Anchoright wins national Maritime UK Start Up of the Year 2025 award
UK-based company Anchoright has won the Start Up of the Year award at the 2025 Maritime UK Awards, held in Dover, UK, on Thursday 26 June. The awards attracted entries from over 300 companies across the UK.
Anchor marking manufacturer Anchoright was founded in 2023 by Quinton Watts, who left a career in cybersecurity to develop a safer and more environmentally friendly way for boaters to mark their anchor chains.
The Anchoright system includes colour-coded markers made from eco-friendly materials, designed to be screwed directly into anchor chains. A reference plate is placed by the windlass to indicate how much chain has been deployed – a key safety consideration when anchoring. The product can be used on vessels ranging from small boats to superyachts.
“Depending on the depth of water, the type of seabed and the weather conditions, it’s imperative that boaters know how much chain is let out when you drop the anchor,” says Watts. “Until now, people usually use paint or cable ties, but these are temporary, come off in the sea and typically require replacing every season. I decided there must be a long-lasting eco-friendly solution, and developed the Anchoright system.”
The product has been tested on a range of vessels in the UK, Caribbean and Arctic. Based on user feedback, Watts developed custom versions for larger yachts and introduced online purchase options and colour-customised kits.
Anchoright began expanding into international markets with the support of British Marine and David Barrow of Barrow International, a mentor with four decades of experience in marine export. Market research identified opportunities in countries including France, Germany and across Scandinavia. Within a year, Anchoright had secured 13 international distributors.
Growing demand required the company to move into larger premises and invest in new tooling and equipment. Most manufacturing is now outsourced, while core design and management remain UK-based.
“Finding a business mentor like David Barrow has been a gamechanger for me,” said Watts. “We discuss overall business strategy, financial planning, sales initiatives and product development, and his input and advice has enabled me to grow effectively and quickly.”
Barrow adds: “Quinton is extremely clever. He developed this product and then took the idea to fruition through being well-organised and focusing on getting the details right and being customer and service-focused. He thoroughly deserved to win this award.”
