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It's hard not to focus on the great new designs being unveiled at the Miami International Boat Show, but I think a very different kind of boating story warrants attention.

While Pursuit did announce an exciting new hull (the C260 center console) and its winning the 2012 Boat of the Year for its ST310, most unusual was the company's committment announced by Tom Slikkers, Pursuit president, to help fund breast cancer research.
 
The visual component of the announcement couldn't be missed: Next to Slikkers was an OS315S enclosed-helm pursuit wrapped in a brilliant pink-and-blue design by Melbourne artist Terri Gust. A portion of all boats sold at the show will go to help fund critical research being done at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Ben Park, of Johns Hopkins, explained at the press conference that breast cancer will strike one of eight women in the United States, calling it an epidemic. He said that great gains have been made and Johns Hopkins is on the cusp of significant improvements in cure and treatment.

The unmistakable boat can be seen at the Pursuit booth, C-46, in the Miami Beach Convention Center.