Seawind Catamarans, which has been designing and building ocean capable cruising catamarans for 28 years, has been named Australian Marine Exporter of the Year for 2010. Seawind was also awarded for the best marine industry export marketing strategy at the recent Sydney boat show.

Richard Ward, Seawind Catamarans' founder and managing director, says winning the two awards was extremely pleasing and he added the company owed the wins to its loyal customers and talented team of boatbuilders.

"Even against a strong Australian dollar and cheaper competition, Seawind Catamarans is surviving and indeed prospering," Ward says, "This is a testament to the high qualty of Seawind's design and construction."

Seawind Catamarans is the country's largest designer and manufacturer of ocean catamarans and offers four models, the 1000, the 1160, the 1250 and the 1025 Resort. The company exported 40 per cent of its 2009 production to countries including the USA, British Virgin Islands, Thailand, Hong Kong and Italy. 

Last year the company attended 19 international boat shows of which 13 were held outside Australia.