Solent University Model Yacht Race

This year, 30 students competed in the competition, which has run for more than 40 years.

Competitors had 100 hours to design and build their vessels and are marked on computer-aided design and build quality, with the final 15 per cent awarded on race day.

Solent University Model Yacht Race

The competition, which was held at Gosport Boating Lake under the scrutiny of lecturing staff, has created winners that have gone on to design Open 60 race yachts and to work on Ben Ainslie Racing’s Americas Cup campaign.

Solent University Model Yacht Race

Programme group leader of the yacht engineering courses Giles Barkley said: “Congratulations to Pierre-Antoine on a very well deserved win. All three boats were excellent, beautifully designed and built. The sun was out, conditions were good and we didn’t finish until the early evening.”

Solent University Model Yacht Race

This year, Southampton Solent is celebrating 25 years of Yacht Engineering degrees. Previous alumni include Jason Ker, who is working on Sir Ben Ainslie’s GB America’s Cup bid; Guillame Verdier, who designed the yachts that came both first and second at 2012 Vendee Globe; and leading UK designer, leading UK yacht designer, Ed Dubois.

Solent University Model Yacht Race

On the sailing-side world-class alumni include: Helena Lucas, who won Great Britain’s first ever sailing gold at the 2012 Paralympics; Paul Goodison who took gold at the 2008 Olympics; and Herve Piveteau, who sailed to victory in the Production Boat Class at the Mini Transat 2008.

Solent University Model Yacht Race