The Boat India Awards 08 show which took place in Kochi immediately after the boat show has recently announced the winners of the many categories which included best boating media, best yachting video, marina of the year etc etc.

Held between the 14th -16th Dec 08 at the Le Meridien Hotel, Cochin the IBA 08 (part of the boat india 08) was witness to the high fliers of the yachting industry of India. Mr Gulu Lalvani, the well known Royal Phuket Marina developer was also present at the event and was presented with the ‘Best Boating and Yachting Personality of the Year’.

The Award Advisory Board consisted of distinguished personalities from the Boating and the Yachting industry who judged the nominees of IBA 2008. From the shortlist of the nominees, the panel selected one winner for each category which was revealed at IBA 08. The advisory board included Mr. Till F. Braun, Dipl from Germanischer Lloyd AG, Dr.Peter Jansen JANSEN MENN AC, Mr. Chris Hughes Chief Operating Officer,

Boattest, Mr Simon J Arrol, Director Technical, Marina India as well as our very own Mr Ajay Narang, Hon Joint Secy General of the Yachting Association of India.

Below are the names of the nominees and the well deserved winners -

Best Yachting Video

Nominees were 1. Gulf Craft, U.A.E 2. Cobalt Boats, U.S.A 3. Ferretti Yachts, Italy 4. Mondo Marine, Italy Winner : Majesty Yachts,Gulf Craft Inc

Best Boating media

Nominees were 1.Yachts Emirates Magazine, U.A.E 2. Arabian Yachts, U.A.E 3.India Boating, India 4. Asia Pacific Boating, Hong Kong Winner : Asia Pacific Boating

Best Marine Engine Manufacturer

Nominees were 1. Caterpillar 2. Volvo Penta 3. Mercury Marine Pte Ltd,Singapore 4. Doosan Winner : Volvo Penta

Best Yacht Paint

Nominees were 1. Jotun, U.A.E 2. Chugoku Marine Paints (S) Pte Ltd, India 3. International Paint Singapore Pte.Ltd, Singapore 4. Sigma Coatings, Netherlands Winner : Chugoku Marine Paints

Yacht Club Of The Year

Nominees were 1. Royal Langakawi Yacht Club, Malaysia 2.IFA Yacht Ownership Club, U.A.E 3. Club Privada – India 4.Dubai Golf Club, U.A.E Winner : Club Privada

Marina Of The Year

Nominees were 1. Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, Malaysia 2. Raffles Marina, Singapore 3. Yacht Haven Marina, Thailand 4. Royal Phuket Marina (Phuket), Thailand Winner : Royal Langkawi Yacht Club

Best Charter Company

Nominees were 1. Asia Marine, Singapore 2. Merrill-Stevens, Spain 3. Tocuhdown Holidays Sdn.Bhd, Malasia 4. Kingfisher Marine, Thailand Winner : Touchdown Luxury Charters

Best Yacht Management Services

Nominees were 1. Sunseeker Asia,Hong Kong 2. West Coast Marine Yacht Services,India 3. Marine solutions yacht management Pvt Ltd 4. Lee Marine, Thailand Winner : Marine solutions yacht management Pvt Ltd

Most Innovative Interior – Yacht Design Of The Year

Nominees were 1. Pershing80-Pershing, Italy 2. F 470-Ferretti Yachts, Italy 3. MY Sedation-Heesen Yachts, Netherlands 4. Alfa Nero-Oceanco, Monaco Winner : Alfa Nero,Oceanco

Most Innovative Yacht Design Of The Year

Nominees were 1. Bandidio 90- Bandido Yachts 2. MY Asean Lady-Raffles Yacht Limited, Singapore 3. 85ft Luxury Fibre Glass Yacht, Phoenix Marine, Dubai 4. 103 S MY freedom-Azimut, Italy Winner : 103 S MY Freedom, AzimutYachts

Innovative Product

Nominees were 1. Marcopolo-Fincantieri Yachts, Italy 2. The patented gatorvator lift system, Golden Manufacturing Inc, USA 3. 10 men capacity inflatable rubber boat-Bengal Waterproof Ltd., India 4. Pershing 80′-Pershing, Italy Winner : Project Marcopolo,Fincantieri Yachts

Best Motor Yacht (30-80 Ft)

Nominees were 1. Azimut 58-Simpson Marine, Italy 2. F592-Ferretti Yachts, Italy 3. 55 DA-Sea Ray, U.S.A 4. 70 ft- Princess Yachts, UK Winner : 70 Ft, Princess Yachts

Best Mega Yacht (over 100 Ft)

Nominees were 1. Dilbar-Lurssen, Germany 2. MY Sedation-Heesen Yachts, Netherlands 3. Custom Line (CL 112)-Ferretti, Italy 4. Texas Star-Sevene Seas, U.S.A Winner : CL 112, Custom Line,Ferretti Yachts

Best Yacht Manufacturer

Nominees were 1. Elegance yachts,Germany 2. Ferretti Yachts, Italy 3. Hotchya Shipyard, Russia 4. Fairline, UK Winner : Winner : Elegance Yachts

Best Mega Yacht Builder (Over 100 Ft)

Nominees were 1. Azimut-Benetti SPA, Italy 2.Oceanco, Monaco 3. Heesen Yachts, Netherlands 4. Lurssen,Germany Winner : Oceanco

Initiative towards “Responsible & Sustainable Tourism”

Winner : Team Sustain

Safe Guarding The Environment Award

Winner : HELMEPA

Boating And Yachting Personality Of The Year

Winner : Gulu Lalvani We wish all the winners a hearty congrulatons and look forward to many more events where the Indian yachting industry is provided with a platform to showcase its potential.