This year’s trophies have undergone a radical transformation thanks to Razeto & Casareto

This year’s Boat Builder Awards, held in association with METSTRADE, will be ringing the changes with additional award categories, additional subject matter experts in the jury and a new pre-dinner VIP reception at METSTRADE. Marking the occasion, our trophies have also undergone a radical transformation thanks to our BBA trophy sponsor, Italian accessories specialists, Razeto & Casareto

The brief from Boat Builder Awards’s co-organisers, IBI and METSTRADE, was to create something unique, innovative, inclusive of the entire industry and sustainable.

“I decided to approach this commission from an artistic point of view…in my opinion a trophy is a piece of art, a sculpture. It should synthesise a concept in a symbol, an icon, to generate impressions and emotions,” explains Giangi Razeto, the man tasked with turning the brief into reality.

Razeto is a designer and sculptor by trade, his talents more normally focused on creating distinctively-designed door handles for yachts and superyachts – so the Boat Builder Award trophy presented a different challenge but one he could approach with his artisan’s eye. “My design usually starts from a functional perspective – For the trophy I had to create something iconic. A trophy is something which will remain in showrooms and offices, should remind, and encapsulate the pride of the moment in a symbol.” That, for Razeto, turned out to be the figure-eight knot. “It is a symbol of dedication and commitment; it means infinity and complexity. The knot unites the whole marine industry – a symbol of safety and salvation together with the rope – is present on every boat.”

Razeto brought the idea to life, first creating a 3-D mock up by setting rope in resin, then back to engineering to find the right manufacturing technique. Embracing the latest technology, it was decided to use 3-D printing and corn – a natural recycled material for 3D printing feed stock that, when printed, matched the textured surface of rope.

Razeto has also created special awards enriched with wood veneer for companies that receive an honourable mention on the night.

“We approached Razeto & Casareto because of their unique skills set and manufacturing capabilities – we were keen for the BBA trophies to reflect more closely the spirit of the awards,” said BBA chair of judges and IBI Editor, Ed Slack. “Giangi has nailed the brief, giving a modern twist to an iconic symbol, encapsulating what our industry is about at its core, while creating a piece of art to stand proudly in the offices and on the stands of our winners.”

With less than two weeks to go and tickets selling out fast, be sure not to miss out on one of the industry most magical events. Book you tickets now.

The 2023 Boat Builder Awards is running on Thursday 16 November this year for the first time – the second night of METSTRADE. Individual tickets are priced at just €300 plus VAT with tables of ten at €3000 plus VAT. You can purchase tickets online here or for further information please visit www.ibinews.com/bba2023/tickets