Retail Marketing Initiative
Brunswick Boat Group’s Mercury Marine for the Go Boating promotional video
Jussi Sepponen, Director Marketing & Product Management EMEA
Brunswick Boat Group and Mercury Marine’s Go Boldly video foregoes the usual approach of product advertising and instead, promotes the passion and emotional engagement of boating and watersports. The judges recognized this as a brilliantly well-executed piece of marketing for a modern age where experience is more important than brand.
Boat Builder International Distributor/ Dealer Development
Correct Craft
Will Furze, International Sales Manager
The judges were awestruck at the amount of time that Correct Craft’s CEO, Bill Yeargin, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the world’s key markets. He and his team more than doubled the company’s international presence since 2010, a truly outstanding result.
Boat Builder International Distributor/ Dealer Development
Fairline Yachts
Karl Gilding, Business Development Director Fairline Yachts
Fairline Yachts achievement is equally impressive in terms of not only retaining the loyalty of existing dealers through troubled times but then building a brand-new framework that has resulted in a major boost to confidence, dealer investment, and a resurgence of orders.
Boat Builder & Equipment Manufacturer Collaborative Solution
Groupe Beneteau and Multiplast for the Figaro 3 foils project
Thomas Gaillard, Product Manager Beneteau, Damien Jacob, Product Manager Beneteau, Dominique Dubois, Delphine Planes, Purchasing Director Beneteau
The implications of Multiplast’s work with Beneteau are potentially profound. Their collaboration has opened the possibility for foils to be used in more widespread production yachting applications, which is exciting. The time, financial and quality disciplines applied to this project also impressed the judges.
Innovative On-board Design Solution
Sunseeker International for the Manhattan 52 Beach Club concept
Alex Bowman, Talent Manager
This was a very strong category but the judges were ultimately attracted to the research and design effort made by Sunseeker to provide a host of obvious and disguised features at the stern of the Manhattan 52. These features promise to optimize pleasure and safety for children and parents when at anchor.
Environmental Initiative
Campion Marine for its use of environmentally friendly hull moulding materials
Sara Anghel, President Nmma (on behalf of Campion Marine Inc)
There was a very broad range of entries for to judge in 2017, but it was decided that the standout winner was a boatbuilder who has committed to improving its environmental credentials right at the point of hull manufacture, an area under increasing scrutiny. The Judges look forward to seeing further progress by Campion Marine and others in this area.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Princess Yachts
David King, Co-founder
For over 50 years David King oversaw the design, innovation, and direction of all new yachts, drawing on his engineering expertise and his impeccable eye for detail to create a craft of exceptional style and quality, up to 40m in size. His personal commitment was enormous. Now, after steering Princess Yachts to global recognition, he successfully handed over the helm of the 2,500-employee business to an executive team but remains very much involved as a consultant on product development.
Best Apprenticeship and Trainee Scheme
Sunseeker International for its high commitment to apprenticeships and training
Alex Bowman, Talent Manager
The judges understand that training runs through the DNA of Sunseeker International. Its apprenticeship programme not only provides proven benefits directly to the company but also throughout the region in which Sunseeker is based. Improving the leadership skills of a company’s team is similarly vital and Sunseeker has committed dedicated resources to this task.
Innovation in a Production Process
Bavaria Yachtbau for its MODUTEC system
Stefan Klaassen, Head of Sales Simon Claxton, Sales Manager Americas
This was a very difficult category to assess, with all judges commending Azimut’s growing use of carbon fiber in mainstream production. But in the final judgment, the Boatbuilder Awards could not ignore the way in which Bavaria has developed its production lines to encompass very large off-hull modules, fully fitted out with systems, to improve production time, quality and cost.