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Case Studies / The Webb Ellis Cup

A COMPELLING
TACK FROM
THE TRADITIONAL

There are few more thrilling sights in sport than extreme speeds, especially when it includes catamarans battling it out on the water – and at Thomas Lyte, we believe our SailGP Trophy reflects the excitement generated by an event that looks set to have favourable wind in its state-of-the-art sails for years to come.

Objet D
DESIGNERS + MAKERS

Designers and Makers of the SailGP Trophy

As designers and suppliers of elite sports trophies the world over, Thomas Lyte, a Royal Warrant holder as silversmiths and goldsmiths to Her Majesty the Queen, have hand-crafted some of sports’ greatest and most prestigious prizes. The Sail Grand Prix Championship Trophy, which was handed to the winners of the event for the first time in 2019, is an extension of that proud tradition.

designers and makers of the Sail GP trophy

Who designed the SailGP Trophy?

After working closely with SailGP on a trophy that needed to mirror the spectacle and prowess of both the boats involved, the F50 Catamarans, and the athletes sailing them, Thomas Lyte’s team of globally renowned in-house trophy designers, created a vision that achieved that ambition.

“We asked for the design to encapsulate the power and the passion of the forward-thinking boats and world-class athletes and we are delighted that Kevin Baker and his team at Thomas Lyte have excelled in creating something so striking that does exactly that.”

Russell Coutts, CEO of SailGP
Abstract trophy design detailing on Sail GP trophy
engraved-winners-of-the-sail-gp-trophy
silversmith-assembly-sail-gp-trophy

Our creative team and craftsmen took inspiration from the power of the wind and the thrilling boat speeds that result in this exciting new sport, whereby winds of up to 30mph and boats travelling at speeds double that come into force. We put forward 35 concepts in the initial stages and after a painstaking process, the look of the eventual trophy began to take shape as initial ideas began to evolve.

“This has been a hugely exciting project – we were tasked with creating a trophy that would be forever at the cutting edge. We are thrilled with the outcome and believe that this exquisite trophy will now sit alongside some of the most quintessential trophies in global sport. SailGP’s commitment to sustainability and gender equality makes this a partnership that extends well beyond the sport itself.”

Kevin Baker, CEO and founder of Thomas Lyte
british silversmith thomas lyte designed and made sailgp trophy unveiling

Who made the SailGP Trophy?

Hand-crafted by our specialist team of Master Craftsmen in Thomas Lyte’s London workshop, the trophy was spun from 12.5kgs of sterling silver and sits at an impressive 65cms in height. Using a mix of crafting methods dating back to Roman times while also utilising modern methods in production, the trophy was meticulously planned and then crafted, with the distinctive V-shape of the trophy coming to life over a year-long design and manufacturing process.

One of our master craftsmen has described it as a ‘deconstructed trophy’ given the amount of movement it appears to represent. Building the trophy up in layers cut out from a single cone of sterling silver, the trophy came together, with the final result a stunning piece of silverware that will stand the test of time – an iconic trophy for the sailing community, but also one which bears comparison with any other in sport.

About SailGP

With every nation sailing the same F50 boat and with technical information shared between teams to ensure complete transparency, this a competition that takes place on a level playing field, albeit one made-up entirely of water.

Six international teams compete in five events across the globe for the first SailGP season. The competition attracted a global TV audience of almost two billion people, with the final showdown in Marseille seeing Australia become the first team to lift the new trophy.

Other Thomas Lyte elite sailing commissions…

In addition to making the SailGP Trophy, Thomas Lyte is proud to have designed and hand-crafted for various trophy and medal commissions related to the sport of sailing, including the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs Trophy, the Artemis Challenge Trophy, and a medal program for both SailGP and World Sailing.

SailGP Event 5 Season 1 Marseille France
Thomas Lyte silversmiths restore the Mens
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Meet the Makers

Our team make the conceivable possible, while preserving traditional skills, pioneering modern methods, and promoting authentic British craft across the globe. Combining the latest technologies with centuries of knowledge, Thomas Lyte’s silver workshops in London, England house world-class facilities for an elite team of designers and makers, masters of their craft. Learn about 3D printing, electroforming and other new technologies that our team have introduced to our sustainable handcrafting process.

Our Process

Sail-GP-Design
  • Year Crafted. 2019
  • Height. 65cm
  • Width. 38cm
  • Weight. 12.5kg

Materials. Sterling Silver + 24 Carat Gold Plate

Workshop Processes. Cleaning, Filing, Sanding, Chasing, Polishing, Plating And Engraving

DESIGNERS AND MAKERS OF

The SailGP Championship Trophy

Thomas Lyte are proud to be the designers and makers of the SailGP Championship Trophy.

Take a glance at these fast facts about one of the most talked about trophies in sailing.

  • What is the SailGP Championship trophy made from?
    12.5kg of hallmarked sterling silver and 24 carat gold plate.
  • How long did the complete design and crafting process take?
    The complete design and crafting process for this trophy was carefully orchestrated over a 12 month period. Thomas Lyte’s design team worked collaboratively with SailGP, creating over 35 different concepts during the initial design phase to activate the design brief and create an iconic symbol to reimagine sailing.
  • What is SailGP?
    SailGP is an international sailing competition using high performance F50 foiling catamarans, where teams compete across a season of multiple grands prix around the world.
  • Who are the most recent winners of the trophy?
    The current SailGP reigning champions are Tom Slingsby’s Australia SailGP Team, who won their 2nd consecutive title in the 2021–22 SailGP championship. You will find their team name engraved on the base of the trophy.
The Details