Spotlight on Cape Town's boatbuilding industry at SABBEX Boatbuilding Awards

Veda Pretoria, Conference Director, and Vanessa Davidson, Executive Manager of SABBEX © SABBEX

The people, partnerships and skills behind South Africa's internationally respected boatbuilding industry will take centre stage in Cape Town on 21 October 2026, when Spotlight - the SABBEX Boatbuilding Awards - brings the industry together to celebrate excellence across the recreational marine sector.

Taking place during a landmark week for Africa's boating industry, Spotlight will bring together boatbuilders, designers, manufacturers, suppliers, marine service providers and industry leaders, alongside African and international guests in Cape Town for the African Boating Conference.

The timing provides a natural opportunity to move from conversations about the future of the African marine industry to an evening celebrating the people who are already helping to build that future.

Celebrating the people behind the boats. Spotlight looks beyond the finished vessel to the ecosystem required to create it: the designers and builders, artisans and technical specialists, suppliers and service providers, innovators, collaborators and emerging leaders whose work collectively enables South African-built boats to compete on the world stage. Rather than focusing only on companies or products, Spotlight places the emphasis firmly on people.

Companies are invited to nominate the individuals within their organisations who deserve to have the spotlight placed on them for their achievements and contribution. It may be the person whose craftsmanship sets an exceptional standard; the emerging talent who could become a leader of tomorrow; the colleague whose consistency keeps an operation moving; or the innovator whose ideas are changing the way the industry works.

Previous award categories have recognised achievements ranging from design, innovation and systems thinking to exceptional craftsmanship, leadership and inspiration, collaborative impact, young talent, environmental stewardship, community contribution, sustained behind-the-scenes commitment, professional development and lifetime or unique contribution.

Past winners and special mentions have come from across the breadth of the South African marine industry, including Robertson and Caine, Southern Wind, Nexus Yachts, Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing, Du Toit Yacht Design and Ullman Sails, alongside the many specialist businesses and individuals whose expertise supports the sector.

The awards have also highlighted an important characteristic of South African boatbuilding: world-class vessels are the visible result of a much larger network of often unseen excellence. "This is the ecosystem behind our industry. Spotlight gives us a time and a place to reveal excellence that is usually unseen," said Vanessa Davidson, Executive Manager of SABBEX.

The African Boating Conference, taking place in Cape Town on 20-21 October 2026, will bring together African marine businesses, government, investors, manufacturers, boatbuilders, marina and waterfront interests, marine service providers and international industry stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges shaping the continent's recreational marine economy. With the Conference bringing the industry together around the opportunities ahead, Spotlight provides an opportunity to recognise the people and achievements that are helping to make those opportunities a reality.

Veda Pretoria, Conference Director, said:
"The African Boating Conference is about building connections, opening opportunities and strengthening Africa's marine industry. There could be no better time to celebrate the people whose skills, commitment and ingenuity are demonstrating what South Africa can deliver to the world."

For SABBEX, Spotlight has become an important annual occasion for the industry to pause, recognise achievement and celebrate.

"We will now have two days looking at where the African marine industry is going, and one night celebrating the people helping to take it there," said Davidson. The evening will celebrate achievement, recognise the often-unseen contributors behind every vessel and showcase South African marine excellence to a wider African and international audience.

With the African Boating Conference and Spotlight taking place in Cape Town in the same week, the occasion offers delegates, industry stakeholders and international guests an opportunity to experience both the ideas shaping Africa's marine future and the people who are making it happen.

Spotlight - SABBEX Boatbuilding Awards
21 October 2026
Cape Town, South Africa

African Boating Conference
20/21 October 2026
Cape Town, South Africa