Doug Olander was honored by BoatUS today with the 2006 Moulton H. “Monk” Farnham Award for Excellence in Editorial Commentary.

Established in 1996 by BoatU.S. 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, Olander was recognized by BoatUS Senior Vice President Michael Sciulla for the tireless advocacy of his editorial column in Sport Fishing magazine.

Now in its 11th year, the Monk 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.

Olander 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 Bay magazine, Jim Hendricks of Trailer Boats magazine, Peter Nielsen of Sail magazine and Darrell Nicholson of Offshore 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, Islands and The New Yorker; Chuck Husick, an Ocean Navigator contributing editor and former president of Chris Craft Boats, and Michael Sciulla, publisher of BoatUS Magazine and DIY Boat Owner magazine.