ANDREW WINCH WINS BOAT INTERNATIONAL’S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
We are thrilled to announce that Andrew Winch has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards during the Superyacht Design Festival in Kitzbühel, Austria.
Growing up sailing dinghies and cruising yachts along the south coast of England with his family, Andrew developed a lifelong love of the water, finding inspiration, freedom, and escape at sea. As a result, sailing became a deep-rooted passion for Andrew and an integral part of his life and work.
Andrew began building the basis of his career with a foundation degree at Central Saint Martins, followed by a degree in 3D design at Kingston College of Art. His enthusiasm and commitment evolved as he gained experience as a skipper on a 52ft yacht, sailing from Ibiza across the Atlantic to Antigua. Passing through the English Harbour in Antigua, he came across three large winches, that later became the inspiration behind the company logo.
He joined the renowned yacht designer, Jon Bannenberg, who became an inspiration and a mentor for Andrew, immersing himself in the real-life world of yacht design. After six years, his passion and tenacity led him and his wife Jane, to establish Andrew Winch Designs in 1986, with a focus on designing exceptional sailing yachts.
Within two years Andrew delivered Andrew Winch Designs’ first project, the interior and exterior design of a Swan 36ft sailboat.
As the studio went from strength to strength, larger and more ambitious projects followed, including the 140ft Cyclos III, completed in 1989, and the 160ft White Rabbit motor yacht in 1994, marking the beginning of the studio’s reputation for excellence on the water. To date, Andrew has designed some of the industry's most iconic, award-winning yachts, including 99m Madame Gu, 156m Dilbar and 80m Excellence. From the outset, Winch Design has thrived on precision and complexity, building a reputation for delivering the most ambitious end-to-end projects at scale.
Within three decades, the business grew exponentially and rebranded as Winch Design in 2016. The studio is now multi-disciplinary, spanning across architecture and aviation as well as yacht design and employs 165 talented people. Each discipline is united by the same DNA - curiosity, ingenuity, obsessive craftsmanship, and continuous innovation. In 2021, Winch Design proudly announced a transition to employee ownership and Andrew stepped down from the operating board after 35 years of industry defining work. He now acts as the trustee director, continuing to act as a key soundboard for the business.
Alongside his work at Winch Design, Andrew is profoundly passionate about craft and enabling opportunities for upcoming artisans. He is a trustee of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), a charity dedicated to preserving British craftsmanship through access to education opportunities and sustaining craftsmanship skills. Both Andrew and Winch Design have sponsored a number of scholars over the past five years, helping to cultivate the next generation of creative talent.
In 2024 Andrew was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Art and Design from Kingston University in recognition for his outstanding contributions to 3D design. Winch Design is currently supporting a full undergraduate scholarship at Kingston University, reflecting Andrew's commitment to giving back to the educational institution that played a pivotal role in his own professional journey. Andrew is also a passionate supporter of the National Saturday Club, inspiring young students to enter the yacht design space through a series of drawing workshops.
Throughout his career, Andrew has had a constant passion and enthusiasm for sustainability, long before it became such a hot topic in the yachting community. His dedication is embedded in Winch Design’s strategy, which focuses on embedding responsible, low-impact design across projects on land, sea, and air, while strengthening business operations and giving back to the communities and environments that inspire the teams work.
As Andrew’s love and commitment to the ocean continues, he uses his experience and influence to support organisations dedicated to marine conservation. He is a trustee for Chichester Harbour, helping to preserve the Solent and the harbour area where he grew up. He has also fostered a long-standing partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE), supporting their mission to protect the world’s oceans. Andrew worked with BLUE to create the inaugural London-to-Monaco bike ride in 2016 and continues to take part in their challenging rides across the UK and Europe.
As Winch Design celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, this award holds particular significance, acknowledging what Andrew has built as well as focusing on his legacy that continues to inspire the studio. The entire Winch Design team is incredibly proud of Andrew and this distinguished achievement.
