£3,000 PRIZE FOR CRUISING STORY

YM award, sponsored by B&G, looking for accounts of voyages with an environmental twist

Have you had an amazing adventure at sea, whether close to home or in remote corners? Have you spotted whales while sailing, found Arctic ice, or gathered marine data along the way? If you have been on a sailing voyage with an environmental twist, we’d love to read about it, and you could win £3,000 in the process.

The award has been set up in memory of Brian Black by his family and YM. Brian was a YM contributor, television journalist and film-maker who made remarkable voyages to the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland in his small cruising yacht. He explored regions made accessible by retreating sea ice and documented the impact of climate change on these pristine environments. The award also commemorates Brian’s wife, Lesley Black, who blazed a trail for women in yachting, entertained YM readers with her stories, and who undertook many adventures with Brian.

The marine environment is facing unprecedented pressure and sailing yachts have unique access to explore and document the ocean like no-one else can. Anyone who has taken such a voyage, large or small, in recent years, is eligible to enter.

SUPPORTED BY B&G

The award is being made in association with marine electronics company B&G. The company wants to promote those focusing on the marine environment, and believes that sustainability is critical to the future of marine businesses. It is reviewing its operations to find where it can be more sustainable and reduce its environmental footprint, from using non-toxic inks and fully biodegradable packaging to supporting scientific research with its data platforms.

B&G’S chief sustainability officer Tara Norton, said, ‘Water is where we work and play and we plan to do our part and be leaders in promoting sustainable practices, from how we make our products, to ensuring we protect the oceans in which our products are used. B&G is part of an industry of enthusiasts that all have unique roles to play, and we look forward to working with customers, peers and others who are committed to a sustainable future.’ For more information see: www.yachtingmonthly.com/brianblack

You don’t need to have completed an Arctic voyage like Brian to enter – smaller voyages can be equally inspiring

Brian was a trailblazer in the world of marine conservation

B&G’S Tara Norton