It encourages all people (professionals and amateurs) interested in small craft to design a boat which they wish to skipper in the future. Interest has already been shown by designers in over 25 different countries and the deadline for entries is the end of June.

Selected designs will be displayed at the Southampton and London Boat Shows in September 2002 and January 2003 and it is planned that the staff and students at Falmouth College will build the winning entry for display at the London show. The designs and boat will then move to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall where they will be the first temporary exhibition in the museum's specially-built hall.

The BMF's James Gower commented: "It's great to be working with the museum and the college - they'll make sure the public sees the future of boat design and by building a boat or large model, the college will make the future a tangible reality".

Tom Shaw of the College of Falmouth said: "We are delighted to have been asked to assist with the Concept Boat 2002 as we have been very impressed with the idea of this competition from the start. It is great to see innovation being encouraged and we are confident that this will inspire many people to get involved".

The Concept Boat 2002 competition is the first of its kind and was launched at the Southampton Boat Show in September 2001 by the British Marine Federation and Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA). It aims to stimulate boat design and interest a wide range of people in boating. Entries are welcomed from all people with an interest in small craft, whether professional or amateur, and must be received by the end of June 2002 for judging by a panel of experts drawn from the British Marine Federation, RINA's Small Craft Committee and appropriate user representatives.

Further details and entry forms are available at www.conceptboat.com or by calling 01784 223613.

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall, which opens this summer, is expected to become a major tourist attraction dominating Falmouth's waterfront.

For the first time visitors will be able to see the National Small Boat Collection - a collection of over 120 historic and contemporary vessels.