Good Ideas at DAME 2021: And The Winners Are…

Volvo Penta has been announced as the overall winner of the DAME Awards at METSTRADE 2021 for its Assisted Docking System. The Volvo Penta Assisted Docking System works with the company’s proven IPS propulsion drives to provide hitherto unknown levels of fine maneuvering control in motor yachts, with the ability to take wind and current into account. A further five products were named as Category Winners and 15 received Special Mentions.

2021 Category Winners

Deck Equipment, Sails and Rigging: Bonomi JOY Self-Tailing Cleat

The Italian company Bonomi has been awarded the DAME Design Award 2021 for its range of cleats called JOY. These products are intended for the mooring of large boats. But with these products, no more difficulties to take the tension on the hawsers and to make the knots of the cleat under tension. The Joy system integrates on one side a freely rotating roller to take up the mooring tension and on the other side a toothed sheave, motorized, assuming a self-tailing function, just like what exists on a winch.

Jury Comment: Few enjoy the chore of heaving on a mooring warp; many have reasons why that level of physical effort is not possible. The JOY started life as a prototype to take the work out of Med mooring a 32-tonne sailing yacht. This cleat neatly incorporates a self-tailing warping drum. The Jury was immediately drawn to its clever function, pleasing form, and potential to enable people to handle heavier boats with less effort. The JOY is available in 100kg and 300kg capacities, with 12V and 24V versions.

Marine Electronics and Marine Related Software
Garmin Surround View Camera System

Jury Comment: There were several very strong candidates in this category. After robust discussion the Jury ultimately agreed that Garmin’s Surround View Camera System should take top honours. It utilises an array of six cameras to generate a composite aerial image of the area immediately around a boat and offers augmented reality features such as on-screen distance markers and virtual bumpers to assist. Traditional boat owners will rightly recognise this as new, whereas new entrants to boating stepping out of their birds-eye camera equipped cars will probably expect it as standard!

Lifesaving and Safety Equipment
ACR Electronics ResQLink View RLS Personal Locator Beacon

Jury Comment: The Jury viewed two personal locator beacons this year incorporating Galileo’s new GNSS Return Link alerting technology to provide an indication of distress receipt and rescue action. It was ACR’s integration of this technology into its very well designed ResQLink View RLS Personal Locator Beacon that was judged best. This unit is compact yet usable in extremis, very cohesive and confidence inspiring. The concept of providing hope to a cold shocked person in the water via a message on the ACR’s screen could just be the difference between life and death, so kudos to Galileo also.

Interior Equipment, Furnishing, Materials, and Electrical Fittings used in Cabins
Dometic Voyager TX Series

Jury Comment: Services equipment tucked behind panelling is often completely forgotten, but comfort afloat can be massively affected by how well it works. The Voyager TX variable capacity air conditioner is clearly the result of a lot of design input, from its neat housing, engineering and form factor matching older equipment for easy upgrade, through to energy efficiency. A night-time ‘Quiet Mode’ feature keeps the unit on constant tick over to maintain temperature, avoiding annoying on-off cycling.

Machinery, Propulsion, Mechanical, and Electrical Systems and Fittings
The Jury named joint winners in this category:
Mastervolt MLI Ultra 1250

Jury Comment: Mastervolt’s MLI Ultra 1250 lays a significant marker in terms of where battery technology is headed. This compact lithiumion battery is considerably smaller and lighter compared to equivalent conventional cells, neatly packaged in the manufacturer’s house style, nominally rated at 100Ah and available in 12V and 24V versions. It incorporates a Battery Management System, heat pad for cold weather operation and IP65 rating, as well as MasterBus, CZone and NMEA2000 compatible communication. An integrated battery switch automatically disconnects cells if issues arise with temperature, charge current and other factors.

Volvo Penta Assisted Docking

Jury comment: Volvo Penta has maximised the advantage it has of being able to independently vector thrust from its proven IPS (Inboard Performance System) drives. The Assisted Docking system digitally controls that ability using an Electronic Vessel Control system and integrated Dynamic Position System to provide hitherto unknown levels of fine manoeuvring ability. The system is easily operated via a joystick controller, even by a novice user of a motor yacht. A Glass Cockpit System assists situational awareness. If the person at the helm needs more time to think, they can take their hand off the joystick and the boat holds its precise position until the control is touched again.