Winners: Beneteau Foundation competition about The Modular Sailboat

For the tenth consecutive year, the Beneteau Foundation organised a competition aimed at European students. This year's competition focused on the conception and design of a modular monohull sailboat.

Modularity of space being fundamental in today's design, attention was focused on the design of a scenario allowing for at least 2 possible configurations. It could be a short time modularity linked to the activities on the boat and/or a longer time modularity linked to the life of the boat. This concept of modularity had to take into account the interior and exterior fittings of the boat.

The jury met on 29 January 2021 and was composed of the following members : Annette Roux, President of the Beneteau Foundation, Louis-Claude Roux, Vice-Chairman of Groupe Beneteau's Bord of Directors, François Pelegrin, Architect, Gianguido Girotti, Groupe Beneteau's Deputy CEO in charge of Product and Brand Strategy, Damien Jacob, Sailboat Marketing Director, Erik Stromberg, Powerboat Marketing Director, Cyril Sancereau, Photographer - Architect, and the 2018 winners Antoine Capaldi, Tanguy de Bonnières and Aurel Bonnin.

First prize : Fuboat Fuboat_Competition Foundation 2020
Thibault Hiss, student at ENSAAMA 2019/2020 and the Beaux-arts de Paris 2020-21 

The Fuboat concept is inspired by the fundamental principles of traditional Japanese houses and their principles of modularity of space. In addition, the rigging's load-bearing structure allows the interior space to be freed from a through mast, creating a modular living space. The jury particularly appreciated the bold and elegant design of this project

Second prize : Optimus 36  Optimus 36_Competition Foundation 2020

Amaury Pluyaut, a student at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Nantes and the Ecole Centrale de Nantes

By choosing to temporalize the spaces rather than fragment them, the concept of the Optimus 36 proposes to restore volume to the interior by subdiving the hull into three modular parts. It is thus possible to divide the layout of the yacht into five configurations. The jury rewarded here the quality of the concept as well as the technical response provided.    

Third prize : Flower Power

Eliot Montaudon, a student at the School of Design of Nantes and the IUT of Nantes

The Flower Power has an extension that unfolds to offer 3 positions. More than a simple tender on the water, it replaces the bimini when on board and can also be used as a stern platform. This dual use of the dinghy was particularly noticed by the jury.