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Written by Jocelyn Cooper
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North American boaters and non-boaters alike have the chance to make a difference—and a shot at winning $25,000—on their local waterfront this summer and fall with Interlux Yacht Finishes’ Waterfront Challenge, which invites groups to spend at least one weekend before November 1 improving their local waterfront to make it more environmentally acceptable and user-friendly.
“We expect people to do everything from cleaning up beaches to setting up recycling programs to repairing dangerous or damaged areas along their waterfront,” said executive director Doug Bernon.
Projects will be judged by various members of the U.S. boating community and rated based on originality, promotion to the community and the media, the effort involved, potential for replication and the “fun factor.”
“I certainly will look for tangible results and how they involve other waterfront users,” said Waterfront Challenge judge Rip Cunningham, fishing conservationist and former editor of Saltwater Sports Magazine. “In my mind, it doesn’t have to be a big, flashy deal to be effective.”
The long-term goal of the challenge (and the criteria for judging) is to make a significant impact on the environment and usability of the greatest area of waterfront possible.
“For me, the ability to be replicated is probably most important,” said Cunningham. “It’s great that a group pulls together on their local piece of the waterfront, but even greater if they come up with something that can be easily replicated.”
Seven $5,000 grants will be awarded to the winning projects from each of the participating regions (Canada, the Caribbean and five across the United States); one $25,000 grand prize will be presented to the best project. All of the grants will be awarded at the 2009 Miami International Boat Show.
Img: Ian Soutar, Jim Harrington and the working prototype of their hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric outboard motor.
Entry is free, but participants must register before October 1 in order to complete the project (and paperwork) by November 5.
Learn more or register at www.wfchallenge.com.
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