Cruising Club of America recognises great sailing achievements
by Kirsten Ferguson/Sail-World Cruising on 7 Mar 2012
Mary Alice and Brian O’Neill from Shibui during their long cruise SW
There are no more auspicious winners than those who set out on adventurous expeditions where there is no competing and no known reward. Such is the life of the cruising sailor, yet every year the Cruising Club of America celebrates the achievements of some who have excelled in extraordinary ways without ever entering a competition.
Last week the Cruising Club of America (CCA) celebrated its outstanding sailors of 2011 during the annual Awards Dinner on March 2, 2012 at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan where CCA Commodore Daniel P. Dyer, III made presentations to the following three winners:
Blue Water Medal (left to right):
Thies Matzen and Kicki Ericson accept the 2011 Blue Water Medal from Awards Chair Bob Drew and Cruising Club of America Commodore Daniel P. Dyer, III for a commendable 24 years and 135,000 miles of sailing the oceans of the world with a focus in the high latitudes of the Southern Ocean on their 30-foot wooden sloop Wanderer III. (Photo Credit CCA/Dan Nerney)
Far Horizons Award (left to right):
Mary Alice and Brian O’Neill (Bainbridge, Wash.) accept the 2011 Far Horizons Award from Awards Chair Bob Drew and Cruising Club of America Commodore Daniel P. Dyer, III for an admirable 25-month cruise circumnavigating the Pacific Rim, North Pacific Ocean on their 44-foot Robert Perry designed sloop Shibui. En route the two delivered school supplies to those in need and toured WWII sites. (Photo Credit CCA/Dan Nerney)
Richard S. Nye Trophy:
Gary Jobson (Annapolis, Md.) accepts the 2011 Richard S. Nye Trophy from Awards Chair Bob Drew (left) and Cruising Club of America Commodore Daniel P. Dyer, III (right) for sharing with the club his meritorious service, racing and statesmanship in the affairs of international yachting. (Photo Credit CCA/Dan Nerney)
Then there are those who do set out in a competition but are rewarded for quite different but extraordinary achievements:
Rod Stephens Trophy (left to right): Bob Arzbaecher (Milwaukee, Wisc.) accepts the 2011 Rod Stephens Trophy – which honors the crew of the Beneteau 40.7 Sociable, including navigator Brian Adams (Milwaukee, Wisc.) pictured here, third from left – from Awards Chair Bob Drew and Cruising Club of America Commodore Daniel P. Dyer, III for their dramatic rescue of the crew of the Kiwi 35 WingNuts during the Chicago Yacht Club’s 103rd Race to Mackinac held this past July. (Photo Credit CCA/Dan Nerney)
About the Cruising Club of America:
The Cruising Club of America is dedicated to offshore cruising, voyaging and the 'adventurous use of the sea' through efforts to improve seamanship, the design of seaworthy yachts, safe yachting procedures and environmental awareness. Now in its 90th year, the club has 11 stations throughout the U.S., Canada and Bermuda, with approximately 1200 members who are qualified by their experience in offshore passage making. In even-numbered years, the CCA organizes the Newport to Bermuda Race in conjunction with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Through the club’s Bonnell Cove Foundation, grants are made to 501c3 organizations for safety at sea and environment of the sea projects. For more information on the CCA, go to http://www.cruisingclub.org
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