ALEXANDRIA , VA , February 15, 2008 - Northeast Boating magazine Editor Tom Richardson was honored by BoatUS today with the 2007 Moulton H. “Monk” Farnham Award for Excellence in Editorial Commentary.

Established in 1996 by BoatUS in memory of Monk Farnham, the former chairman of the BoatUS National Advisory Council and outspoken editor and world record-holding skipper, the award recognizes editors of boating and fishing magazines who have a passion for boating and fishing, a crusading spirit and a willingness to use their editorial page to lead the debate on issues facing the recreational boating community and marine industry.

During an awards ceremony held at the annual meeting of Boating Writers International during the Miami Boat Show, Richardson was recognized by BoatUS Senior Vice President Michael Sciulla for his editorial column “From the Helm” in Northeast Boating magazine.

“This year’s award goes to an editor who has used his soapbox to rail against the senselessness of promoting the use of ethanol in our fuel which leads to nitrification of our waterways and oxygen-depleted ‘dead zones’,” said Sciulla.

Now in its 12th year, the Farnham award includes a hand-crafted trophy depicting a quill pen drawing inspirational “ink” from a series of rolling waves as well as a check for $1,000.

Richardson joins a short list of editorial luminaries who have previously won the award including Skip Allen of Southern Boating, Bill Sisson of Soundings, Bill Schanen of Sailing magazine, Matt Trulio of Powerboat magazine, Chris Landry of Powerboat Reports, Herb McCormick of Cruising World magazine, Wendy Mitman Clarke of Chesapeake BayMagazine, Jim Hendricks of Trailer Boats magazine, Peter Nielsen of Sail magazine, Darrell Nicholson of Offshore magazine and Doug Olander of Sport Fishing magazine.

The judges for this year’s award included Dean Clarke, past president of Boating Writers International; Wolcott “Tony” Gibbs, a former editor of Yachting and The New Yorker; Chuck Husick, an Ocean Navigator contributing editor and Michael Sciulla, publisher of BoatUS Magazine and DIY Boat Owner magazine.