Day Two of the Superyacht Design Symposium held at the Breaker’s Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, was also packed with facts and analysis about methods for reducing environmental impact and specifically greenhouse gases by both yachts and the yacht-building process.

“Sustainability is no longer a choice for our industry or our planet,” said Nicola Camuffo of Fincantieri, who issued this challenge to his colleagues. “Let’s spend our owners’ money to create real solutions rather than window dressing.”

Naval architects, engineers and builders tackled the issues from every angle, from reducing noise pollution to power consumption to materials choices and construction materials. Look for numerous articles on these topics in the coming months in ShowBoats International magazine as well as all of the international titles of Boat International Media.

		View photos from Day 1 of the Superyacht Design Symposium 2010
		View photos from Day 2 of the Superyacht Design Symposium 2010

For the international assembly of naval architects, yacht designers, builders, captains, and yacht owners present, the complex and still untested issues for compliance with the MLC commanded serious attention. Despite the fact that rules were adopted to protect merchant seamen in 2006, the reality of the fact that the yachting industry is not excluded from those rules is putting some new projects in a holding pattern while builders and design teams seek ways of meeting the spirit of the laws in ways that are appropriate to the recreational nature of yachting. Few in the industry could have imagined a year ago that yachts in charter service with 15 or more crew were going to need to provide a full onboard hospital, for example. While yachts in private service are exempt from the labor conventions, those that charter for any portion of the year must comply, leading owner Alan Dabbiere to say, “this is a time of genuine concern and I want answers.” Dabbiere, of Washington, DC, noted that he, like many of his peers have put new construction contracts on hold while rules and guidelines are solidified. “At he moment, he said, “we don’t know what to design.”

Following up, Chris Dlugokecki of Lloyds of London noted that the MLC will address issues of the causes of fatigue in the crew as well as recruitment and retention. In the fourth segment of the day, delegates were treated to images and specifications of a variety of amphibious aircraft suitable as flying tenders. The segment followed last year’s helicopter design symposium and covered the new field of light sport aircraft from Icon as well as durable workhorses such as the Cessna Caravan and the Dornier SeaStar. Capt Adam Domino, who heads the aircraft division of the Golden Fleet for Prince Khaled of Saudi Arabia noted that in many ways amphibious aircraft are easier to accommodate than heli-tenders.

Discussions continued far into the evening at an exclusive dinner for the designers at a private Palm Beach Mansion that had been dressed for the evening by a collection of superyacht vendors. The event continues today and will be followed by the gala ShowBoats Design Awards at the Mar-A-Lago, Donald Trump’s private members club in Palm Beach.

Last night, Brandon L. Rinker & Associates hosted a dinner for speakers and sponsors on the waterfront of an exclusive private mansion, just along from The Breakers resort where the Symposium takes place. Rinker, whose family has lived in Palm Beach for generations, told the Palm Beach Daily News, “It’s a phenomenal opportunity to market this home. With deep water and a private dock, this is a home designed for yacht owners.”

Local resident and yacht owner Alex Dreyfoos and his wife attended the dinner. Dreyfoos will be speaking at the Symposium on Tuesday, addressing his motivations and driving force behind the development of his award-winning SWATH hull design on his 134 ft yacht, Silver Cloud. Dreyfoos and his wife have just returned from a 19 month cruise on their purpose built yacht.

The program begins this morning with the most challenging issue facing the industry: Ramifications of the impending Maritime Labor Convention, which will have serious impact on the arrangement and size of crew areas for yachts in commercial service. The discussion will be led by Alan Dabbiere, former owner of Constance, who is keen to challenge how these regulations will affect him and his young family when they decide to build a new yacht.

“Maybe one in 100 yachts over 24 meters is not being built to comply with commercial (charter) requirements,” says Tony Hambrook, managing director of Alloy Yachts in New Zealand. “So you can see that this issue is going to affect all of yachting.” Also on the agenda for day one are sections about innovative designs for exterior living spaces and interior areas devoted to specific owner interests, cost containment, and amphibious aircraft as yacht tenders.

The Superyacht Design Symposium offers an exclusive opportunity to share in the unrivalled knowledge of our high-profile speakers. Large yacht owners, designers and other superyacht industry experts will lead panel discussions with an audience of their peers.

