Dufour 39 wins 2026 Design Innovation Award at Genoa International Boat Show
The Dufour 39 has won the 2026 Design Innovation Award in Genoa, taking the prize for best cruising sailboat design under 40 feet. The award recognises the 39-foot model for its balance of sailing performance, onboard space and ease of use.
The announcement came during the Genoa International Boat Show on 5 October 2026, where Dufour displayed five sailboats at its stand, including the Dufour 39, the Dufour 48 and the Dufour 54.
Italy also played a notable role in the boat’s design. Umberto Felci, responsible for the naval architecture of the Dufour 39, and Luca Ardizio, who designed the interior, are both Italian.
The Design Innovation Award was created in 2020 and is organised by Confindustria Nautica and the Genoa International Boat Show. It highlights projects that are shaping contemporary boating through design, research, innovation and sustainability.
For its seventh edition, the competition reviewed more than 100 entries. The Dufour 39 competed in the “Sailing boats up to 14m LH” category, reserved for sailboats up to 40 feet, and was selected as the winner by an independent jury of nine experts from design, boating, specialist media, academia and culture. In 2026, the jury was chaired by architect Paolo Brescia.
The ceremony took place on the terrace of the Blue Pavilion and was described by the Dufour team as a particularly memorable moment in Genoa.
A sailboat designed around balance
The jury pointed to the continuity of Dufour’s design work as one of the reasons behind the award. On the Dufour 39, that approach is reflected in a new hull developed to balance sailing performance, stability and comfort on board.
The boat’s generous volumes create more space without taking away from the sailing experience. Dufour says the model was designed so owners would not have to choose between comfort and sailing sensations.
The Dufour 39 is intended for short-handed sailing as well as more ambitious cruising programmes, while also appealing to owners who want to make the most of its performance under sail.
Interior volume and ease of use
The jury also praised the work done to maximise interior volume and improve ease of use. On a 39-foot sailboat, every space matters, and the Dufour 39 focuses on making that space more practical as well as larger.
Movement on board has been designed to feel natural, while different configurations allow the interior to be adapted to the owner’s sailing programme. Large glazed surfaces bring in more light and strengthen the connection between the interior and exterior spaces.
The same approach extends to the cockpit, which has been designed as a living space where sailing, movement, relaxation and shared moments come together.
Design and detail
The jury also highlighted the aesthetics of the Dufour 39 and the attention paid to detail. The exterior lines, proportions, light, movement on board and interior layouts were developed as part of one overall design.
That coherence allows the Dufour 39 to adapt to different uses, including coastal weekends, cruising, long-distance sailing and more performance-focused sailing.
With the 2026 Design Innovation Award, the Dufour 39 is recognised for a design approach built around balance, combining aesthetics, generous volumes, comfort and sailing pleasure.
Source/photo: Dufour Yachts
