Helme receives Anchor Award from RIMTA

Sally Helme, group publisher for the Bonnier Corp., was recently named a 2014 recipient of the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association Anchor Awards. Helme has been a boater all her life and she has worked in several facets of the marine industry before moving on to publishing 20 years ago. In her current position, Helme is responsible for the magazines, Cruising World and Sailing World, as well as the National Offshore One Design Regatta Series and the “State of the Sailing Industry” market report. She holds a B.A. in history and biology/history of science from Princeton University and a master’s in management from Salve Regina University.

PBN: How has technology changed the live coverage of racing events?
HELME: This is one of the most exciting intersections of sport and media, particularly for sailing. Most competitive sailing happens offshore, out of sight of land. But with the incredible cameras now available from GoPro and others, plus global connectivity through satellites, we can watch live action from Narragansett Bay to the far reaches of the Southern Ocean. The drama of the Volvo Ocean Race is being followed real time by hundreds of thousands of people. Those competitors are off the coast of Brazil right now, and we can check in multiple times a day for video feeds and updates. … You can find great, live coverage of all kinds of sailing from all around the world these days, which is fantastic for the sport.

PBN: For boating enthusiasts, what are the different appeals between Sailing World and Cruising World?
HELME: Sailing World is for folks who are into speed and adrenaline, the competitive aspects of sailing. We cover racing at all levels, from Optimist dinghies to the Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup. We provide analysis and insight into what’s happening in the sport of sailing, including technological developments which drive the cutting edge in boat design and construction, sails, gear and electronics. We also provide instruction from the top names in the sport – champions and experts like Ken Read, Terry Hutchinson, Greg Fisher and more. … Cruising World, on the other hand, is all about relaxing and enjoying the beauty of life under sail. The typical “Cruising World” reader dreams of the day he or she can quit their job, sell the house and sail off into the sunset drinking rum while listening to Jimmy Buffett.

PBN: What were some of the key findings of the 2014 market report?
HELME: Yes, one is that 20 percent of the sailboats being built in North America are multihulls, either catamarans or trimarans. There is such an appetite for multihulls these days that one-third of all sailboat imports [larger than] 30 feet are catamarans. Catamarans have made huge gains in popularity because they are fast and fun. On the cruising side, they provide lots of space with room for multiple cabins and private heads, and a stable platform. But I think the most surprising finding is the recent growth in sailing participation. •

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