It’s time to celebrate. Here’s why: A couple of months ago, I crisscrossed Italy for a week visiting yacht builders, and I was awe-struck. Everywhere I went I saw beehivelike activity, and at every turn a new design was coming to life, a new yacht was being prepped for launch or a vessel concept was being developed for the next boating season. Suffice it to say, whether the builder’s target market was 50 feet or 50 meters, the yards were enjoying a desire among yachting enthusiasts for the latest and greatest.
I had a similar experience a few weeks earlier while doing a string of yard visits in the Pine Tree State. Bigger builds were in the works, many of which you’ll see at this fall’s boat shows, and plans for 2016, and even 2017, models were underway. During the spring boat shows, our staff saw more vessels than there are available pages to cover them. It’s an exciting time in yacht building.
Innovative ideas are also coming from builders in the Midwest, Southeast, Northwest and across Europe and Asia. All of this is being driven by you, the on-the-water enthusiast. Talk to any builder and you’ll hear that much of what is being imagined and constructed is coming from consumer input. So thank you for helping to drive this industry forward.
With so many fantastic new vessels, we want to honor the best of the best, which is why we have created The Yachting Awards.
During the next few months, builders will submit their nominations in categories including Trawler, Express Cruiser, Flybridge Cruiser, Sport-Fisherman, Downeaster, Motoryacht, Sailboat and Superyacht.
Our panel of industry experts, designers and journalists will select semifinalists, finalists and, ultimately, the winners based on myriad criteria that answer one question: How well does a yacht fulfill her mission statement? Winners will be announced in our January 2016 issue.
Stay tuned to yachtingmagazine.com, the weekly e-newsletter and, of course, our Facebook page and @yachtingmag on Twitter for regular updates on entries, nominee interviews, yacht-entry photo galleries, videos and more.
We will also recognize a marine industry icon and an up-and-coming yacht designer. And you, dear reader, will be handing out a sure-to-be-coveted trophy: Yachting’s Reader Choice Award. Is there a launch this year that caught your eye? Or perhaps you purchased a new model that has exceeded your expectations? Voting procedures will be announced soon, so start making a shortlist. Awards season is coming.
To submit your entry for the 2015 Yachting Awards, please use this webform.
