David Rowles, a third year student from Coventry University, has won inaugural Superyacht UK Design competition at the CWM FX London Boat Show. Mark Tucker (Design Unlimited), James Claydon (Claydon Reeves) and Philippe Briand (Philippe Briand Ltd) joining Superyacht UK Vice Chairman Peter Brown from Burgess Yachts on the judging panel.
Eight students from Plymouth, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Central Lancashire Universities were invited by Superyacht UK, an association within the British Marine Federation, to take part in the competition.
Philippe Briand commented: “I am delighted to be supporting this competition inspiring young British design talent. The BMF and Superyacht UK are doing a fantastic job to grow the British superyacht industry with this contest. I too am committed to the British superyacht industry and community and have relocated my Head Office to London to be at the centre of the yachting world.”
Sharing his views of the competition, David Rowles said: “It has been an amazing experience as I am totally enthused by boats. The competition has presented a lot of opportunities and there is so much to be achieved from being involved. It will also help to get us recognised. The invitation was a nice surprise, and I entered with hesitating.”
Peter Brown of Burgess commented: “As people become more comfortable using advanced computer software to design, it is possible that the specialised skill of drawing by hand is becoming a lost art, In the superyacht world, designing a yacht by hand is essential. Designers need to be able to quickly capture the client’s imagination in the short time they have with them.”