Entering the competition

Entries are welcomed from amateur designers, professionals and from dinghy manufacturers. Intellectual property associated with the design remains with the designer – but the designs may be described or published in Yachting Monthly, in the Royal Cruising Club Journal and in other publications so if there are particular ideas that are novel you may wish to take steps to protect them.

Click here to download the RCC’s competition criteria.

Your entry should comprise:

1. A designer’s brief (500 words or less):

Designers are asked to describe (in English please) the brief from a notional or real client – describing the cruising boat, the nature of the cruises to be undertaken, the crew, and any constraints or features that the client may be looking for. In assessing the entries the judges will want to gauge how well the design meets that brief – but they will also be looking for a tender that will meet the needs of a wider group of cruising folk. Because of this we would suggest that the brief assumes a maximum size of cruising boat at around 50 feet overall.

2. A description of the design:

Designers should provide sufficient detail (LOA, Beam, estimated hull weight, dimensions of spars, oars or paddles, some scantlings, number of passengers, stowed dimensions if different) so that the judges can evaluate the design, and so that the tender can be built by an experienced builder familiar with the chosen materials. You should also aim to highlight features of the dinghy that match it to the design brief – whether this is done by notes on the drawings or in a separate description of the design – again under 500 words.

3. Illustrations:

You may wish to include the following:

• a drawing or drawings showing the elevation, body sections and plan view, a sail plan with centreboard/leeboard/rudder and (if the arrangement is unusual) how an outboard might be attached

• a sketch showing the positions of the oarsman (or person paddling) and passenger(s) to demonstrate both the distribution of weight and that the dinghy will be comfortable to use

• photographs of another dinghy that show any special feature or the detail of the proposed construction or photographs of a model of the design

You should not be concerned about the quality of the drawings or photos nor of the written material – provided your intention as the designer is clear and the qualities of the design can be assessed. Whilst many will wish to submit a drawing showing the elevation, body sections and plan view, submitting a model with sketches, notes and photographs is also acceptable for those that find drawing difficult.

Send your entry to:
Dinghydesign@ipcmedia.com

The judges will wish to examine the details of the designs before they meet so please could you submit as much material as is practical using widely available file formats such as pdf, jpg and jpeg for drawings or photographs, doc, docx or .odt for text and .xls, xlsx or .ods for spreadsheet tables. Whilst the judges will examine carefully any models or drawings sent as hard copy when they meet and if you are using any CAD system they will also be pleased to look at submissions made in DXF or DWG format, the process is easier if judges can prepare using the material that you have submitted via email. Thank you for your help with this.

As much material as possible should be sent by email but written material can also be sent to RCC/Yachting Monthly dinghy design competition, 9th Floor, The Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0SU. Those who wish to submit a model should email Dinghydesign@ipcmedia.com so arrangements can be made for this.

Entries should be submitted before close of business on Monday 1st October 2012. Please label all material with the name of the design and the designer and include a contact name, email address and phone number with your submission.