Middletown, R.I. – Sally Helme, group publisher of Bonnier Corp.'s Sailing Group, has announced the promotion of Mark Pillsbury to editor-in-chief of Cruising World. Pillsbury has been with the title, considered the bible for blue-water sailors, since 2005 as senior editor. 
 
"I'm excited about this opportunity to lead this great team of publishing pros and the extended Cruising World family of contributors as we inspire our readers with stories that make them want to get out there and go sailing," said Pillsbury. "Working with this magazine is more than a job, it's a passion, and I look forward to the challenges and duties of this new position."

Pillsbury, his wife, Sue, and two daughters hail from Nahant, Massachusetts, but since joining Cruising World, he's split his time at home by living aboard his sailboat in Newport. After four winters aboard, he's developed an understanding for why cruisers often head for tropical climes. He began his career as a newspaper reporter and editor for daily papers in Massachusetts. His experience as editor and publisher of a business-to-business weekly called Mass High Tech gave him an understanding of the commercial interface between industry and media, which has stood him in good stead in his Cruising World role as director of the Boat of the Year program.

"Mark is well respected within the marine industry for his fairness, his understanding of industry challenges, his technical knowledge and his integrity," said Helme. "Our readers can relate to him because he is one of them, a cruising sailboat owner who wants nothing more than to go sailing."

Along with Pillsbury, Elaine Lembo and Sue Fennessey have also been promoted within Cruising World's editorial department. Lembo, with the magazine since 1998, will serve as deputy editor, moving up from managing editor. Before coming to Cruising World, she worked as a journalist while living aboard, in New England and in the Caribbean. Her years in the tropics were spent freelancing for North American newspapers and editing publications in the Virgin Islands while also working as crew aboard several yachts, the latter experience giving her a solid background for becoming the magazine's chartering authority. In her new role, she will take on expanded writing assignments and a more direct role in working with contributors. In the summer she can often be found aboard her classic wooden ketch or rowing around nearby Wickford harbor.

Sue Fennessey will take over as managing editor. She has been with the magazine since 2004. Fennessey, a Cornwall, England, native whose parents originally hailed from Portsmouth, England, now lives in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. She is an accomplished squash player and likes to take advantage of the fleet of small sailboats available at the U.S. Navy base in Newport.

Cruising World is published monthly by Bonnier Corp. 

www.cruisingworld.com