The DAME Awards, the marine trade Oscars, are given in recognition of design elegance, functional beauty, and ease of use.
These desirable qualities are certainly found in this year's overall winner, but unfortunately it's not something most of us are going to be able to find room for on our boats.
The Teaky Beach Stern Platform Chaise Longue from Opacmare S.p.A. of Italy is described by the DAME jury as “a very elegant product that can be completely hidden in the deck when not in use, allowing that part of the yacht to be employed for other purposes.”
Should a person want to sunbathe, or merely relax on deck, hidden hydraulics, a cushion, and a simple handheld electronic control apparently turn the Teaky Beach into an extremely comfortable lounge chair.
The hydraulic package is so carefully engineered that the Teaky Beach only requires about 75 mm (3 inches) of depth, thus enabling a normal-height cabin below it. “While this product is aimed at the upper end of the market, it can be fitted on boats as small as about 20 meters (65.6 feet).” That's all right then!
Yacht designer Bill Dixon, chairman of the DAME jury, said: “I think the winner deserves their accolade. The jury as a whole liked the simplicity and originality of the product, and it is a fun feature.
"Like all good design, after the first spark of a new idea, it is the execution into a commercial product that counts. The finished product was easy to install and importantly took up very little volume. I believe the product could be put in a variety of locations on both power and sailing yachts.”
Rather more accessible, the new Henri Lloyd Atmosphere Jacket received a special mention within its category at the DAME Awards, announced at the opening of METS, the Marine Trade Equipment Show in Amsterdam today.
The Atmosphere Jacket is constructed from one of the most technically advanced fabrics ever made by Henri Lloyd - TP AC, which features Adaptive Performance Technology, which sounds almost too good to be true.
TP AC is a new waterproof, windproof and extremely breathable fabric that is temperature sensitive. It is said to respond to the wearer's body temperature, either by encouraging both heat and vapour to escape, helping cool the wearer, or by restricting the loss of heat therefore helping to maintain warmth.
The outer fabric has also been treated with a SDWR (Super Durable Water Repellency) finish - which help to shed water, so accelerating drying times and increasing comfort.
The jacket also offers the level of design and workmanship Henri Lloyd has become known for. All the seams are micro-stitched and taped. The shape of the jacket is contoured to reduce windage, articulated for ease of movement and a differential hem offers both more protection and ease of fit.
Other features include a quick drying Rentex mesh collar lining, said to offer “supreme softness to sensitive facial areas”, two side pockets with water resistant zips and a secure zip fastening internal pocket.
The jacket also features the Henri Lloyd hood and collar system, incorporating a stowaway hood, with single handed adjustment and release shock-cord, combining customized fit and ease of use. The durability and “variant comfort qualities of the jacket” will be maintained even after washing, says the company.
The jacket is available in Phosphorous, Carbon, Optical White, Red and Navy and in sizes S - XXL and will be launched at the London Boat Show 2008 at a recommended retail price of £110.
