Superyachts celebrate excellence and service
by Jeni Bone on 25 May 2008

ISS President Lance Cushion. International Superyacht Society SW
The Australian superyacht fraternity celebrated the high achievers of the industry on Saturday night, culminating in the Awards highest accolade: the inaugural Hall of Fame Award, which went to Donald Johnston, original founder and owner of Oceanfast in WA.
According to Superyacht Base Australia CEO and ISS President, Lance Cushion, this year’s ceremony - the third annual Australian Superyacht Awards at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre - was a resounding success and entries were of an excellent standard.
'Of course we would like to have more entries, but that comes with time,' he said.
There were three entries in the new boat category and five for the refit section.
There were no entries in the sail category, because as Cushion explained: 'We just don’t build many superyachts in sail.'
The judging panels for each category were composed of local experts and overseas industry proponents, including Ken Hickling from Awlgrip Paint in the UK, Doug Sharp from Doug Sharp Designs San Diego and Paul Madden, the CRN (part of the Ferretti Group) rep in the USA – all of whom have served on the ISS Executive Board.
Journalists were noticeably absent from the judging panel.
Winners for 2008:
Australian Superyacht Industry Person of the Year: John Muir
Award Sponsored by Bellingham Marine
Recognition of Excellence to a Designer to the Australian Superyacht Industry: Sam Sorgiovanni for ‘Outback’
Award Sponsored by Evolution Yachts
Recognition of Excellence in the Construction of a New Superyacht: ‘Silver’ by Hanseatic Marine
Award Sponsored by MTUDDA
Recognition of Excellence in the Refit of a
Superyacht: ‘Dreamtime’ by Marine Engineering Consultants & Dreamtime Refit Team
Award Sponsored by Aurora Global Logistics and Dockwise Yacht Transport
Chairman's Award: Colleen Watson
Super Yacht Group Great Barrier Reef
Award Sponsored by Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show
(Inaugural) Hall of Fame Inductee Donald B Johnston, Founder of Oceanfast
More at www.superyachtbase.com
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