Yachting Monthly’s marine environmental journalism award is now open, and for the first time there are two £2,000 cash prizes up for grabs for the best article and the best video.
The Yachting Monthly Brian Black Memorial Award 2023 sponsored by B&G is back, this
time with a new video competition, alongside the well-established writing competition, each with £2,000 on offer for the best video story and best written story about marine
environmental issues explored by sailing boat. The award also includes a donation of £1,500 to Sea-Changers.
The Brian Black Memorial Award was established in 2021 to commemorate Brian and Lesley Black who were trailblazing sailors, daring small-boat explorers and passionate story tellers. A film-maker and broadcaster, Brian used his boat to capture first-hand footage of melting glaciers to tell the story of global warming decades before it was in the public awareness. The award aims to encourage other sailors to use their boats to share the stories of the places and wildlife they encounter on their voyages with the wider world. This year, the award is focusing on coastal biodiversity, its beauty and wonder, and the crisis it is facing. Brian and Lesley's daughter Sarah Brown is Chair of the Sea-Changers Board and a much loved member of the Sea-Changers team. Sea-Changers is very proud to support and promote this wonderful award.
All Photographs credited to Yachting Monthly /Black Family Estate.
Marine electronics brand, B&G®, is sponsoring the award for a third year in a row, but this
time creating two separate prizes. As last year, there is a prize of £2,000 for the best
1,800-word article and accompanying images. New for 2023, there is also a prize of £2,000
for the best video of up to 10 minutes, and runners up prizes for two additional runners up in each category. The winning article and video, along with the runners up, will be published in Yachting Monthly, and on Yachting Monthly’s online channels.
The award also includes a donation of £1,500 to the marine conservation charity,
Sea-Changers, which raises funds for grass-roots conservation projects around the UK
coastline.
Tracy Cox, Global Brand Manager for B&G, said:
“B&G is delighted to once again sponsor the Brian Black Memorial Award for its third year,
and we are excited to see the extraordinary stories brought to life by talented and passionate adventurers. 'Sustainability’ has become quite a buzzword, but it has long been at the heart of what we do, as – at our core – B&G is a team of sailors dedicated to making products for sailors of all levels, we share that deep connection with the ocean and with nature. We are privileged to be in a position to work with scientists and sailors who are dedicated to driving forward positive change. The Brian Black Memorial Award continues to do a stellar job of raising the profile of some lesser-told stories.”
The judging panel for the award includes Volvo Ocean Race skipper Dee Caffari MBE;
Vendée Globe veteran Mike Golding OBE; conservation expert Dr Bob Brown, and marine
environmental consultant and daughter of Brian and Lesley Black, Sarah Brown, plus the
Yachting Monthly team.
Sarah Brown said:
“Dad would go that extra mile for a story or an image. Whether he was confronting people
illegally threatening wildlife or getting washed away by a collapsing glacier he was pretty
fearless when he had a story to unearth. Every year he would sail his small yacht north and
capture stories about retreating glaciers and threatened wildlife and come home to share
them with TV audiences. Often battered and bruised, he loved the adventure associated with ‘getting that shot’ and I hope we see some of that come through in this year’s entrants!”
Yachting Monthly editor Theo Stocker:
“The drive towards sustainability has a long way to go, but is gathering momentum as more data, stories and understanding of complex issues emerges. We hope this award does justice to the truly trailblazing work of Brian and Lesley Black, and contributes even just a little to the sea-change that needs to happen. We are thrilled to have B&G as sponsors once again, and feel that the company’s efforts to reduce its own environmental impact make it a great fit for this award. I can’t wait to read and watch, the stories that emerge this year.”
Entries should be submitted by 6 August 2023. For more details and full terms and
conditions, visit: www.yachtingmonthly.com/brian-black-award