A woman who founded a non-profit to turn discarded superyacht sails into shelter and shade. Another woman who connects yacht owners and scientists so that important research can occur. Yet another woman who, drawing on inspiration from her Chilean-built yacht, established a foundation to protect fragile ecosystems. These three are this year’s recipients of The Honours awards.
The awards, from the Superyacht Life Foundation, recognize superyachting change makers. People who have made a concrete impact within the past five years are eligible. This ranges from crewmembers to yacht owners, designers, and more. The impacts, meanwhile, are equally varied, from diversity and inclusion, to sustainability, new technologies, scientific research, and philanthropy. Ultimately the intention is to spotlight inspirational but rarely told stories.
Among this year’s winners, Angela Abshier has spent the past five years diverting sails from landfills through Sail to Shelter. Having experience in the garment industry, she knew that clothing manufacturers had what’s called dead stock. Briefly, dead stock is unsold inventory that has lingered for some time and likely will remain unsold. When she learned about the advanced fibers comprising modern sails, “naturally, my first thought was, ‘Where’s the dead stock?’” Once Abshier learned that yachts have custom orders, she had her answer: there isn’t any. “However, there are tons and tons, quite literally, of dead superyacht sails,” she says. “So it felt really good to be able to think that we could use our waste as solutions for folks in need.”
Francisca Cortés Solari, meanwhile, has spent more than 20 years championing sustainable change across her native Chile. She had her yacht, Cachalote, built in 2021 in Chile, too. Sails and solar panels reduce reliance on fuel. Everything from decking to paneling is eco-friendly or derives from a sustainable source. Cortés Solari has also been using Cachalote to help scientists develop technology for vessels to avoid colliding with whales. “We realized no such early-warning technology existed,” she says. “When you look at the ecosystem services whales provide throughout their lives, it means that a single whale captures 33 tons of carbon over its lifetime. That has an economic value of four million dollars for the ecosystem.” She adds, “That’s why it’s so important to understand that if we harm a whale, the impact isn’t just on that one whale.”
Finally, Rosie O’Donnell helped establish the non-profit Yachts for Science. Marine biologists submit research projects, and the non-profit team pairs them with yachts whose owners have expressed interest in assisting. “Lots of people are really interested in getting onboard because it’s such a simple process,” she says. Notably, O’Donnell explains, research vessels usually have a two-year waiting list, plus are quite expensive. Easily, marine researchers submit 100 applications before one receives funding. “So, by the time they’re arrived at the point of meeting a private owner with their vessel, they’re so grateful for having the platform in order to do their research,” O’Donnell states. Equally notable, “I think the owners really enjoy more purposeful ownership…and it also improves the wellbeing of your crew and your captain.”
The Honours thehonours.org
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