Boating journalists recognized in Miami during Boating Writers International awards presentation
Boating and fishing journalists were recognized during the 2018 Progressive Miami International Boat Show in an annual writing contest conducted by the membership of Boating Writers International (BWI). Presentations in 17 contest categories representing $17,000 in awards were made to first ($500), second ($300) and third ($200) place scorers. Cash award recipients also received a recognition plaque noting their "Excellence in creating compelling stories about the boating lifestyle through entertaining, educational and inspiring journalism."
The contest attracted 126 participants submitting 277 entries. All submissions to the contest were published in 2017. Each of the categories (noted below along with sponsors) was judged by four active journalists in the first few weeks of the New Year.
Boating Photography – sponsored by Freedom Boat Club
1st, “Just Scraping By” by Jay Fleming (Anglers Journal, Winter); 2nd, “Alligator Reef” by Robert Glover (Power & Motoryacht, March); 3rd, “The Seasoned Skipper” by Brady Kay (Pontoon & Deck Boat Magazine, March).
Fishing – sponsored by Suzuki Motor Corporation
1st, “The Bay's Tastiest Pastime” by Gary Reich (Chesapeake Bay Magazine, June); 2nd, “Noise Factor” by Jim Hendricks (Sport Fishing, Jan.); 3rd, “Uber Fish” by Doug Olander (Sport Fishing, Nov.).
Boat/Engine Care and Maintenance – sponsored by Pettit Paint
1st, “10 Winterizing Disasters: Don't Do This” by Lenny Rudow (FishTalk Magazine, Nov.); 2nd, “Spin Science” by Vince Daniello (Boating, Feb.); 3rd, “The One-bucket Cleaning Kit” by Drew Frye (Practical Sailor, May).
Boat Tests & Reviews – sponsored by Volvo Penta
1st, “Diving Into the Endeavor 42” by Darrell Nicholson (Practical Sailor, Feb.); 2nd, “Working Tough” by John Page Williams (Boating, Nov.); 3rd, “Return of the Beast” by Alan Jones (Boating World, May). Merit Awards to: “Mas Appeal” by Marilyn Mower (Boat International, Nov.); “Not Your Father’s Grand Banks” by Kevin Koenig (Yachting, Nov.); “Pursuit of Passion” by Daniel Harding (Power & Motoryacht, Aug.).
Boating Columns – sponsored by KVH Industries, Inc.
1st, “Between Fish” by Bill Sisson (Anglers Journal); 2nd, “Logbook” by Daniel Harding (Power & Motoryacht); 3rd, “Notes from the Cockpit” by Lenny Rudow (FishTalk Magazine).
Boating Issues, News and Analysis – sponsored by Mercury Marine
1st, “The Trump Card” by Carol Cronin (Seahorse Magazine, Oct.); 2nd, “Hard Lessons” by Bill Pike (Power & Motoryacht, Dec.); 3rd, “Salvaging Boats as Life Goes On” by Reagan Haynes (Soundings Trade Only, Nov.). Merit Awards to “Voice Forensics May Help Nab Hoax Mayday Callers” by Kim Kavin (Soundings, Dec.) and “Auction Kings” by Ann Eichenmuller (Chesapeake Bay, May).
Boat Projects, Renovations & Retrofits - sponsored by Pettit Paint
1st, “A New Head” by Peter Nielsen (Sail, Dec.); 2nd, “A Change of Rig” by Roger Hughes (Practical Boat Owner – UK, Aug.); 3rd, “New and Cool Underfoot” by Terry Kotas (Good Old Boat, Jan.). Merit Award to “Long Live Wasque” by Steve Knauth (Soundings, Sept.).
Gear, Electronics & Product Tests – sponsored by Xantrex/Schneider Electric
1st, “Bottom Paint Checkup” by Darrell Nicholson (Practical Sailor, April); 2nd, “Lessons Learned by Causing a False AIS MOB Alert” by Ben Ellison (Panbo.com, Aug. 8); 3rd, “Garmin inReach Explorer+, Armchair Transatlantics & Hands On” by Ben Ellison (Panbo.com, July 2). Merit Awards to: “Conductive Greases vs. Corrosion” by Drew Frye (Practical Sailor, June); and “V-Drive vs. Forward Drive” by Jeff Hemmel (Boating, Jan.).
Boating Lifestyles – sponsored by Discover Boating
1st, “The Boy & His Raft” by Jeff Bolster (Soundings, Aug.); 2nd, “Into the Quiet” by David Buckman (Sail, June); 3rd, “Family Ties” by Bob Arrington (PassageMaker, Jan.). Certificates of Merit: “Beyond Wind and Water” by Dieter Loibner (Soundings, March); “School is in (Surf) Session” by Pete McDonald (Boating, June); and “Catboat Postcards” by Craig Moodie (Good Old Boat, May).
