Students won the prize in the National Yacht Design Contest
time: 2016-11-18

The 4th 'SUNBIRD' National Yacht Design contest for the undergraduate students was held in the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei. Four students from the School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University and Technology, Liang Zhao, Qinhui Yang, Zhequ Li and Yewei Cao attended this contest as a team. They worked under the instruction of Prof. Chaohe Chen and Dr. Yongfu Liu. The yacht designed by this team was named as 'Guanglian', which won the 2nd prize in the final contest.

 Team in the contest  

There are 60 Yachts, which were designed by more than 1000 students and instructors coming from 20 universities, attended the contest. After intense competition, 21 yachts from 12 universities entered the final contest. There are two group of contests, one is modelling design, the other is concept design. The team from the South China University and Technology belongs to the group of concept design.  

The name of the awarded yacht, 'Guanglian' comes from the famous Chinese poetry and indicates grace and harmony. The shape of the yacht was designed to mimic the humming bird, which represents delicacy and agile. After receiving the invitation for attending the yacht design contest in July, Prof. Chen set up the team and lead the team to accomplish the task from conceiving the frame, designing the yacht, optimizing the design and accessing the performance. It took more than 100 days for finishing the whole process. This yacht combines simulation design, intelligent layout for household furniture and humanization and can be used for sports and leisure.   

 Map of the yacht 'Guanglian'

The team members learn a lot form the contest and they said, ' the knowledge we learn from the class can only shows its value in the practice like such creative yacht design. It is appreciative to have a chance to experience such national contest. It broadened our view. We will bring these valuable experience to the campus and encourage other students to be involved.'

'SUNBIRD' National Yacht Design Contest starts from 2013 and is a scientific contest facing to the nationwide undergraduate students. It is sponsored by China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry and cooperated by SUNBIRD Yacht Corporation Limited. The keen competition in this year comes out several high level products and several creative and illuminating design concept, which were commended by the jury.  

Figure and words/ School of Civil Engineering and Transportation,  Editor/Yin Xu