A day inspired by innovation and design at the 61st Genoa International Boat Show with the second edition of the Design Innovation Award, established by the Italian Marine Industry Association and I Saloni Nautici in 2020, to celebrate the global Show’s 60th anniversary. An overwhelming success this year in terms of both quantity and quality: 94 exhibitors applied for their latest and most innovative product to be considered for the prestigious Award aimed at promoting excellence across the boating production industry, with a focus on products that stand out for the research behind their conception and their innovation, formal and technical quality, and sustainability.
This year the Jury included Silvia Piardi, Honorary Professor of Design at the Politecnico di Milano, Andrea Ratti, Chair M.Sc. Yacht & Cruising Vessel Design, also at the Politecnico di Milano, providing their expertise in design and boating, Franco Michienzi, Editor-in-chief of the magazine BARCHE and Nabil Farhat, Editor-In-Chief at The World of Yachts & Boats, two expert journalists specialised in the yachting industry, Carlotta de Bevilacqua, President & CEO of Artemide SpA, Luisa Bocchietto, Senator of the World Design Organization, and chaired by Nicola Carlone, Admiral Inspector Chief of the Port Authority Corps – Coast Guard. This line-up of industry and design announced their decisions for the various categories, underlining just how much attention was given to the sustainability criteria and the environment, something that is clearly becoming a collective and distinctive commitment at the heart of innovative designs across all sectors.
The winners of the Design Innovation Award 2021 are: the Ecoracer by Northern Light Srl for the Sailboats under 10 mt. category; the MOMI 80 by VISMARA MARINE CONCEPT Srl for the Sailboats over 10 mt. category; the BMA X 277 by Ribitaly Srl for the Motorboats under 10 mt. category; the BG72 by Bluegame Srl for the Motorboats over 10 mt. category; the Granturismo Cruiser 11.0 by Lomac Nautica srl for the RIBs category; the AZIMUT GRANDE TRIDECK by AZIMUT YACHTS Srl for the Superyachts over 24 mt. category; the Swan Shadow by Nautor Swan srl for the Superboats over 10 mt. category; Scafo multimodale by Gerrisboats for the Multihulls category; the Micro Plastic Collector by Suzuki Italia Spa for the Nautical Equipment and Components category. The Design Innovation Award 2021 Honorary Mentions went to the AMER 120 by Permare Srl for the Superyachts over 24 mt. category and to the Sanitank by Igea Biochemical Srl for the Nautical Equipment and Components category. the Jury also assigned a Special Prize for Outstanding Innovation (which is not tied to a single category) to the model Future by Uniboat – Argonauts Team. The Liguria International Prize, on the other hand, went to the Energy Pack by H2Boat Srl.
The Award Ceremony ended with the Special Prize for Outstanding Career – Boating Pioneer Award (Manager category) which was handed to Giuseppe Balducci of Overmarine Group Spa, who, with his many talents and entrepreneurship was capable of anticipating the needs of an ever-changing market, founding Mangusta, a brand of the Overmarine Group that is still a world leader in open series.
Saverio Cecchi, President of the Italian Marine Industry Association and I Saloni Nautici: “This is the Award’s second year since its creation, dedicated specifically to innovation. Interest is clearly growing since this year saw an incredible 94 candidates “.
Admiral Nicola Carlone, Inspector Chief of the Port Authority Corps – Coast Guard: “Energy saving and innovation acted as the fil rouge of this Award’s 2021 edition”
Luisa Bocchietto, Coordinator of the Design Innovation Award: “The Jury was particularly focused on the environment. The various judges congratulate all of the contestants. There were so many contenders this year sending in their products, born from their passion for the guiding themes of this Award. The boating industry deserves to be awarded”
A large audience this afternoon gathered at the Breitling Theatre to enjoy a talk featuring Giancarlo Pedote, the ocean sailor who completed the latest Vendée Globe – the solo regatta around the world without assistance and without stops – in eighth place. Joining him on stage was Valerio Battista, CEO of the main sponsor Prysmian, and representatives of the other partners involved in the achievement (Helly Hansen, Lombardini Marine, Raymarine and Gottifredi Maffioli). Pedote announced his intention to take part in the next edition of the Globe, scheduled to take place in 2024. He will be sailing once again on the IMOCA 60 Prysmian Group, consolidating a partnership that has been active for an impressive 14 years. “I am thrilled to take part in the next Vendée Globe”, stated a clearly beaming Pedote. “Obviously our objective is to get better. As for my commitment I can assure you that I will be giving 100% this time as well to overcome a challenge that is as unique as it is extraordinary”. Pedote will also be committing to environmental sustainability, thanks to a scientific project developed in partnership with the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC), aimed at measuring the current state of health of the Oceans thanks to PRY-CAM technology, developed by Prysmian Group using PRY-CAM MINILOG data gathering devices.
The 61st Genoa International Boat Show looks to the future: ten start-ups, taking part in the Italian StartUp initiative in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency, presented their latest and most innovative products. Those taking part included Atlantide, Boost Marine, LB9 Brand, Generma, Uniboat, Dresscoders, Gerrisboats, E4BOAT, E-concept, Openfactory.
Many of the solutions were tied to green, eco-friendly mobility aimed at the world of yachting, which also saw creations using wearable technologies applied to fabrics, innovative systems connected to using hybrid or full electric technology focused on minimising environmental impact, and conversion systems that can transform wave-induced motion into electricity.
Collateral events at the Breitling Theatre saw the AIGO – Associazione Italiana Gastroenterologi e Endoscopisti ospedalieri (Italian Association of Hospital-based Gastroenterologists) presenting an in-depth analysis of the report “Your diet and the sea”, explaining the history of the matter at hand and introducing a “decalogo” for how you should eat when at sea.
