(L to R) BoatUS Magazine staff and contributors Lenny Rudow, Matthew Cohen, Kelsey Bonham, Rich Armstrong and Mike Longman.
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BWI Award Judge David Lyman said of Mathew Cohen’s “Spinnaker” cover image, “This photograph is a surprise; it captures the lyrical flow of motion as the wind goes out of a sail and we scramble to get it aboard before it ends up in the water.”
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SPRINGFIELD, Va., Feb. 17, 2025 – Boating Writers International (BWI), the professional association for writers, editors, publishers, bloggers, photographers and videographers in the recreational boating and fishing industries, bestowed 12 awards on BoatUS Magazine staff and contributors during a presentation recently held at the group’s recent annual meeting at the 2025 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show.

BoatUS Magazine articles and video earned three first-, two second-, two third-place and five merit awards across nine of the 16 award categories. This was the greatest number of BWI awards the national boating publication has ever won in a single year and the greatest number of top-three finishes.

“The sheer number of awards bestowed by our esteemed peers speaks volumes to the high-quality, engaging content we deliver to our more than 700,000 members. Our editorial, photo and video teams worked very hard to achieve this level of recognition,” Said BoatUS Magazine Publisher Elio Betty.

Said BoatUS Magazine Editorial Director Bernadette Bernon, “Congratulations to each and every one of our talented staff and contributors for being singled out for excellence. I thank them for bringing their passion and creativity to their work, and for making our magazine one of the best in the business.”

Recipients were awarded a plaque noting their “excellence in creating compelling stories about the boating lifestyle through entertaining, educational and inspiring journalism” as well as cash prizes.

The awards are as follows:

Category: Boat Tests & Reviews

First Place: Rich Armstrong, “Pontoon Boat Evolution”

Said BWI Judge Ross Tibbets: "I appreciated the use of quotes and the author's foundational knowledge about the segment. The author properly presented that they knew a lot about everything from helms to hulls."

Category: Boating Photography

First place: Matthew Cohen, “Spinnaker”

Judge David Lyman observed, “This photograph is a surprise; it captures the lyrical flow of motion as the wind goes out of a sail and we scramble to get it aboard before it ends up in the water.”

Second place: Onne van der Wal, “Snow Goose Heads South”

Category: Gear, Electronics & Product Tests

First Place: Lenny Rudow, “Ax the Wax”

Said BWI Award Chair Kim Kavin, “Ax the Wax” managed to make a comparison of ceramic coatings for boat maintenance into a truly entertaining read. The reporting is original and thorough, and the writer presents the information in a way that makes you want to keep reading. A great job all around.”

Second Place: Mike Longman, “See the Sea Bottom in 3D”

Merit Award: Rich Armstrong, “Brave New World On The Water”

Category: Environmental Awareness and Education

Third Place: Kelsey Bonham, “Atlantic Fisheries Update”

Category: Women in Boating

Third Place: Kelsey Bonham, “Around the World with 500,000 Friends”

Category: Boating Issues, News & Analysis

Merit Award: Richard Armstrong, “Cruisers Caught in Florida Anchoring Ban”

Category: Boat Projects, Renovations & Retrofits

Merit Award: Lenny Rudow, “All Decked Out”

Category: Videos

Merit Award: by Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore, “We Used ALL of Furuno’s Marine Electronics. So Did We Find Fish?”

Category: Boating Adventures

Merit Award: Jeff Hull, “Snow Goose Migrates South”

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.@BoatUS Magazine staff and contributors earned 12 awards from Boating Writers International for excellence in writing, photography and video at the 2025 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show https://bit.ly/4gB5r2I #boatingwritersinternational #editor

About BoatUS Magazine:

Celebrating more than 55 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with more than 800,000 dues-paying members. Our flagship publication, BoatUS Magazine, is the largest circulation recreational marine publication in the US with engaging content that speaks to the passion for boat ownership. BoatUS is also the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill, fighting for their rights. On the road, we are The Boat Owners Auto Club® offering Trailer Assist® to help ensure a roadside trailer breakdown doesn’t cancel a trip to the lake. On the water when boats break down or run aground, our 600+ vessel, 300+ location nationwide TowBoatUS® fleet brings them safely back to the launch ramp or dock. BoatUS offers GEICO boat insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and superior service they need. We help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.

About BWI:

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