And so it begins. After a late-night party on the Grace Kelly with the fine folks at Mastervolt/Marinco, I hit the sheets. An early morning start time for a breakfast before the DAME Awards dampened my late-night party plans.

Design Award METS is the world’s most prestigious design competition for new marine equipment and accessories.

DAME Awards nominees are divided into seven categories:

• Marine electronics and related software

• Interior equipment, furnishings, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins

• Marina equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials

• Deck equipment, sails and rigging

• Clothing and crew accessories

• Lifesaving and safety equipment

• Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems, and fittings

2013 didn’t have a shortage of entries. A total of 115 products were entered in this year’s DAME Design Award METS competition. Fifty-two products from 12 countries were nominated to go forward for final judging by the DAME jury, which chose a maximum of seven category winners and one overall winner.

The overall winner and category winners were announced at a special breakfast briefing today. All of the short-listed products will be put on display during the show in a special DAME presentation at the entrance of the Holland Complex (Entrance C).

What really impressed me is that the 150 euros ($202.76) registration fees from DAME entries are donated to charity, and all international marine-related charities are invited to apply. The METS exhibition committee chose to share the donation between two charities this year:

• Sailability, an organization that facilitates sailing for all, regardless of age or ability, with an emphasis on opportunities for people with disabilities.

• Freedom Waters, an organization that enhances lives by providing boating opportunities and marine-related activities for people with disabilities, life-threatening illnesses, youth at risk, others with special needs and veterans.

That’s all well and good, and I have no problem waking at the crack of dawn on most days, but good people at METS, maybe a more reasonable time. The day before the show starts would be nice. Hell, make it the week before. I for one, wouldn’t mind.

Gaspare J. Marturano is a social media and digital marketing thought leader, industry speaker and the author of “SocializeWith.Me or Someone Else Will” (available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble). With more than 20 years of experience, he is now leading Fastlane Communications’ Digital Marketing and Social Media practice, providing best-practice counsel and execution in the areas of social media policies, processes, people, technologies and content marketing programs.