Boating Profiles – sponsored by ZF Marine
1st, “A Madman In a League of His Own” by Dieter Loibner (Soundings, Feb.); 2nd, “Monster Man” by Ron Ballanti (Anglers Journal, April); 3rd, “Against All Odds” by Dieter Loibner (Sail, Dec.). Merit Award to “The Story of Gar Wood” by Heather Steinberger (Lakeland Boating, April).
Boating Adventures – sponsored by Yamaha Marine Group
1st, “Chasing Icebergs” by Tom Zydler (Cruising World, April); 2nd, “Rite of Inside Passage” by Dieter Loibner (Soundings, Sept.); 3rd, “First Time with a Frenchman” by Annie Dike (Multihull Sailor, May). Certificates of Merit: “Cakewalk to Nova Scotia” by Adam Cort (Sail, Nov.) and “Because it’s There” by Simon Murray (Power & Motoryacht, June).
Environmental Awareness & Education – sponsored by Torqeedo, Inc.
1st, “Lone Cedar Tree Opposite Shore” by Marty LeGrand (Chesapeake Bay, Nov.); 2nd, “Fishing for an Enigma” by Wendy Mitman Clarke (Chesapeake Bay, Jan.); 3rd, “Bitter Soup” by Stacey Wigmore (BoatUS Magazine, Aug.). Merit Awards: “Whales Return to the Big Apple” by Kim Kavin (Soundings, Nov.) and “Weapons of Mass Construction” by Lenny Rudow (FishTalk Magazine, Nov.).
Seamanship, Rescue & Safety – sponsored by Sea Tow Services International
1st, “Take It Slow” by Gary Goodlander (Cruising World, Nov.); 2nd, “Hypothermia Myths and the Truth About Cold Water” by Mario Vittone (Soundings, Oct.); 3rd, “When the Call Came” by Kim Kavin (Yachting, April). Merit Awards: “Aground: When There is No Coast Guard” by Diane Selkirk (Yachting Times, March); “Know What to Do Before the Flood” by Dan Parrott (Soundings, Nov.); “A Small Boat For the Big Emergency” by Heather Francis (Cruising World, Nov.).
Technical Writing – sponsored by Dometic Marine
1st, “Sanitation System Shutdown: 10 Things to Know” by Frank Lanier (Sea Magazine, Oct.); 2nd, “The New Frontier" by Charles Doane (Sail, April); 3rd, “Computer-Assisted Groundings?" by Ben Ellison (Panbo.com, Dec. 7). Merit Awards: “How Did We Get from This . . . To This?” by Ralph Naranjo (Practical Sailor, March); “Cape Effect” by Fiona McGlynn (Pacific Yachting, Oct.).
Boating Travel or Destinations – sponsored by the BWI Membership
1st, “Black Sands & Black Magic, Vanuatu by Sail” by Heather Francis (Cruising Helmsman, Oct.); 2nd, “Rum Runners” by Mark Pillsbury (Cruising World, Aug.); 3rd, “54 Days of Rain” by
Paula Casanovas (Soundings, Feb.). Merit Awards: “We Done Reach” by Robert
Beringer (Sail, Oct.); “Fancy Dancing in Pine Island” by Douglas Bernon (BoatUS Magazine,
Feb.); “Greenland High” by Tom Zydler (PassageMaker, Oct.).
Boating Videos – sponsored by Boat Owners Association of the U.S.
1st, “Crestliner 240 Rally DX: Video Boat Review” by Ed Kukla (Boats.com, Aug. 20); 2nd, “How to Repair Gelcoat” by Mark Corke (BoatUS Video, Nov. 12); 3rd, “Boston Whaler 330 Outrage: Video Boat Review” by Lenny Rudow (Boats.com, April 27). Certificates of Merit awarded to: “How to Choose a Life Jacket” by Paul Cronin (BoatUS Video, Dec. 15); “How to Back a Boat Trailer” by Rich Armstrong, (BoatUS Video, May 2); and “How to Change the Engine Oil in Your Boat” by Charles Fort (BoatUS Video, July 3).
The Business of Boating – sponsored by Home Port Global
First, “Where Are All the Young Boaters?” by Fiona McGlynn, (BoatUS Magazine, Oct); Second, “Multi Country” by Peter Nielsen (Multihull Sailor, Sept.); Third, “Total Connectivity” by Zuzana Prochazka (Marine Electronics Journal, Sept.).