FUTURE maritime designers did battle with model boats on a Hampshire lake.

Southampton Solent University yacht engineering students launched their craft at Gosport boating lake, under the scrutiny of their lecturers.

Alvaro Guell from Spain won this year’s race – an annual event that began more than 40 years ago as a bit of end of term fun and now forms part of the course for students on Solent’s Yacht and Powercraft Design and Yacht Design and Production degree courses.

This was Alvaro’s first attempt at designing a yacht as power boats are his first love.

Second was Marcus Mauleverer, followed closely by Harry Biddle - both representing ‘Team GB’.

Giles Barkley, programme group leader of the yacht engineering courses says, “The sun was out, but the wind direction was a little awkward. Nonetheless, all the yachts sailed up wind very well. There were only a few collisions, resulting in one or two sinking.

Congratulations to all three podium winners, who now go on to join the illustrious hall of yacht design fame.” Previously successful winners of this annual race are now responsible for designs of Open 60 race yachts and Ben Ainslie Racing’s Americas Cup campaign.

“As usual, the standard of design and build of the yachts was high. This year, two students had incorporated wing sales as used on Ben Ainslies Americas Cup challenge yachts. Both sailed well, but just missed out on podium positions,” added Giles.