was no exception. Top honours went to Sunreef Yachts for the Sunreef 80 Eco, praised for pushing boundaries in offering emission-free luxury cruising on an attractively designed yacht. An Honourable Mention was given to Brunswick Corporation for its impressive zero-waste to landfill initiatives.

No less than 14 companies were represented in the five entries shortlisted for the Collaborative Solution between Boat or Superyacht Builder and its Supply Chain Partner category, sponsored by Ultraflex. The cohesive iterative development work demonstrated by Excess Catamarans, Torqeedo and ZF to create and improve the Excess 15 hybrid power system won the day. Honourable Mentions were awarded to Azimut Benetti Group, Mive Eco and Hug Engineering for their integrated SCR exhaust system; Benetti Yachts, Siemens Systems and MAN for the B.Yond hybrid power system and emission reduction; and Evo Yachts by Blu Emme Yachts and Besenzoni for the Blu Emme Evo V8's deck equipment.

Marko Škrbin named as this year's Rising Star in the Boat Builder Awards at METSTRADE 2021 - photo © Pieter Magielsen

The judges were unanimous in the decision to name Marko Škrbin as this year's Rising Star, sponsored by Lumishore. Marko was praised for his transformative work at Elan Yachts during a rapid ascent through the ranks and appointment as the company's youngest ever Marine division Director.

It was a similarly popular decision to name 93-year-old founder of Slickcraft, S2, Tiara and Pursuit, Leon Slikkers, as the Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Those present at the award ceremony were given a flavour of Leon's extraordinary 75-year career with its laser focus on design, innovation, and quality, right up to his recent retirement. He joins an impressive and growing Boat Builder Awards hall of fame.

IBI Editor and chair of the Boat Builder Awards judges, Ed Slack, commented: "The very demanding times of the past 18 months have seen boatbuilders and their supply chains swing rapidly from shut down to fully committed production. Despite the huge workload of that alone, this edition of the Boat Builder Awards saw evidence of maintained progress on the industry's key priorities, from environment, accessibility and innovation to talent recognition and development. Leon Slikkers' relentless pursuit of the perfect boat throughout his three-quarters of a century of progress is a motivation in common with much of what we saw in the entries this year.

"We also owe particular thanks in 2021 to those who made the Boat Builder Awards happen this year, from the sponsors to the nominees. It's not been the easiest time for anyone as we have variously transitioned in and out of restrictions around the world. It is important to consistently recognise achievement within boat and superyacht builders and their supply chains and we look forward to an even stronger set of nominations in 2022 as the industry continues to grow off the face of the current popularity wave."

Tom Slikkers, president and CEO of Tiara Yachts, accepted the Boat Builder Awards Lifetime Achievement award from IBI's publishing director Nick Hopkinson on behalf of his father Leon - photo © Pieter Magielsen

About the Boat Builder Awards

The IBI-METSTRADE Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement is jointly organised by METSTRADE, the world's leading platform for professionals in the leisure marine equipment industry with its flagship Marine Equipment Trade Show, and International Boat Industry magazine (IBI).

METSTRADE is the world's largest trade exhibition of equipment, materials and systems for the international leisure marine industry. It is owned and organised by RAI Amsterdam in association with ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations).

International Boat Industry (IBI), which was founded in 1968, tracks the world's leisure marine market with unrivalled insight and intelligence. It remains the only business magazine and website to investigate and analyse commercial developments in established and emerging leisure boating markets across the globe.

www.metstrade.com/boatbuilderawards

Retail Marketing Initiative - for boat builder and shipyard companies Sponsored by Kohler Power Systems

WINNER - The Princess Experience series - Princess Yachts
HONOURABLE MENTION - Ferretti Your Private Island campaign - Ferretti Yachts
SHORTLISTED - Majesty 175 launch campaign - Gulf Craft

Innovative On-Board Design Solution - for boat builder and shipyard companies or boat design companies nominating a specific yacht solution Sponsored by Fusion Entertainment

JOINT WINNER - Candela C-7 and C-8 hydrofoils - Candela Technology
JOINT WINNER - Sunseeker 65 Sport Yacht SkyHelm™ - Sunseeker International
SHORTLISTED - Azimut Grande Trideck - Azimut Yachts
SHORTLISTED - Benetti Oasis Deck® - Benetti Yachts

Environmental Initiative - for boat builder and shipyard companies Sponsored by Confindustria Nautica

WINNER - Sunreef Yachts Eco - Sunreef Yachts
HONOURABLE MENTION - Zero-waste to landfill initiatives - Brunswick Corporation
SHORTLISTED - Beluga 3D printed sailing boat - Caracol
SHORTLISTED - Use of DANU recyclable composites - The Ultimate Boat Company

Collaborative Solution between Boat or Superyacht Builder and its Supply Chain Partner Sponsored by Ultraflex

WINNER - Excess 15 hybrid power system - Excess Catamarans, Torqeedo and ZF
HONOURABLE MENTION - Azimut|Benetti integrated SCR exhaust systems - Azimut | Benetti Group, Mive Eco and Hug Engineering
HONOURABLE MENTION - Benetti B.Yond hybrid power system and emission reduction - Benetti Yachts, Siemens and MAN
HONOURABLE MENTION - Blu Emme Evo V8 deck equipment - Evo Yachts by Blu Emme Yachts and Besenzoni
NOMINATED - Spirit 44CR(e) integrated solar panels - Spirit Yachts, Solbian and Sailectron

Rising Star Sponsored by Lumishore

WINNER ­- Marko Škrbin, Marine Division Director, Elan Yachts

Lifetime Achievement Sponsored by Sleipner

WINNER - Leon Slikkers, founder of Slickcraft, S2, Tiara and Pursuit