No matter what country you live in, when the Miami International Boat Show comes around each year it’s interesting to see who has won the USA’s National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Awards. As with European awards, the judges were journalists, members of Boating Writers International.
The Innovation Awards recognize products that best meet the following criteria: innovative distinction from other products currently being manufactured; benefit to the marine industry and/or consumer; practicality; cost-effectiveness; and availability to the consumer within 60 days of award receipt.
Not all the awards were relevant to the sailor, but there were several that were:
Sailing boat:
That doyen of the boating industry Beneteau won the sailing boat seciton for its Sense Series. Of particular mention was the ‘Dock and Go’ system. ‘With two models in its line, the Sense Series opens the doors to sailing for those who might otherwise be nervous by close-quarters maneuvering with its Dock and Go System,’ said Diane Byrne. ‘Combine that with an enormous cockpit for entertaining, a living space separated from the noise of necessary machinery, and a deck that’s easy to navigate, and you have an impressive boat that takes the intimidation factor out of big boat sailing.’


See the rest of the winners at http://www.sail-world.com/cruising/index.cfm?nid=80462&rid=11
Our first Beneteau Sense 50 will arrive late Spring on the Gulf Coast and will be commissioned at our New Orleans office.  Our second Sense 50 will arrive late summer and will be commissioned at our St. Petersburg office.  Murray Yacht Sales is your authorized Gulf Coast Beneteau dealer servicing Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.