Hiswa te Water & Boat of the Year Organization 2026 Awards have been officially unveiled.
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Recognising Excellence in Recreational Boat Design and Innovation
This year’s nominations follow the close of registrations on 1 July. Recognising excellence in recreational boat design and innovation, the awards will once again celebrate outstanding achievements across four categories: Motor Yachts, Electric Boats, Sailing Yachts, and Open Motorboats.
To qualify, nominated boats were required to have been launched after 1 January 2025, measure between 3 and 20 metres in length, and be available for sea trials ahead of Hiswa te Water 2026.
Record Entries
This year’s awards attracted a particularly strong field, with the Motor Yacht category receiving a record 14 entries, making it the most competitive in the programme’s history. After careful assessment, the expert judging panels selected three finalists in each category.
The nominated boats are:
- Open Motorboat: Bola Grand Ship 28, Highfield ADV7, Protagon 21
- Electric Boat: Canna C-One, Esea Open Day Boat 800, Qrafter eQruiser 800 S
- Motor Yacht: Passage Tender 42, Rapsody R35 V-Foil, Steeler Enigma 50
- Sailing Yacht: Dragonfly 36, Enksail Halcyon 50, Saffier SE 28 Leopard
Technical Experts and Public Jury Members
The judging panels comprise technical experts, marine journalists and a naval architect, alongside a public jury member in each category – a successful initiative introduced last year that continues to attract significant interest from boating enthusiasts.
The final stage of judging will take place during the weekend preceding Hiswa te Water 2026, when juries will conduct comprehensive sea trials from Batavia Haven, Lelystad, to determine the winners.
Hiswa te Water Boat of the Year Awards 2026 Presented on September 1
The Boat of the Year Awards, together with the Startup Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented on 1 September 2026, ahead of Hiswa te Water, which runs from 2–6 September at Batavia Haven.
The awards continue to showcase the innovation, craftsmanship and technological progress driving the recreational boating industry forward.
For more info about the awards, follow these links:
