Ocean Heroes » sailors

STAN HONEY, Director of Technology for America’s Cup Event Authority

Jessica Muffett — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:33:42 +0000

Who is Your Hero?

Stan Honey is a hero to sailors everywhere, and particularly to those of us who would like to see more people on the water. Honey’s work on the TV technology in the America’s Cup has revolutionized the way sailboat racing can be understood by non-sailors. Perpetually seen as “boring as watching grass grow,” sailboat racing can now be understood by laymen. It’s well known that often graphics can convey extremely complex situations where words fail miserably. The complex geometry of windshifts, current, disturbed wind, racing rules and tactics can now be visualized. Image copyright Team Groupama.

How has your Nominees efforts made a difference for the better?

From this point forward, anybody can “explain” much of the sport by passing along a YouTube link, and most people will be able to comprehend the basics.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

First of all, this technology will excite people about the sport of sailboat racing, which has struggled in recent times. With additional recognition, Honey’s groundbreaking work will also inspire more technology and teaching experts to convey complex marine information simply and graphically.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

americascup.com/about/ac-liveline

usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/sailing/2012-04-30-4152747351_x.htm

Stan Honey was nominated by Kurt M. Hoehne, Navigator at nwyachting.com in the category of Marine Industry Professional Changing the World.

Image copyright Team Groupama.

BEHAN & JAMIE GIFFORD, Family Cruisers

Jessica Muffett — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:54:03 +0000

Who is Your Hero?

The Gifford family has been at sea with their 3 young children since 2008. They have navigated from Washington State through Mexico to Australia, then from Papua New Guinea to Malaysia, where they are currently. They give cruisers a good name and have encouraged many couples and families, such as ours, to buy a boat and get out there.

How has your Nominees efforts made a difference for the better?

The Giffords have inspired countless families such as mine to get a boat, take time out of the hurley-burly and go cruise for a year or maybe longer. We will be getting our boating 2014, and the confidence in doing that can be attributed in a major way to the Giffords. Their stories of encounters with other cruisers and with different cultures at their vaarious moorings, demonstrate their compassion, wit, love for family and the importance of being great cruiser ambassadors . Whether it is Jamie setting up an impromptu sewing repair station on a beach in Malaysia for the local residents, or Behan’s finesse when working with local officials to be sure that everyone parts with highest regard for each other, they are leaving lasting impressions that will benefit all cruisers who follow in their wake. They make the dream obtainable, and have encouraged many of us to become cruisers ourselves.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

To allow them to come in contact with many more people over the next year and continue to promote cruising.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

Sailing with Totem – A Families Nomadic Journey
Facebook.com/sailingtotem
The Gifford family was nominated by Cheryl Tilly of Sedalia, Colorado, in the Joy of Boating category.

MICHAEL T MOORE, Seakeepers.org

Jessica Muffett — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:19:35 +0000

Who is Your Hero?

Michael Moore is chairman of The International SeaKeepers Society, an integral pillar of YachtWorld Foundation, which became YachtWorld Heroes. Early on as we searched for a cause and road to reward our beneficiary, Michael suggested we look at ocean advocacy and use the power of YachtWorld’s reach to promote the recipient’s cause.

Invited to their events, meeting so many others involved in ocean advocacy, learning about the warnings about poor ocean health from incredibly diverse sources, it became clear that Michael’s inclusiveness – as his tenure as chair – had expanded Seakeepers’ message’s reach to many, many people in two short years. Inspired by Michael’s example of inclusiveness, we decided to expand our recognition to many – thus was born YachtWorld Heroes.

How has your nominee’s efforts made a difference for the better?

Lead by their chair Michael Moore, The International SeaKeepers Society members include influential opinion leaders who believe that the best way to protect the environment is to protect the world’s oceans, and whose members are deeply committed to finding real-world solutions to the problems now plaguing our seas. SeaKeepers works directly with the yachting community as an essential component and contributor to ocean research and conservation efforts, enabling the yachting community to take full advantage of their unique potential to advance marine sciences and to raise awareness about global ocean issues. SeaKeepers 100+ DISCOVERY Yachts augment current knowledge about the state of the oceans, rouse significant scientific discovery, raise awareness about critical ocean issues and inspire a passion for the seas.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

A YachtWorld Hero provides recognition to individuals, and we hope there are those who will become involved in SeaKeepers as much for their vision as for Michael’s leadership.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

The International SeaKeepers Society www.seakeepers.org

Michael T. Moore was nominated by Jessica Stewart Muffett, Founder, YachtWorld.com, in the category Defending our Oceans.