DAME Design Award winners announced

The winners of the 2023 DAME Design Awards have been confirmed, rising above the nominated 53 products from 19 countries across four continents that entered the final rounds of judgement for the 32nd edition.

The overall DAME Award 2023 went to the Oceanvolt HighPower ServoProp, with nine products taking wins in eight brand new categories for this year, while 14 more received Special Mentions. The jury also named a recipient for its discretionary Environmental Design Award.

With several electric propulsion solutions nominated, the Jury selected the HighPower ServoProp 25 from Finnish electric inboard pioneer Oceanvolt to win the Propulsion & Dynamics category. In a closely run final round, this product then claimed the overall DAME 2023 Award against the other category winners.

The jury commended this 25kW electric saildrive as a well conceived and engineered product that tangibly moves the goalposts for 45-70 foot sailboats by providing a reliable and extremely quiet option for electrification.

Oceanvolt’s use of its controllable pitch propeller technology ensures maximum efficiency for propulsion and hydrogeneration, with the system able to return up 5kW of power when the yacht is sailing at 10 knots. The jury also noted how careful thought had been given to installation and ease of servicing when long-distance sailing.

“This year we shortlisted 53 out of 100 entries, the highest ratio of nominees since 2016,” noted Chair of the Jury, Andre Hoek. “That is indicative of the quality we saw across a healthy mix of genuinely new concepts as well as fresh design ideas for existing gear that has been with us for many years.

“As the DAME Awards reminds us annually, applying all facets of good design practice will benefit any product, large or small, simple or intricate.”

Hoek added, “There were noticeably more entries this year supporting the boat electrification agenda, but it must not be forgotten that the drive towards net zero must influence all new products in the industry today. Improving the lifecycle impacts of marine equipment is an imperative for any design process.

“The environmental statements we request for each entry give reason to believe the industry is moving in that direction while also highlighting there is much more to do.

“The DAME’s new categorization structure for this year helped the jury to focus on the intended end purpose of all products. It also balanced the entry field more evenly, resulting in us being able to name worthy winners for all categories.

“Several were in close contention for the overall award, but our eventual choice was unanimous. Our 2023 DAME Award winner shifts the market in its sector and expands the potential for its technology through excellent design and manufacturing execution.”

Each year, the organizers of the METSTRADE Show donate the combined registration fees for the DAME Design Award to selected charities as a way of giving back to society. For 2023, the METSTRADE Exhibition Committee awarded €14,250 to The Magenta Project, a collective working towards greater equity and inclusion in sailing, with a focus on gender.

The DAME Design Awards occurs at METSTRADE, which is the world’s largest trade exhibition for the global leisure marine industry. METSTRADE 2023 is on November 15-17 at the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam, celebrating its 35th anniversary.