Norfolk, VA – (February 13, 2014) –Boats Group, the division of Dominion Enterprises that operates YachtWorld, Boat Trader and boats.com, today announced its selection of David Rockefeller, Jr. as 2013 YachtWorld Hero.
Now in its third year, the YachtWorld Heroes initiative from Boats Group recognizes individuals and their organizations that have leveraged their love and respect for our oceans, rivers, lakes and streams into a higher consciousness among boaters and the general public.
David Rockefeller, Jr. was voted 2013 YachtWorld Hero from among five finalists by an independent group of boating journalists and marine industry members. He received his award at the opening of the Miami International Boat Show in Miami Beach.
Rockefeller was cited particularly for his founding and leadership of the ocean conservation non-profit, Sailors for the Sea. As a passionate sailor and lifelong friend of the environment, he set out in 2004 to create an organization that could speak with one voice for sailors’ interests in protecting the ocean. Since then, Rockefeller has helped Sailors for the Sea find meaningful ways to take on the challenges that increasingly put marine life and coastal environments at risk.
“Ten years ago, Sailors for the Sea was founded with a dream and a deep love for the ocean. It is quite an honor to be named the 2013 YachtWorld Hero, and speaks to the excitement that the boating community feels for this organization, and for protecting the oceans upon which we sail,” said David Rockefeller, Jr., Chairman, Sailors for the Sea.
Under Rockefeller’s leadership, Sailors for the Sea has thrived, steadily raising its profile and growing its programs, including:
- Clean Regattas, a certification program that helps sailing events implement sustainability practices and achieve higher environmental standards. Its adoption by the America’s Cup in San Francisco led to an 81-point plan to minimize any negative environmental impacts of the event
- Ocean Watch Essays provide monthly articles that discuss current ocean health issues, engage sailors and provide opportunities to take action.
- Clean Boating resources are freely available and provide tips for all boaters to reduce their environmental impacts at sailorsforthesea.org, and Rainy Day Kits are informal lesson plans for young sailors to learn about marine science.
- The “Around the Americas” voyage rounded both Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage, circumnavigating North and South America, delivering the message of ocean conservation to dozens of ports along east and west coasts.
“We encourage boaters and everyone who loves our marine environment to support our Heroes and their organizations, or to set up their own community programs of ocean advocacy and friendship with the sea,” said Jessica Muffett, founder of YachtWorld and YachtWorld Heroes. “Our collective efforts will set an important example of good marine stewardship for others.”
For more information on all of the nominees and their endeavors, please visit YachtWorldHeroes.com and click on 2013 Nominees.
The five distinguished judges were: Wendy Mitman Clarke, Dieter Loibner, Jessica Muffett, Stanton Murray and John Page Williams. For more information about the judges, go to YachtWorldHeroes.com and click on Our Judges.
About Sailors for the Sea
Founded in 2004, Sailors for the Sea is a nonprofit organization that educates and engages the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. For more information, to participate in any of the Sailors for the Sea programs, or to support the organization, visit www.sailorsforthesea.org.
About Boats Group
Boats Group (Boats Group) is the Internet partner of choice for the recreational marine industry and operates the three market leading web portals – boats.com, yachtworld.com and boattrader.com. Boats Group is a division of Dominion Enterprises, a leading marketing services and publishing company that provides businesses with a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, website design and hosting and data management services. Boats Group has offices in North America (Norfolk, Virginia; Seattle, Washington; and Vancouver, British Columbia) as well as in Europe (United Kingdom and Italy) and Australia. The company employs 150 people, has customers in 106 countries and advertises boats for sale in 166 countries. In 2013, over 52 million unique visitors spent time researching products on Boats Group web and mobile sites, apps and social media outlets. Boats Group’s global reach includes 23 localized web portals which are translated into 13 languages.