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Meet the 2015 Boat of the Year Judging Team

The key to our annual Boat of the Year competition is our independent judging panel.

The key to our annual Boat of the Year competition is our independent judging panel. This year’s team included Ed Sherman, the director of educational programming for the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC). An experienced racer and cruiser, and the author of four technical marine books, Ed works closely with boatbuilders, marine surveyors, field-service personnel and engineering staffs in the U.S. and abroad. Mark Schrader, who has over 130,000 miles of ocean racing and offshore sailing under his belt, has also completed two solo circumnavigations, and was the first American to circle the globe alone via the five great Southern Ocean capes. Mark was also the skipper and project manager aboard Ocean Watch during the historic 2009-2010 Around Americas Expedition through the Northwest Passage and around Cape Horn. The third judge, Cruising World editor-at-large Tim Murphy, grew up living aboard his family’s 41-foot ketch and sailing along the U.S. East Coast and the Bahamas. At 18, he earned a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton license and has worked on and around boats ever since, delivering them, writing about them and teaching people how to use them. An independent writer and editor based in Rhode Island, he is the co-author, with Ed Sherman, of Fundamentals of Marine Service Technology (ABYC, 2012), as well as dozens of articles. He sails Ave Marina, a Vineyard Vixen 29, throughout New England waters.

Riding in Style

Thanks to the dedicated professionals at Zodiac MilPro, who supply state-of-the-art professional RIBs and inflatables to the military and other governmental agencies, this year the Boat of the Year judges once again arrived at their sailing trials on Chesapeake Bay in style, no matter what the conditions. Zodiac MilPro’s extensive line of watercraft includes work boats, patrol craft, surf rescue boats, emergency response boats and yacht tenders. The company also provides a wide range of accessories and training services. For more on Zodiac MilPro and its worldwide network of dealers and agents, visit the Zodiac MilPro website.

2015 Boat of the Year Judges

2015 Boat of the Year Judges

Taking a break on the foredeck of the Island Packet SP Cruiser MK II is this year’s judging panel (from left): systems expert Ed Sherman, long-range voyager Mark Schrader and veteran sailing writer Tim Murphy. Billy Black
RIB provided to the judges by Zodiac MillPro

RIB provided to the judges by Zodiac MillPro

RIB provided to the judges by Zodiac MillPro Billy Black
The judges inspect every element of each boat down to the detail. Billy Black
The 2015 Boat of the Year Judges. Billy Black
The panel discusses each boat in detail before determining a winner. Billy Black
Not only do they sail each boat, the judges also observe the performance from on the water. Billy Black
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