Singapore was crowned Asia’s Maritime Capital at the fifth edition of the Asia Boating Awards, held at the prestigious Le Royal Meridien Hotel in Shanghai, China.

This is the second time the Lion City has been awarded the sought-after accolade.

The award recognises the tremendous effort that a city has put into turning itself into a sailing and boating hub.

In 2008, Singapore was a stopover city for the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) - in between stopovers in Kochin, India and Qingdao – it was the first time the race traversed Asian waters.

Fittingly, One° 15 Marina Club, host of the Singapore VOR stopover, took the award for Best Asian Marina/Yacht Club of the Year.

Other notable wins included the China Cup International Regatta. It was named Best Regatta Event of the Year for the second year in a row.

The China Cup, which runs from Hong Kong to Daya Bay, on the Shenzhen coast, has quickly become one of Asia’s biggest events in just two years’ running.

The growing influence of the UAE was acknowledged as the award for Best New Asian Marina/Yacht Club went to the spectacular Dubai Marina Yacht Club.

“Tonight’s event shows how the Asian Boating Awards are unique in that they recognise the efforts being made in this part of the world to develop the leisure marine industry and to create a new and exciting cruising ground for the world’s yachtsmen,” said Olivier Burlot, managing director of Blu Inc Media, publisher of Asia-Pacific Boating and China Boating magazines.

The Asia Boating Awards is widely known as the region’s premier event for recognising the efforts of boat builders, marinas, clubs and individuals in creating a diverse and exciting boating community in the region.

Asia Boating Awards 2009 Winners’ List:

Best Asian Motor Yacht Builder (86 feet and up): Horizon (Taiwan)

Best Asian Motor Yacht Builder (51-85 feet): Grand Banks (Singapore/Malaysia)

Best Asian Motor Yacht Builder (31-50 feet): Gulf Craft (UAE)

Best Asian Motor Yacht Builder (30 feet and under): Yamaha (Japan)

Best Motor Yacht (86 feet and up): Riva (Italy) – 92’ Duchessa

Best Motor Yacht (51-85 feet): Sunseeker (UK) – Manhattan 70

Best Motor Yacht (31-50 feet): Atlantis (Italy) – Atlantis 47 HT

Best Motor Yacht (30 feet and under): Sea Ray (United States) – 270 SLX

Best Sailing Yacht (51-100 feet): Bénéteau (France) – Bénéteau 57

Best Sailing Yacht (50 feet and under): Lagoon (France) – Lagoon 500

Best Sail Racing Yacht: Longtze Yachts (China) – Longtze Premier

Best Asian Marina/Yacht Club of the Year: One° 15 Marina Club (Singapore)

Best New Asian Marina/Yacht Club of the Year: Dubai Marina Yacht Club (UAE)

Best Asia-based Charter Company: Sunsail

Best Asian Maritime Capital: Singapore

Personality of the Year: Frank Pong (Hong Kong)

Best Regatta Event of the Year: China Cup International Regatta (China)

Best Print Ad of the Year: Lürssen (Germany) – “Lürssen: The sixth element”

Best Brand Presence in Asia: Azimut (Italy)

Most Innovative Interior Yacht Design of the Year: Heesen (The Netherlands) – Celestial Hope
Interior design: Life Styles Interior

Most Innovative Exterior Yacht Design of the Year: Blohm+Voss (Germany) – Yacht ‘A’
Exterior design: Philippe Starck

Check out the full coverage of the awards ceremony in May's edition of Asia’s premier boating magazines, Asia-Pacific Boating and China Boating.