Yachting Monthly is once again hosting the Brian Black Memorial Award for marine environmental journalism, with a total of £4,000 in cash prizes available for the winners this year.
The 2024 Brian Black Memorial Award is supported by Coppercoat, providing £4,000 for the winners. Entries must be submitted by email to yachtingmonthly@futurenet.com by the deadline of 22 August.
Established in 2021, the Brian Black Memorial Award honors Brian and Lesley Black, who were pioneering sailors, adventurous small-boat explorers, and enthusiastic storytellers. Brian, a filmmaker and broadcaster, utilized his boat to obtain footage of melting glaciers, raising awareness of global warming years before it became a common topic.
The award’s purpose is to encourage sailors to document and share the narratives of the locations and wildlife they experience during their journeys with a larger audience.
The late Brian Black
Minimizing Our Footprint
This year, judges are seeking entries that emphasize ‘treading lightly’ in marine environments; ways to navigate and enjoy unspoiled areas while leaving no evidence of our presence except for our wake. This includes aspects like mooring locations, handling waste water and rubbish, or exploring deeper engagements with the sea and coast. It concerns actions sailors can take to lessen their environmental impact.
This year marks Coppercoat’s first year sponsoring the award, a specialist in bio anti-fouling solutions. A £2,000 award will be offered for the best 1,800-word article along with images. Another £2,000 will go to the top video up to 10 minutes long, with prizes for two runners-up in both categories. The winning article and video, as well as the runners-up entries, will be featured in Yachting Monthly and across the magazine’s digital platforms.
The award also includes a £1,000 grant to the marine conservation charity Sea-Changers, which supports grassroots conservation initiatives along the UK coastline.
Ewan Clark, Coppercoat Director, stated: ‘The Coppercoat team is thrilled to support the Brian Black Memorial Award. The idea of utilizing sailing vessels to explore nature with minimal environmental impact aligns perfectly with our values, as we believe our product aids sailors in achieving this.’
‘Coppercoat antifouling features minimal biocide leach and lasts 10-15 years between applications.
‘At Coppercoat, we believe our product continues to lead the market in low-impact antifoul, and independent tests reveal that Coppercoat’s environmental impact is nearly negligible when compared to traditional antifouling solutions,’ added Director Jayson Kenny.
In Distinguished Company
Past BBMA winners include Tim Linsell, who vividly recounted his journey from Norway to Svalbard through stunning writing and striking images, lamenting the rapid changes occurring in the Arctic; Jon Amtrup, who observed glacier retreats in Svalbard over 12 years; and Sophie Dingwall, who documented her Atlantic crossing and how remote islands are being engulfed by ocean plastics.
Irenka and Alan Wood, who have been globe-trotting with their three children since 2017, captured the 2023 video award with a vibrant, informative, and touching video showcasing the joy of wildlife at sea amidst ecological pressures. Their adventures are regularly chronicled on their Mothership Adrift YouTube channel.
The award’s judging panel includes Dee Caffari MBE, Volvo Ocean Race skipper; Mike Golding OBE, Vendée Globe veteran; conservationist Dr. Bob Brown, and marine environmental consultant and daughter of Brian and Lesley Black, Sarah Brown, along with the Yachting Monthly team.
Discover more about the Brian Black Memorial Award sponsor at: coppercoat.com
Submit your entry for the Brian Black Memorial Award 2024 at: yachtingmonthly@futurenet.com
Submit entries through yachtingmonthly@futurenet.com
Articles should be in electronic written format, either as Microsoft Word or Plain Text documents, without any embedded images. Include a 100-word biography that details your sailing experience and the vessel used.
Between 20 and 30 high-resolution images (1MB or larger) should be provided via Dropbox, WeTransfer, or Google Drive link, with clear file names and a list provided in the text document. Alongside general images of people and places, submit pictures relevant to the reported issues, including images of the sailed boat (taken during the journey when possible), a headshot of the author, and a rough chart of the route followed.
Supporting video links may be included but will not influence the judging process.
Entries should range from 1,700-1,900 words; submissions exceeding this word count will not be accepted.
The submission deadline is 22 August 2024. Late entries will not be accepted.
Only one entry per individual is allowed.
The submitted work must be original and not previously published.
Images do not have to be solely taken by the author but must be pertinent to the project or voyage, and authors must possess written consent to use the images for publication in both print and online formats. Images and articles may be shared in their original context by supporting organizations and sponsors for award promotional purposes.
Additional Guidance
Judges are looking for articles addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, framed through the details of your narrative.
Judges are interested in articles and videos that highlight coastal biodiversity and the threats to marine species.
Entries are welcomed from anyone who has recently utilized a sailing boat to investigate an environmental issue, or who has encountered environmental challenges while sailing and has a related story to share.
Submissions are accepted from anyone who has recently sailed to explore an environmental issue or faced ecological concerns while at sea.
Geographical limits for voyages are not set, though judges prefer UK and Atlantic European subjects. A special acknowledgment will be made for the best article and video on high latitude sailing reflecting the enduring commitment of Brian and Lesley Black to Arctic and North Atlantic sailing.
Judges will focus on compelling narratives, with particular attention on writing quality, aiming to inform, educate, and inspire readers about a specific location and its related environmental issue. Articles should come with stunning photographs. The word count should not be less than 1,600 and not exceed 1,800, accompanied by a 100-word biography of the author.
The geographical scope for voyages is without restriction, but special recognition will be given to the finest article on high latitude sailing as a tribute to Brian and Lesley Black’s long-standing devotion to Arctic and North Atlantic exploration.
