THE JUDGES

In order to decide these awards in as fair a manner as possible, we have adopted the same completely transparent judging procedures that have distinguished the World Superyacht Awards and set them apart from others.

In this respect we have assembled a wholly independent jury comprised of yacht owners, senior yacht crew and acclaimed designers and stylists from within as well as outside the marine industry. All these have expert knowledge in their specific fields and will meet together to deliberate their findings prior to The Rendezvous in Monaco in June.


Ed Barber Designer, Barber Osgerby
		Barber Osgerby was established in 1996 by Ed Barber and Jay Osgerby who met whilst studying Architecture at the Royal College of Art in London. The duo has since developed products and collections for a diverse range of clients including Cappellini, Levis, Coca Cola, Stella McCartney and Established & Sons. They have also received commissions to design furniture for Plymouth Cathedral, the De La Warr Pavilion and the Royal Institute of British Architects. Barber Osgerby have gone on to win numerous awards for furniture and product design and in 2007 were awarded the title of Royal Designers for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts. Their work is found in many permanent collections including the V&A Museum in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Design Museum in London.

Michael & Bettina Bradfield A couple who have led several projects involving the design, build and re-build of large yachts.

Captain Magic Owner of Sea Force One
		Born in 1969 in Venice, Italy, this international financier is best known as the enigmatic “Captain Magic.” His yacht, Sea Force One, is a fusion of technology and contemporary art, intimate corners, and inviting social areas. The key to distilling the emotional and sensual impact of this 54 metre tour de force is understanding the yin and yang of her young owner and his alter ego. Captain Magic believes that we live in an emotional world, taking a philosophical view that we can all be whatever we want to be. He considers Sea Force One a realization of his dream, “the ultimate toy: part art and part party—the sharing of movement. Party is very important: it’s when you lose your place and become like everyone else, a sharing element, sharing energy.”

Ron Holland Yacht Designer, Ron Holland Design
		Ron Holland established himself as a successful racing sailor, ocean yachtsman and designer from a young age. He grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, where he was apprenticed as a boat builder and designed his first yacht – the 26′ White Rabbit – whilst still a teenager. The opportunity to race and undertake ocean passages took Holland to the United States where he found employment as a trainee naval architect with the renowned Gary Mull. He returned to New Zealand briefly to help in the construction of an Admiral’s Cup yacht and then sailed her to Europe. Back in the States, he designed and built his own quarter tonner Eygthene, which he then sailed to victory in both the US and Europe, establishing a reputation that enabled him to set up his own yacht design business. Ron Holland Design, based in Kinsale, Ireland, rapidly achieved international renown as one of the world’s most successful racing yacht design studios before moving into performance superyacht design – first (and principally) in sailing yachts and, more latterly, in motor yachts too. As the studio celebrates longevity in the marine and yachting industry, Ron Holland continues to provide hands-on leadership, deploying his considerable experience to ensure the yachts designed offer excellent security, sea-keeping and handling, as well as performance, aesthetics and comfort.

Kathryn Ireland Interior Designer, Kathryn M. Ireland Textiles & Design
		Kathryn is the principal of Kathryn M. Ireland Textiles & Design, an interior design house with worldwide clientele. Her look has been described as comfortable, bohemian, and family friendly with large doses of colour and a lack of orthodoxy. The signature Kathryn M. Ireland look now extends from fabrics to furniture. Her fabric line was launched in 1997 and is distributed in her showrooms in Los Angeles and London, as well as selected showrooms around the world. Elle Decor dubbed it seat-of-the-pants chic. House & Garden included Ireland among “10 to Watch” architects and designers expected to influence 21st-century style. For the last decade, House Beautiful has named her one of the top 100 designers in the United States.

Dan Jackson Manager of J-Class yacht Ranger and M/Y Vita
		Dan’s passion for sailing began at the age of 8 in the City boat basin youth club in Islington, London and continued to develop as he grew up in Hamble, Hampshire. Aged 16 he volunteered with the Ocean Youth Club, a registered charity, sailing as bosun on their 72ft ketches, taking youngsters aged 15 to 21 from many walks of life sailing in the Solent, English Channel and Bay of Biscay. In 1983 Dan joined The Royal Navy as an electrician and served until 1988. While serving in the Navy he continued to cruise and race sailing yachts. Upon completion of his Naval service Dan joined a 65ft sailing yacht refitting in Southampton and sailed the boat to the Caribbean. After sailing on a number of yachts as mate / engineer, at just 25 Dan was made Captain of the 32m Schooner, Vagrant by British entrepreneur Peter de Savary and went on to captain the 37m Dubois Ketch Taramber, also for de Savary. Dan then went on to Captain another Dubois yacht, the Alloy Yachts built Espada, (renamed Sea of Oz after an extensive refit) working for 3 years for a Media Mogul from LA. In 1997, 9 years after his entry into the professional superyacht business Dan got involved in his first new build project working for Perini Navi as Yard Captain to assist in the completion, commisioning and sea trials of the 52m Ketch Liberty. He followed this position through to Captain the yacht for its first season of cruising and charter over the winter of 1997 / 1998. In July 1998 Dan was employed by US businessman John Williams to assist in the construction and commissioning, at Alloy yachts, of the then largest sloop in the world, the 48m Georgia. Upon completion Dan Captained Georgia for 3 years before moving on to oversee the final year of construction of the owner’s new yacht, The J-Class Ranger. Ranger was completed in 2004 and after captaining the yacht for its first year of cruising and racing Dan stepped back and currently oversees the operation of the Ranger and the owner’s power yacht, the 46m Trinity, Vita.

