The seventh edition of the Asia Boating Awards recently took place in Hong Kong and here is a rundown of the winners and how things went.

The Hong Kong yachting scene figured heavily at this year’s Asia Boating Awards, held on May 6 at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Boat Show. Richard Beattie, owner of the McMullen and Wing custom build Big Fish, was on hand to receive the award for Most Innovative Yacht Design of the Year, for Big Fish. Beattie brought family, friends and members of his firm Aquos Yachts, which is handling the build of his second yacht, Star Fish, to the stage to receive the award. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club was again honoured for being Best Asian Yacht Club of the year, while the Hong Kong Gold Coast Yacht Club took the award for Best Asian Marina of the Year.

The Asia Boating Awards 2011

In the Asian builder categories, this year saw Taiwanese yacht builder Horizon Yachts go home with the award for Best Asian Motor Yacht Builder 81 feet and up. Zhuhai Sunbird, which specializes in mid-range yachts and recently became the first Chinese yacht builder to list on the stock market, took the award for Best Asian Yacht Builder 51 to 80 feet. Sunbird has produced a new series of 75-foot yachts that feature Italian design, and was a big exhibitor at the Hainan Rendez-Vous in Sanya. Finally, the award for Best Asian Motor Yacht Builder 31 to 50 feet went to Sino-Eagle Leopard, which has been producing sailing and power catamarans for the Leopard brand of power and sail catamarans.

In a related win, Morrelli & Melvin won the award this year for Yacht Designer in Asia of the Year, which recognizes the work now being done by the world’s biggest names in yacht design with Asian builders. Gino Morrelli, co-founder of the firm and a regular visitor to Asia, was on hand to pick up the honour. Morrelli & Melvin have worked with Sino-Eagle Leopard, McConaghy’s China and several other yards, and have hinted at establishing an office in Hong Kong.

Dutch yacht builders, which are widely recognized as being among the best in the world, made a strong showing at this year’s awards, reflecting the growing awareness in Asia of the Netherlands as a yacht building nation. Royal Huisman, famous for building customized sailing superyachts, was given the nod this year for its spectacular yacht Twizzle in the category of Best Custom Built Yacht. Evert van Dishoeck, sales director of Royal Huisman, accepted the award during his first visit to Hong Kong. Also among the Dutch yards being rewarded this year were Amels Holland, famous for their series of semi-customised superyachts. Amels representative, Johan Kaasjager, flew to Hong Kong to pick up their award for Bel Abri, from the yard’s very successful 171 Limited Editions series.

Simpson Marine enjoyed twin successes in the sailing yacht category this year, with the new Bénéteau Sense and the Nautor’s Swan 80 taking awards in their respective categories, while best production multihull went to Fountaine Pajot for its Galathea 65, one of which is available for charter in Asia. Hélène de Fontainieu visited Hong Kong from her native France to collect the award.

The last awards featured a few surprises, with Olivier Burlot, formerly the publisher of Asia-Pacific Boating and China Boating, being voted as Personality of the Year by the panel of judges.

The ceremony took place at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Yacht and Country Club on a beautiful setting just by the marina bay. The assembled crowd of owners, brokers and builders was entertained by a live music performance featuring some of the best musicians on Hong Kong’s jazz and blues circuit. A complete list of winners is below.

The Asia Boating Awards Winners List for 2011:

Best Custom Built Yacht
Royal Huisman – Sailing Yacht Twizzle (The Netherlands)

Best Semi Custom Built Yacht (100 feet and up)
Amels – Limited Edition 171 Bel Abri (The Netherlands)

Most Innovative Yacht Design of the Year
McMullen & Wing – Motor Yacht Big Fish (New Zealand)

Yacht Designer in Asia of the Year
Morrelli & Melvin (USA)

‘Green’ Maritime Company of the Year
Marina at Keppel Bay (Singapore)

Best Print Ad of the Year
Riva 86 Domino – CB July/Aug 2010

Best Asian Yacht Club of the Year
Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (Hong Kong)

Best Asian Marina of the Year
Hong Kong Gold Coast Yacht & Country Club (Hong Kong)

Best Asian Motor Yacht Builder (81 feet and up)
Horizon (Taiwan)

Best Asian Motor Yacht Builder (51 to 80 feet)
Sunbird Yacht (China)

Best Asian Motor Yacht Builder (31 to 50 feet)
Sino-Eagle Leopard (China)

Best Production Motor Yacht (81 to 120 feet)
Princess – 32M (UK)

Best Production Motor Yacht (51 to 80 feet)
Monte Carlo Yachts – MCY 76 (Italy)

Best Production Motor Yacht (31 to 50 feet)
Sea Ray – 450 Sedan Bridge (USA)

Best Production Sailing Yacht (51 feet and up)
Nautor’s Swan – Swan 80 (Finland)

Best Production Sailing Yacht (Under 51 feet)
Beneteau – SenSe 50 – (France)

Best Production Multihull
Fountaine Pajot – Galathea 65 (France)

Best Asia-based Charter Company
Simpson Marine (Hong Kong)

Best Asia-based Charter Yacht
Montigne (Turkey)

Best Asian Regatta of the Year
Six Senses Phuket Raceweek (Thailand)

Best Asian Maritime Capital
Singapore

Best Brand Presence in Asia
Sunseeker (UK)

Personality of the Year
Olivier Burlot

Judging

From the nominations gathered online, a shortlist of the most popular entries was then compiled and sent to a panel of experts who each picked their first choice in each category from the respective shortlists. Panel members are selected for their ability to make knowledgeable, yet unbiased choices. The selections are then sent directly, and in complete secrecy, to the law firm, Stevenson Wong & Co. before the Awards ceremony on the 6th May at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Boat Show.

About Asia-Pacific Boating

With a heritage spanning over 30 years, and a reputation among Asia-Pacific’s yachting enthusiasts for being the leading source of news and information on the luxury boating and yachting industry, Asia-Pacific Boating is the most established and respected boating magazine in the region.