The winners of the 2014 Motor Boat Awards, in association with Pantaenius, were announced last night at a Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony hosted by IPC Marine Media at The Landmark Hotel in London. A gathered audience of over 250 international guests saw Motor Boat Awards presented to winning boats in nine categories ranging from 16-foot Starterboats to super-luxury Custom Yachts. A further seven boats were Highly Commended by the judges.

The Award Ceremony was co-hosted by the editors of Motor Boat & Yachting and Motor Boats Monthly, Hugo Andreae and Rob Peake. A total of 55 boats were selected as finalists for the 2014 awards and the winners came from Austria, England, Italy and the US.

Alongside the three UK-manufactured boats that won on the night, a further three were highly commended by the judges – the English Harbour Yachts 16, the Hardy 62 and the Pearl 75 in the ‘Starter Boat’, ‘Trawler Yachts and Aft Cabin’ and ‘Flybridge over 55ft’ categories respectively. This reflects the UK’s continuing position as a leader in the design and manufacture of leisure boats.

This year the reader-nominated Garmin Europe Outstanding Service Award was presented to Norfolk Yacht Agency whose customers “convinced the judges not just with sheer force of numbers but with their heartfelt enthusiasm for the service they’d received”.

The final award of the night, The Judges’ Special Award, was given to Williams Performance Tenders for its outstanding contribution to the marine industry. On presenting the award to founding partners and brothers Matthew and John Hornsby, editor of Motor Boat & Yachting, Hugo Andreae said: “Williams are one of the outstanding stars of the British boat building industry. From a small shed in their parents’ back garden, they have grown into the UK’s most prolific boat builder.”

Simon Owen, Publishing Director of IPC Marine Media, congratulated the winners: “The wide range of nationalities we have welcomed onto the stage tonight perfectly reflects the growing international reach and appeal of Motor Boat & Yachting and Motorboats Monthly.

“Despite the harshness of recent years, it’s enormously gratifying to be in the company of winners and finalists who have once more impressed our judges with their mixture of high quality construction, design innovation and outstanding on-water performance.”

The 2014 Motor Boat Awards Pre-Dinner Drinks Reception was sponsored by Intellian and, after dinner, guests enjoyed a celebratory drink at the Motor Boat Awards Post Dinner Bar, sponsored by Dometic.

WINNERS OF THE MOTOR BOAT AWARDS 2014

Starter Boats
Winner: Bayliner Element
Manufacturer Brunswick Corporation (USA)

• High Commended – English Harbour Yachts 16 (UK)

Performance Boats
Winner: Frauscher 1017 GT
Manufacturer Frauscher (Austria)

Wheelhouse and Walkaround
Winner: Trusty T28
Manufacturer Trusty Boats (UK)

• High Commended – Contest 52MC (Holland)

Trawler Yachts and Aft Cabin
Winner: Outer Reef 700
Manufacturer Outer Reef Yachts (USA)

• High Commended – Hardy 62 (UK)

Sportscruiser up to 45ft
Winner: Atlantis 34
Manufacturer Azimut-Benetti (Italy)

• High Commended – Elan Power 30 (Croatia)

Sportscruiser over 45ft
Winner: Sunseeker San Remo
Manufacturer Sunseeker International (UK)

Flybridge up to 55ft
Winner: Princess 43
Manufacturer Princess International (UK)

• High Commended – Monte Carlo 5 (France)

Flybridge over 55ft
Winner: Azimut 80
Manufacturer Azimut-Benetti (Italy)

• High Commended Pearl 75 (UK)

Custom Yacht
Winner: Ferretti 960
Manufacturer Ferretti Group (Italy)

• High Commended – Monte Fino ecHo 85

Garmin Europe Outstanding Service Award
Winner: Norfolk Yacht Agency

The Judges’ Special Award
Williams Performance Tenders