Thomas Kjaerholm Kjaerholm Productions
		Born in Denmark in 1961, Thomas Kjaerholm has a passion for design following in the footsteps of his father, Poul Kjaerholm. Thomas started his career with PP Furntiure where he qualified as a cabinet-maker in 1987. He then continued his career aboard, spending one year in the US and four years in Europe consulting in and selling Danish design furniture. In 1995, Thomas returned to Denmark to open his own furniture business, focusing on the sale of Danish design and in particular the Kjaerholm collection. This business has hence grown to include own production of certain Kjaerholm pieces. Thomas takes great pride in his heritage and has through many years in the industry developed a unique eye for furniture and interior design.

Evan K. Marshall Yacht Designer, Evan K. Marshall / Usonia V
		Based in London and established in 1993, Evan K. Marshall / Usonia V specializes in both custom and semi-custom yacht interior and exterior design. Marshall’s background includes both naval and land-based architecture, as well as interior design and his office has recently branched out into other areas of luxury design including residential projects, private coach interiors and several other special creative endeavours.

Paul Sherrill Solis Betancourt
		Paul Morgan Sherrill, a native of North Carolina, was greatly influenced by his grandparents who were painters and weavers. These influences lead him to study art and design throughout his childhood. Having received numerous scholarships to attend The Patterson Preparatory School, he further concentrated on his artistic studies. He then trained and graduated with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human and Environmental Sciences and a degree in Art. In 1992 Mr. Sherrill relocated to Washington, DC and began working as an interior designer for Solis Betancourt, Inc. There he flourished under the tutelage of José Solís Betancourt and he further developed the business to include custom designed furnishings and lighting, that are now a signature of Solis Betancourt and represented through Holly Hunt Showrooms. Mr. Sherrill was named partner and serves as the vice president of Solis Betancourt, Inc.

Chef Peter Quarrie Galley Solutions
		Peter is responsible for the conception of Galley Solutions through which he provides an introductory service to place chefs on yachts, in private villas and residential homes. Peter is the key contact for chefs and yachts seeking recruitment services. Trained as a chef, his most recent position working in the industry was as head chef on board Alfa Nero. He has worked on both sail and motor yachts including The Maltese Falcon, Hyperion and Pelorus, therefore has a sound understanding of the set up and day to day running of a busy galley. His years of experience has given him first hand exposure to the unique requirements of chefing within the yachting industry.

Linda von Allmen Owner of Linda Lou
		Linda Von Allmen is most well known for her tireless and passionate philanthropic work, mostly associated with the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. Her background however is in business, sales, marketing and home interior design. Linda and her husband Douglas have built 6 boats and a partial refit. Their first motor yacht was a 55ft Sunseeker followed by a 76ft Lazarra (interior designer Chris DeLashmutt) and a 124ft Delta, interior designed by Claudette Bonville. Then came the partial refit of their 150ft Trinity ‘Lady Linda’, working with Claudette Bonville. In 2006 Linda and Douglas took delivery of two yachts; M/Y ‘Lady Linda’ (a 157ft Trinity), where they worked with the interior designer Evan K. Marshall, and M/Y ‘Linda Lou’ (a 197ft Lurssen), which received the highly prestigious Showboats International Award for best custom interior in a motor yacht in 2007. The designer Francois Zuretti’s intricately detailed, rounded interior spaces resulted in the perfect combination of flair, extravagance, practicality and comfort. Linda and Doug are soon to take delivery of their new build 187ft Trinity where they have again joined forces with Evan. K. Marshall, who will take this trinity to another level. Building custom yachts is certainly not for the faint hearted! It has involved an immense amount of vision, determination, patience, organization and knowledge. Of course, let’s not forget a little good humor at times!

Hugh Welbourn Naval Architect
		Headed by Hugh Welbourn and specialising in international racing yacht design the Welbourn Design group has been on the leading edge of innovation and yacht design for 30 years. With its long history of involvement at the top end of yacht racing, the Welbourn Design office if recognised as one of the leading lights in foil development as well as performance optimisation. Creator of a new design concept, the Dynamic Stability System, a way of increasing the stability of a yacht (and therefore the speed) without the risks associated with canting keels through the use of a retractable foil which generates stability and progressive dynamic lift on the leeward side of the vessel.