Videos should articulate both the voyage story and the biodiversity threats encountered. Judges seek engaging videos with a clear narrative that are beautifully captured and expertly edited, with a duration of at least 7 minutes but no longer than 10 minutes.
By entering, you confirm that you hold the copyright or have permission from the copyright holder for the submitted material intended for publication in Yachting Monthly, including various online platforms such as JW Player and YouTube. You also guarantee that any music included in the entry does not infringe on third-party rights, complies with relevant laws, and does not incur any mechanical fees, royalties, or payments to any part.
Judges want great stories articulated well, focusing primarily on writing quality.
Entries must be submitted by 23:59 on 22 August 2024.
Articles require beautiful visuals for illustration.
Articles should serve to inform, educate, and inspire readers about specific areas and environmental issues.
Judging Criteria
The judging panel includes:
Monty Halls – former Royal Marine and conservationist
Mike Golding OBE – round-the-world race champion and multiple world titleholder
Dee Caffari MBE – six-time circumnavigator and Volvo Ocean Race captain
Dr. Robert Brown OBE – conservation expert and sailor
Sarah Brown – marine environmental specialist and daughter of Brian and Lesley Black
The editorial team of Yachting Monthly
Submission Requirements
Participation requires acceptance of these terms and the Competition Rules: https://www.futureplc.com/competition-rules/.
All entries must be submitted by 23:59 BST on 22 August 2024, to yachtingmonthly@futurenet.com, with “Brian Black Memorial Award 2024” in the subject line.
Only one article and one video entry is permitted per individual.
Participation also signifies agreement to the provided terms and the Competition Rules: https://www.futureplc.com/competition-rules/.
Entries must be original and unpublished works.
The author must have taken part in the described voyage within the article or video.
Images and videos submitted do not have to be solely captured by the author, but should be relevant to the project or voyage, with written permission from the copyright holder for all images intended for publication in Yachting Monthly’s print and online channels.
Supporting organizations and sponsors may share images and articles in their original context to promote the award.
Articles
All articles should be in an electronic format such as Microsoft Word or Plain Text, with no embedded images. Include a 100-word biography encompassing your sailing experience and details about the boat used.
20 to 30 high-resolution images (1MB or larger) should be uploaded via a link to Dropbox, WeTransfer, or Google Drive with clearly labeled filenames and a list included in the text document. General images of people, locations, and relevant issue photos are required, along with pictures of the boat sailed (if possible), a headshot of the author, and a sketch chart of the route taken.
Articles should remain between 1,600 and 1,800 words; submissions exceeding this length will be disregarded.
Terms and Conditions
Participation signifies acceptance of these terms and the Competition Rules: https://www.futureplc.com/competition-rules/. All entries must be received by email before 23:59 BST on 22 August 2024. Incomplete or late entries, or any that do not meet submission standards, will be rejected. Each individual may submit only one entry.
The competition is open to individuals aged 16 and over, excluding employees of Future Publishing Limited (“Future”) and CopperCoat (“Sponsor”).
Entrants younger than 18 warrant that they have obtained parental or guardian consent for their entry and for these terms. Unchanged: Entrants younger than 18 warrant that they have obtained parental or guardian approval for their entry and for these terms.
The winner will be chosen exclusively at the discretion of the judging panel from all valid submissions. Unchanged: The winner will be chosen at the sole discretion of the judging panel from all valid submissions.
Submissions will be assessed based on writing quality and their capacity to inform, educate, and inspire discussions on climate change and biodiversity issues. Unchanged: Submissions will be assessed based on writing quality and their capacity to inform, educate, and inspire discussions on climate change and biodiversity issues.
Winners will receive notification via email at least one week before the award ceremony at the Southampton Boat Show.
The prize’s value may be subject to taxation, and prize winners bear sole responsibility for any applicable taxes, including but not limited to federal, state, and local tax obligations stemming from the prize’s value. Unchanged: The prize’s value may be subject to taxation, and prize winners bear sole responsibility for any applicable taxes.
The Sponsor (or a designated third party) is required to report the prize’s value to the IRS the year it is awarded and will identify the winner to the IRS. Unchanged: The Sponsor (or a designated third party) is required to report the prize’s value to the IRS the year it is awarded and will identify the winner to the IRS.
Prize fulfillment will be void where legally restricted or prohibited. Unchanged: Prize fulfillment will be void where legally restricted or prohibited.
The prize is neither transferable nor refundable, and no cash substitute will be offered. Unchanged: The prize is neither transferable nor refundable, and no cash substitute will be offered.
You retain all your rights regarding copyright and other intellectual property related to your entry. However, by entering the competition, you grant Future, its licensees, and the Sponsor a royalty-free right to republish your entry in any medium or format. Unchanged: You retain all your rights regarding copyright and other intellectual property related to your entry, with the understanding that entry grants Future, its licensees, and the Sponsor a royalty-free right to republish your entry.
By participating in this competition, you acknowledge that Future is not liable for losses, damages, or injuries you or others may experience during the submission process or while traveling to or from the Southampton Boat Show, should you choose to attend. Unchanged: By participating, you acknowledge that Future is not liable for losses, damages, or injuries incurred during the submission process or while attending the Southampton Boat Show.
You guarantee that your entry is uniquely your work and does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, and that Future bears no liability for claims that your entry contravenes third-party rights. Unchanged: You guarantee that your entry is uniquely yours and does not violate any third-party intellectual property rights, and Future holds no liability regarding claims against such infringements.
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