Jan Brügge can't stop grinning and is still delighted with the successful boot Düsseldorf, which was also his first as an exhibitor: "To be honest, I'm overwhelmed by the response. For us, boot 2026 was not only the world première of our Woy 26, but also a kind of première for us as a Woy Yachts shipyard and for my The idea of modern wooden boat building. Firstly, I am grateful and proud of the award European Yacht of the Year. I knew beforehand that boot is an international trade fair. But it was only now that I really realised what a world stage it really is." In addition to many visitors who finally wanted to see the Woy 26 live, many discovered the boat for the first time - attracted by the design and the striking colour. According to Brügge, the wow effect for these visitors was often topped when they learnt that it was a wooden boat.
New construction method for the Woy 26
In addition to the "European Yacht of the Year" Oscar for the Woy 26, a modern and elegant daysailer designed by Martin Menzner (Berckemeyer Yacht Design) and the German Innovation Award the nationwide Seifriz Prize from the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Crafts was also awarded at the trade fair. The shipyard received the special "Holistic Sustainability" award for the construction of high-performance yachts made from local timber. Together with the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Jan Brügge developed a new construction method that applies the infusion process established in GRP construction to the construction of moulded wooden yachts.
Rainer Reichhold, President of Handwerk BW and Chairman of the Technologietransfer Handwerk e. V. association, which awards the Seifriz Prize: "The award-winning projects impressively demonstrate how much innovative strength there is in the skilled trades. When practical skills and scientific expertise come together, solutions are created that are not only technically impressive, but also provide concrete answers to the challenges of our time."
Jan Brügge
Jan Brügge, 38, founded the Königstein shipyard in Grödersby on the Schlei ten years ago. The father of two completed his training as a boat builder at the Stapelfeldt yacht and boatyard in Kappeln and graduated as a national winner in 2013. After his master craftsman's examination, he set up his own business and built up a team that now consists of around 20 employees.
Technical data "Woy 26"
- Length: 8 metres
- Width: 2.42 metres
- Draught: 1.10 - 1.90 metres (with lifting keel)
- Weight: 1,120 kilogrammes
- Ballast: 360 kg
- Mast length: 11 metres
- Mainsail sail area: 21 m²
- Sail area jib: 14 m²
- Sail area gennaker: 70 m²