The most eagerly anticipated item on this year’s programme is the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) – Peter Southgate of the Cayman Island Yacht Registry will lead a discussion on its implications for superyacht design, with Alan Dabbiere, chairman of AirWatch and president of investment company AJD, providing an owner’s perspective.

Other topics to be discussed over the two days include:

• The environmental cost of building ‘green’ superyachts
• The successful collaboration of the different teams involved in the design and construction of a superyacht
• The needs of the modern superyacht owner

Click here for full programme details

On the evening of Tuesday 26th the most notable superyacht designs completed in 2009 will be honoured at the inaugural ShowBoats Design Awards gala dinner and ceremony at the nearby Mar-a-Lago Club; an exclusive event which will bring the Symposium to a close.

We are delighted to have the continued support of our gold sponsor Amico & Co, world leaders in superyacht refit and repair. In addition to silver sponsor Fincantieri, one of the largest shipbuilding groups in the world, and contributing sponsor and internationally acclaimed yacht designers Sparkman & Stephens, other prestigious sponsors of the Superyacht Design Symposium 2010 include:

• ADCO Technik – consultation, development and installation specialist

• Dale Chihuly – renowned artist whose glass masterpieces can be seen in more than 200 museums around the globe

• Steinway Lyngdorf – creators of innovative, high performance, digital audio systems

• Alexseal – yacht coatings specialist

• Clyde & Co – international law firm and experts in marine law

• Devonport Yachts – leaders in yacht design and engineering

• Loro Piana Interiors – an exclusive collection of fabrics for interiors and furnishings

• Pioneer Linens – luxury yacht and home linens specialists

• RINA – one of the oldest classification societies in the world

For more information about the Symposium please contact:

Sally Doyle
Event Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 117 987 1972
Email: info@superyachtdesignsymposium.com

The ShowBoats Design Awards will adopt the individual design awards formerly presented at the World Superyacht Awards. A number of new categories will also be added to recognise and acknowledge, for the first time ever, the industry’s talents specific to craft and design. Roger Lean-Vercoe will act as Chairman of the Judges, a neutral panel of experienced and passionate yacht owners, project managers, designers and craftsmen from a variety of backgrounds within the world of design.

Nominations for the ShowBoats Design Awards 2010 are now open and submissions are welcome up until the closing date of 15 April. Click here for a full list of categories and their descriptions. Boat International Media’s team of editors will review these nominations and refine this list to a group of outstanding finalists to be judged by the independent panel at the Judges Day in Monaco in June.

The winners of The ShowBoats Design Awards will be announced at a gala evening at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s private members club in Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday 26th October 2010. Click here to register your interest in attending the glittering awards ceremony.

The Breakers Hotel and Resort in Palm Beach will be this year’s venue for the Superyacht Design Symposium, held prior to the ShowBoats Design Awards and in the run up to the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. We are certain that this relocation from New York will encourage more superyacht owners than ever to participate as both speakers and delegates in sharing their passion for yachts and yacht design.

An exciting two day programme of lively presentation and in-depth discussions will be interspersed by elegant social events and plentiful networking opportunities. We invite superyacht owners to share and compare concepts and experiences with their peers in a professional environment, providing a platform for them to present personal projects for the first time ever to a wider audience.

Stimulating, authoritative, at times even controversial, the Superyacht Design Symposium will raise questions and discussion on the evolving design of superyachts and positively influence future projects. Designers, naval architects, project managers and captains will make up this essential Meeting of Minds, sponsored once again by Amico & Co and Chihuly.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN THE SUPERYACHT DESIGN SYMPOSIUM 2010

To take full advantage of the networking opportunities these events present, apply early for special rates and packages including accommodation at the Breakers Hotel and Resort.

It is with great excitement that Boat International Media announces the new home of the Superyacht Design Symposium for 2010 to be The Breakers Hotel and Resort, Palm Beach, Florida.

Palm Beach, described by Henry Flagler, father of modern Florida, as a “Veritable Paradise”, is the perfect location for this gathering of yachting professionals and enthusiasts in the run up to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Boat International Media has every confidence that the new venue for this exciting event will attract more then ever of the Superyacht Industry’s most notable names.

The two days of stimulating debate will be brought to a close with the new ShowBoats Design Awards gala evening in the staggeringly beautiful setting of the exclusive Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s private members Club.