Cruising World Takes Multiple Honors in Annual Writing and Photography Contest

Cruising World wins nine awards in BWI annual writing and photography contest.
Cruising World magazine cover Cut & Run
Tor Johnson’s Cut and Run, Cruising World’s November/December cover shot, captured first place in Boating Photography. Tor Johnson

Cruising World writers and photographers received nine awards Wednesday at the Boating Writers International 2023 annual meeting in Miami, Florida. Cruising World Editor-at-Large Herb McCormick took first place in the Boating Profiles category for his heartfelt feature, “A Family Matter,” while Kia Koropp placed first in the Boating Travel and Adventures category for her gripping destination story, “Destination Gambia: A Lesson Worth Sharing.” Photojournalist Tor Johnson deservedly took first place in the Boating Photography category with his cover shot for Cruising World’s November/December issue.

A black and white photo of people hugging on a boat dock.
Herb McCormick’s compelling profile of 16-year-old Cal Currier’s solo Atlantic crossing won first place in Boating Profiles. Courtesy of the Currier Family

McCormick took second place in the Boating Columns category for his regular column, Off Watch, highlighted by his pieces on Grenada’s Green Man; the search for Capt. Cook’s Endeavour off Newport, RI; and a somber look at the dangers of offshore sailing.

An image of three men standing in front of a boat.
Tor Johnson’s feature on his shakedown cruise across the Atlantic took third place in Boating Adventures. Tor Johnson

Johnson placed third in the Boating Adventures category for his unlikely and spontaneous trans-Atlantic voyage, “That’s Not Going to Happen.” He also received a merit award in Boating Photography for Cruising World’s May 2022 cover photo.

Cruising World Editor-at-Large Tim Murphy and contributors Jon Kretschmer and David Kilmer each received merit awards for their writing and storytelling. Murphy’s “Down and Out on Island Time” and Kretschmer’s “Reefing Off the Wind” both earned honors in the Seamanship, Rescue and Safety Category, while Kilmer’s uplifting feature “Cruising from Bellingham to the Bahamas” won for the Boating Adventures category.

The cover spread for a magazine article entitled "Gambia"
Kia Koropp placed first in Boating Travel and Adventures for her feature, “Destination Gambia: A Lesson Worth Sharing.” Kia Koropp

Cruising World is honored to work with the best of the best when it comes to award-winning storytelling and photojournalism from our contributors around the globe,” said CW Editor-in-Chief Andrew Parkinson. “We’re thrilled to congratulate the winners who contributed to Cruising World this past year, and we also want to recognize all of the talented writers, photographers and videographers out there whose words and creativity help the marine media everyday to fulfill our ultimate mission as boating ambassadors: to engage, educate and inspire the global cruising community as well as the next generation of sailing and powerboating enthusiasts.”