Celebrating contribution
The inaugural Women’s Yachting Awards took centre stage at METSTRADE in Amsterdam, recognising the remarkable contributions of women across the yachting industry.
Photography by Gijs Niewold from Crest Company
25 November 2024
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Held 19 November, The Women’s Yachting Awards honoured the exceptional achievements of women who have made a significant impact across the yachting industry.
Launched by Yacht Dame through the Yacht Femme platform in partnership with METSTRADE, the three awards are dedicated to recognising and celebrating the outstanding contributions of women across all sectors of the yachting industry.
Keynote speaker, Eleonora Pitasso of Burgess delivered a powerful address, highlighting the importance of celebrating women’s roles in yachting. Pitasso’s speech focussed on the importance of leaving a meaningful legacy while driving innovation and inclusivity in the yachting industry.
Each winner was presented with the bespoke circular award designed by Carbon Dream, symbolising unity, continuity and the cyclical nature of progress within the yachting industry.
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This award, featuring the YF logo for Yacht Femme, served as a tangible representation of the event’s mission to inspire and connect.
As a special token of appreciation, Comfort Zone provided luxurious goods to all attendees, adding an extra touch of elegance to the celebration and finalists received beautiful leather bags courtesy of Lürssen Yachts and a scarf.
The awards
Rising Star of the Year – Kaela Bermeister
Kaela Bermeister, a passionate and dedicated superyacht captain, was awarded the Rising Star of the Year trophy by Chloe A’Bear from Yacht Intelligence. With a deep love for the open seas, Kaela has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, inspiring crew and industry peers alike. Her recognition highlights the growing role of young leaders who are redefining what it means to helm a superyacht.
Entrepreneur of the Year – Camille Lopez
As the founding president of HY-Plug, Camille Lopez was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Her work is pioneering the decarbonisation of the yachting industry, focusing on advancing clean energy solutions for marinas and shipyards. Camille’s forward-thinking initiatives are shaping a more sustainable future for maritime infrastructure and operations.
Trailblazer of the Year – Vienna Eleuteri
Vienna Eleuteri, Vice-President of the Water Revolution Foundation and Senior Advisor to the Saudi Red Sea Authority, received the Trailblazer of the Year award. A sustainability scientist and anthropologist, Vienna has been instrumental in developing transformative maritime practices that align with environmental stewardship and sustainable growth.
Women’s Yachting Awards Founder, Andrea Tagliaferro concluded the ceremony saying, “Congratulations to all of our winners and finalists. Your dedication and achievements inspire us all.
“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, supported, sponsored, and shared their advice with us. Your kindness and encouragement mean the world. We look forward to celebrating with you again at next year’s Women’s Yachting Awards.”
About Yacht Femme
In 2018, Andrea Tagliaferro created Yacht Dame with the intent of connecting women in yachting through various awareness campaigns.
This initiative grew, leading to the establishment of the podcast show Yacht Femme, the launch of the first awards for women in the industry, the Women in Yachting Awards, and many other projects. Eventually, the platform was rebranded under the name Yacht Femme, with Yacht Dame becoming Andrea’s personal brand within the yachting community.
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