Sally Helme
Sally Helme, publisher of Cruising World and Sailing World magazines, has received the 2011 Sail Industry Leadership Award for her efforts on behalf of the sailing industry. The award was presented to her by Sail magazine publisher Josh Adams, during the company’s annual lunch on the opening day of the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland.
Presented annually by Sail, the award in the past has gone to a who’s who list of industry participants.
“Sally is really a no-brainer choice,” said Adams when asked about this year’s award. “She demonstrates leadership in everything she does.”
Recipients of the Leadership Award are chosen by Sail‘s management team, with input from advisers and past recipients.
“We feel we need to lay down the swords for a day and do the right thing with the Leadership Awards,” Adams said, explaining the award going to the publisher of a competing magazine. “Sally demonstrates fine leadership in the industry through her personal efforts and through the role she plays at Cruising World and Sailing World,” Adams said.
Sally is the current president of Sail America, a board member with Marine Marketers of America, and since 1990 has spearheaded the annual Sailing Industry Study produced by The Sailing Company.