Winter Park, FL – At the 16th annual Boating Writers International (BWI) Writing Contest, the Bonnier Marine Group collected more than 25 honors, including seven first-place awards and was recognized in 14 of the 16 categories.

The yearly writing competition honors the top marine journalists in the United States and beyond for their "excellence in creating compelling stories about the boating lifestyle through entertaining, educational and inspiring journalism." The latest BWI contest attracted 161 participants, with more than 450 entries.

Cruising World led the Bonnier Marine Group titles at the contest with 15 honors, followed by Yachting with five awards. Sailing World, Sport Fishing, Salt Water Sportsman and Boating Life were also among the award winners at this year's contest.

BWI is a nonprofit professional organization of writers, broadcasters, editors, publishers, photographers, public-relations specialists and others in the communications profession associated with the boating industry. Members include active marine journalists across the United States, in Canada and around the world, supporting marine manufacturers and service entities, as well as associates in communications roles.

A division of Bonnier Corp., the Bonnier Marine Group has more than 30 magazines, websites, events and television shows. Covering the boating, sailing and fishing markets, the group reaches more than six million active participants with offices in locations across the United States, including New York, Florida and Rhode Island.

Cruising World
• First place, Boating Columns: "On Watch" by Gary Goodlander
• First place, Boating Profiles: "Cruising at 80" by Herb McCormick
• First place, Boating Travel or Destinations: "Vive La Nouvelle – Caledonie" by Alvah Simon
• First place, Boat Tests: "Lion's Whelp" by Stacey Collins
• Second place, Boating Columns: "Osprey's Flight" by Wendy Mitman Clarke
• Second place, Boating Profiles: "Old Tricks, New Dogs" by Angus Phillips
• Third place, Boating Lifestyles: "You Can Go Home Again" by Tania Aebi
• Third place, Boating Travel or Destinations: "Across the Dividing Sea" by Jim Carrier
• Third place, Gear, Electronics and Product: "Bluewater Gear: 9 Rafts Reviewed" by Mark Pillsbury
• Certificate of merit, Electronics: "New Tricks for VHF" by Tony Bessinger
• Certificate of merit, Boating Issues, News and Analysis: "Precautions in Paradise" by Herb McCormick
• Certificate of merit, Seamanship, Rescue Safety: "A Voyager's Guide to Spare Parts" by Alvah Simon
• Certificate of merit, Boat Tests: "Maine Beauty Takes Flight" by Jeremy McGeary
• Certificate of merit, Boat Tests: "This Waterline 50" by Andrew Burton
• Certificate of merit, Electronics: "Pactor Babe's Got Her Ears On" by Gary Goodlander

Yachting
• First place, Boating Adventures: "Voyage of Discovery" by George Sass Sr.
• Third place, Megayachts: "Far East Meets Down East" by Chris Caswell
• Certificate of merit, Boat Tests: "Man Made" by Chris Caswell
• Certificate of merit, Boating Profiles: "Wealthy on Paper" by Chris Caswell
• Certificate of merit, Megayachts: "Double Burger with Everything" by Dudley Dawson

Boating Life
• First place, Boating Lifestyles: "Shell Game" by Robert Stephens
• Second place, Fishing: "Home Schooled" by Robert Stephens

Sport Fishing
• Third place, Fishing: "Release 'Em Right" by Ron Ballanti
• Certificate of merit, Fishing: "Masters of Metal" by Doug Olander

Salt Water Sportsman
• Certificate of merit, Fishing: "Going Long" by Kirk Deeter

Sailing World
• First place, Megayachts: "Maxi'd Out" by Stuart Streuli