SAIL Wins Big in Miami

For a third year in a row, SAIL Magazine has been recognized as the top magazine at the Boating Writers International annual awards. 

SAIL led the medal count both by total number of prizes and by category wins. Among SAIL’s acknowledgements were three first place awards in the Adventure, Tests & Reviews, and Women on the Water categories. 

“I’m incredibly proud of this achievement and of SAIL,” Editor in Chief Lydia Mullan says. “Our small staff and talented contributors have worked hard to make this the best publication it can be, and having a jury of our peers agree that we have something special here is incredibly gratifying.”

Mullan, who came in first in the Adventure category for her story on the 2025 Annapolis-Newport Race, has been the industry’s top adventure writer for three years running.  

Judging chair John Burnham said of her work, “[Mullan] skillfully draws readers into the slow-motion adventure through anecdotes ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous and reminds herself in the process of all she loves about bluewater sailboat racing.” Mullan also received third prize in the Profiles category for her story on Charlie Dalin following his Vendée Globe victory. 

Technical Editor Adam Cove received accolades in the Environmental Awareness and Education, Adventure, and Reviews categories, with a win in the latter. “The reader is drawn into this thorough stem-to-stern inspection of an expedition sailing yacht designed and built to be the perfect adventure yacht,” Chair Rich Armstrong noted of his winning Boréal 70 review. 

Former Editor in Chief Wendy Mitman Clarke, Charter Editor Zuzana Prochazka, Brianna Randall, and Shanan Wolfe were among SAIL’s other prize recipients. 

The awards, which are presented at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show recognize “excellence in creating compelling content about boating through entertaining, educational and, inspiring journalism.” This year’s contest (now in its 33rd year) attracted 82 participants submitting 315 entries. Judging is done by a panel of four journalists active in the marine industry. 

See below for the full list of 2025 award recipients.

Boating Lifestyles – sponsored by Discover Boating

1^st “True Blue” by Jan Hein (Classic Boat)

2^nd “Rum, Reefs and Revelry” by David Lyman (Cruising World)

3^rd “Confessions of a Rag Sailor” by Craig Moodie (Cruising World)

Boating Photography – sponsored by Raymarine-FLIR

1^st “Turning Point” by Vincent Daniello (Passagemaker)

2^nd “Sailing Reflections”(no name) by Matthew Cohen (Soundings) 

3^rd “Cruising World Cover” by Onne van der Wal (Cruising World)

Boating Issues, News and Analysis – sponsored by Mercury Marine

1^st “Making a Stand” by Gary Reich (Soundings Trade Only)

2^nd “How Much is My Boat Worth” by Michael Vatalaro (BoatUS)

3^rd “History in the Making” by Kim Kavin (Soundings)

Environmental Awareness & Education – sponsored by Propspeed®

1^st “Sailing on the Winds of Climate Change” by Joe Sills (Forbes)

2^nd “The Future of Teak” by Adam Cove (SAIL)

3^rd “The Carbon Conundrum” by Tim Murphy (BoatUS)

Seamanship, Rescue & Safety – sponsored by Sea Tow Services International

1^st “Electronics Make Me Safer” by Jim Hendricks (Boating Magazine)

2^nd “Survival Gear Savvy” by Vincent Daniello (Passagemaker)

3^rd “Railing for Safety” by Chris Caswell (Passagemaker)

Boat Tests & Reviews – sponsored by Volvo Penta

1^st “Boreal 70” by Adam Cove (SAIL)

2^nd “Quiet Luxury” by Jeffrey Moser (Passagemaker)

3^rd “XR 41 Review” by Adam Cove (SAIL)

Fishing – sponsored by Suzuki Marine USA

1^st “Midstream in Montana” by Charlie Levine (Anglers Journal)

2^nd “The Bluefin of Donegal Bay” by David Conway (Saltwater Sportsman)

3^rd “Where the Sea Meets the Sky” by Charlie Levine (Anglers Journal)

Gear, Electronics & Product Tests – sponsored by Furuno Marine Electronics

1^st “The Tower in a Box” by Pim Van Hemmen (Soundings)

2^nd “Live-Action Sonar” by Ron Ballanti (Marine Electronics Journal)

3^rd “Rock Steady” by Rich Armstrong (BoatUS)

Boat Projects, Renovations & Retrofits – sponsored by Boats Group

1^st “Renewing the Rib” by Pim Van Hemmen (Soundings) 

2^nd “101 Years of Newt” by Norris Comer (Passagemaker)

3^rd “Links You Can Rely On” by Frank Lanier (BoatUS)

Boating Videos – sponsored by Boat Owners Association of the U.S.

1^st “Waleka: A Last Great Place” by Charlie Levine (Anglers Journal)

2^nd “The Wingmen” by Kevin Falvey (Wakeboarding)

3^rd “7 Mind-Blowing Ways Driving a Boat is Different than a Car” by Michael Vatalaro (BoatUS)

The Business of Boating – sponsored by BRP Marine

1^st “Product Pipeline” by Gary Reich (Soundings Trade Only)

2^nd “How to Build a Good Life in Boats” by Tim Murphy (BoatUS)

3^rd “Working It Out” by Pim Van Hemmen (Soundings)

Boating Columns – sponsored by KVH Industries

1^st “Dash of Salt” by Chris Caswell (Passagemaker)
2^nd “Life Aboard” by Bob Arrington (Power & Motoryacht)
3^rd “Notes from the Cockpit” by Lenny Rudow (Fishtalk Magazine)

Boating Travel or Destinations – sponsored by Dometic

1^st “Irish Entrance” by Herb McCormick (BoatUS)

2^nd “In Search of Mantas in Wild Polynesia” by Brianna Randall (SAIL)

3^rd “Sailing the Sea of Gods” by Zuzana Prochazka (SAIL)

Boating Profiles – sponsored by Nautical Ventures

1^st “Brothers Who Build” by Herb McCormick (BoatUS)

2^nd “Passing of the Torch” by Pim Van Hemmen (Soundings)

3^rd “Vendee Victory” by Lydia Mullan (SAIL)

Boating Adventures – sponsored by Yamaha Marine Group

1^st “The Long Road to Newport” by Lydia Mullan (SAIL)

2^nd “One Wild Cat” by Adam Cove (SAIL)

3^rd “Cargo Under Canvas” by Shanan Wolfe (SAIL)

Women in Boating – sponsored by Marine Business Unit/Yamaha Watercraft

1^st “On Point” by Shanan Wolfe (SAIL)
2^nd “And Then The Boom Fell Off” by Brianna Randall (Adventure Journal)
3^rd “The Survivor” by Wendy Mitman Clarke (SAIL)

About BWI

BWI is a non-profit professional organization consisting of writers, editors, publishers, photographers, public relations specialists and others in the communications profession associated with the boating industry. Members include active marine journalists across the U.S., Canada and around the world. For more information, visit www.bwi.org.