Angela Abshier, Francisca Cortés Solari and Rosie O’Donnell

Angela Abshier, founder of Sail to Shelter (USA), Francisca Cortés Solari, founder of Fundación MERI (Chile), and Rosie O’Donnell, project lead for Yachts for Science (UK), were each presented with The Bowsprit Award at the third edition of The Honours.

The event was again organised by The Superyacht Life Foundation, although after two years in association with the Monaco Yacht Show, the third edition was held in the US on the eve of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, at the newly inaugurated Pier Sixty-Six.

Angela Abshier

Abshier, based in California, founded Sail to Shelter in 2020 after realising that the enormous, high-performance sails retired from superyachts were often destined for landfill. Her non-profit gives these durable materials a second life as shelters and shade solutions for communities in need around the world, with the first donation coming from M5, the world’s largest single-masted sailing yacht.

“The sails that once harnessed the power of the wind are now providing protection from it,” Abshier said. “It’s proof that even the materials of this industry have the potential to serve a higher purpose. I’m deeply honoured that Sail to Shelter has found a home within the heart of the yachting community.”

Francisca Cortés Solari

Cortés Solari, Executive President of Philanthropy Cortés Solari and a Patron of Nature with the IUCN, has built one of Latin America’s most comprehensive philanthropic ecosystems, advancing climate action, biodiversity conservation, and education for sustainability.

Inspired by her experiences aboard her Chilean-built yacht Cachalote – conceived as a floating laboratory – she founded Fundación MERI in 2012 to protect fragile marine ecosystems through pioneering research and community engagement.

“The sea connects us all,” Cortés Solari said. “Through Fundación MERI, we’ve seen how science, when combined with education and respect for nature, can inspire entire communities to become guardians of the ocean. This recognition honours not just one project but a collective effort to protect life on earth.”

Rosie O’Donnell

As project lead for Yachts for Science, O’Donnell has transformed the way private vessels contribute to global discovery. By connecting superyachts with scientists seeking research platforms, the British sailor and rigger has turned luxury into logistics for good, enabling expeditions that have uncovered new species, expanded marine sanctuaries, and advanced understanding of ocean health.

“It’s about unlocking potential,” O’Donnell said. “Every yacht can become a vessel of discovery. When owners, crew and scientists come together, what we can achieve is extraordinary. The ocean still holds so many secrets, and I’m proud to be part of a movement helping to reveal them.”

Dilan Sarac, Executive Director of The Superyacht Life Foundation, concluded: “Tonight we celebrated not only three extraordinary women but also the boundless capacity of this industry to do good. Angela, Francisca and Rosie are proof that passion and purpose can coexist beautifully. Their stories remind us all why The Honours exists – to show that yachting can make an impact far beyond the water.”

The 2025 edition of The Honours was sponsored by AB Yachts, Maiora, Delta Marine, Feadship, Global Marine Travel, Lürssen, Preciosa and Robert Allen Law.

thehonours.org