Powerboat magazine was named the best special interest/consumer magazine by a group of judges from the Western Publications Association, according to a press release from the magazine. Representatives from the publication received the award during the 51st annual Maggie Awards banquet, which was held in Los Angeles. The competition is open to magazines that are published west of the Mississippi River.

Judges picked the May 2001 issue as the top magazine from a group of finalists that included Moveline, PC Gamer, Native Peoples and Wine Country Living. This is the ninth Maggie award Powerboat has received. Last year, Powerboat won the yachting/boating division.

"It's nice to be recognized by our peers, especially since we were competing with titles other than boating magazines," said editor Brett Becker, in the release. "We put in a lot of hard work and long hours. This award makes it worth the effort."

Becker credits veteran art director Robbie Destocki for the distinguished look of the national magazine.

"I thought the May issue probably best represented what we're about," Destocki said. "It had racing, it had a personality profile and just about everything people who run performance boats would be interested in."

Based in Ventura, Calif., Powerboat magazine has been publishing for nearly 35 years. The magazine produces 11 issues a year and has more than 50,000 readers.