Superyacht UK and the London Boat Show shine light on design talent

Superyacht UK is putting the invaluable design skill of hand-drawing under the spotlight once again at the 2016 London Boat Show. Taking place on the Show floor this year from Wednesday 14 to Thursday 15 January, the Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition is an opportunity for students to showcase their design ideas to industry representatives. Eleven students from Universities across the UK will be creating their competing designs from scratch live at the Show, helping to raise the profile of the marine industry as a potential career path and ensuring more talent is available for design houses.

Peter Brown of Burgess Yachts, comments, "The UK remains a global hub for superyacht design and Superyacht UK are keen to help nurture the next generation of home grown design talent. The core skill of hand sketching is increasingly rare and is often dismissed in favour of software generated design work, and so the challenge for young designers becomes one of differentiating themselves from much of the competition by employing a more traditional skillset when the situation demands it."

On Thursday 15 January, three representatives from prestigious British yacht design and naval architect companies - Peter Brown from Burgess, Bill Dixon from Dixon Yacht Design and Justin Olesinski from Olesinski - will be judging the hand drawings. The winner will then be announced in the Show's Theatre at 3.30pm later that day, with the winner receiving a prestigious four week internship with Pendennis Shipyard.

Richard Selby, International Development Manager for British Marine and Superyacht UK, comments: "Superyacht UK's objectives are to actively promote the role of British excellence throughout the world, and to provide greater co-ordination for the industry while providing support to UK member companies. The Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition is an opportunity for young British Designers to be recognised by the industry and gain invaluable work experience and contacts."

David Rowles, a third year student from Coventry University, scooped the top prize in the inaugural design competition last year at the 2015 London Boat Show. He later went on to be offered a position in the Pastrovich Studio in Monaco.

The London Boat Show takes place from 8 -17 January 2016 at ExCeL London. Buy tickets before the 8 January from £10, with two children 15 or under going free with each adult. To purchase tickets and for further information visit: www.londonboatshow.com.