Some crew see a niche that no businesses are filling or a need that yachties are uniquely positioned to help fix. Others find platforms for educating and entertaining people inside and outside the industry. Creativity isn’t hard to find in the yacht crew world. We see that at Dockwalk, which is why we started the Crew Creator Awards. The awards celebrate the talent we see every day — and now, we’re pleased to announce the 2025 finalists.
Awards will be given in three categories: Enterprise of the Year, Initiative of the Year and Crew Creator of the Year. Enterprise of the Year recognizes for-profit businesses started by current or former crew, while Initiative of the Year recognizes a not-for-profit initiative started in the past two years by current crew. Content Creator of the Year recognizes crew who create engaging content.
“The levels of excellence here were really something to behold,” says Dockwalk editor Erik Petersen, who chairs the judging. “Creativity, entrepreneurialism, social responsibility — the caliber of entries was outstanding. The entries for these awards confirm what we already knew; this is an industry filled with talent and drive.”
Winners will be announced next month, just before the Palm Beach International Boat Show.
Enterprise of the Year
Initiative of the Year
Content Creator of the Year
@superyachtgirl We love chill days crossing the ocean! #yachtstew #yachttok #superyacht #belowdeck #dayinmylife #yachtie #yachtlife ♬ Fortnight by Taylor Swift - Music Society 🎶
Caitlin Nugent, @superyachtgirl
In a fun, approachable way, Caitlin Nugent shares both the glamorous parts and the hours of hard work that go into being a stew. There are magnificent locations in her TikTok videos, but there are also helpful tips on areas like laundry and bed-making. For people whose knowledge of yacht life comes mainly from Below Deck, it’s educational. For other stews, it’s relatable. And for everybody, it’s a lot of fun.
Madison Steadman, @maddiesheaaaa
Madison Steadman began her yachting career as a stew, but her photography talents led to a promotion. Today, she’s Fleet Media and Content Creator for the Infinite Fleet. The photographer, videographer and drone operator creates the kind of images that give a clear idea of the benefit to yachts of having somebody on board with her skillset. In addition to travels to traditional yachting destinations, she has recently shared breathtaking shots from an Antarctic voyage. The Florida native, who left a traditional post-college job at a marketing agency to chase her international dream, also posts yacht-specific content. madisonsteadman.com