2019 Pittman Innovation Awards

For the past couple of decades, the digital side of sailing has become increasingly important, to the point where it’s now almost inconceivable going offshore, even aboard a daysailer, without at least a modicum of electronics onboard—a trend that has been very much in evidence in SAIL’s annual Pittman Innovation Awards.

Still, in the course of SAIL’s 2019 awards, while tech remains preeminent, we found a number of innovative candidates that add a new twist to some of the true basics of sailing and cruising—including a new kind of electrical system that frees boats of the need for a generator, a new kind of 3D printed block and even a digital variant on the age-old yarn telltale.

Of course, the purely digital side of things also remains in force, as can be seen in such eye-popping bits of gear as Raymarine’s new augmented reality system. But then again, the purely analog side of sailing also continues to play a role, as is evident in Antal’s new quick-release clutch and even a new kind of sailing shoe.

Bottom line, as always, we think SAIL’s late products editor Freeman K. Pittman, for whom these annual innovation awards are named, would have been impressed.

Integrel Advanced Generator Replacement Technology was deemed the overall winner. Here’s the list of division winners:

RACING
• TrimControl Electronic Telltale
• Colligo Marine Revo Blocks
• Spider Shoes Total Grip
• Antal QR Quick Release Clutches

ELECTRONICS
• Starlight LED helming guide
• Spinlock Sail-Sense
• Raymarine ClearCruise AR (Augmented Reality)
• Fusion Apollo Series Stereo

CRUISING & SAFETY
• EuroDesign Composite Teak Decking
• Mustang Khimera Dual Flotation PFD
• Shakespeare Galaxy INFL8 Emergency VHF Antenna
• SiOnyx Aurora Day/Night Camera

SYSTEMS
• Integrel Advanced Generator Replacement Technology
• BG-One Bilge Switch

Full Report… click here