Maryborough sailor awarded Cruising Club of America’s Blue Water Medal

by Dana Paxton, Media Pro Int'l on 14 Mar 2010 Last week when the Cruising Club of America(CCA) presented its annual awards at a dinner held in New York, a former Maryborough boat builder was one of the recipients. Trevor Robertson and his wife Annie Hill received the prestigious 2009 Blue Water Meda in recognition of 'a life of cruising and voyaging that best exemplifies the objects and goals of the CCA.'

Between the two, they have logged 305,000 miles of sailing. In 1997 Trevor built “Iron Bark”, a 35-foot steel gaff cutter in Maryborough, and in 1998 he single-handed it from New Zealand around Cape Horn to the Antarctic Peninsula where he wintered over, frozen in at Alice Creek, Wiencke Island.

On January 4, 2000, Iron Bark broke out of the ice and after cruising for a few weeks in the Antarctic Peninsula Robertson departed for the Falkland Islands and then sailed directly to Trinidad.

Annie Hill joined him in 2002 and together they sailed from Trinidad to Labrador, Canada, before returning to Baddeck, Nova Scotia, then to the UK in 2003. They then sailed the Atlantic again, spent 'easy' time in Trinidad and Tobago, then in 2004, sailed north to the Greenland coast and wintered over at Nako Island, where Iron Bark was frozen over for a second time for seven months at a latitude of 72 degrees north.

It is believed that Iron Bark is the first vessel to winter unsupported in both the Arctic and Antarctic, but these are just the hightlights of a sailing career that has lasted thirty-five years and covered 140,500 miles..

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.

The other awards that were presented by CCA Commodore Sheila McCurdy (Middletown, R.I.):

Blue Water Medal (without date) – Awarded to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who flew in from China after a successful stopover for the Clipper Round the World Race in Qingdao, for a lifetime devoted to the advancement of sailing, sail training and youth development, and on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his singlehanded, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. In the 85-year history of the CCA’s Blue Water Medal only seven Medals have been awarded without date.

2009 Far Horizons Award: Awarded to Lin and Larry Pardey, who also flew in from New Zealand. They have done three circumnavigations in two wooden boats they built themselves with no engines. Their books have been read by sailors around the world, and they are often referred to as 'the first couple of cruising.'

2009 Rod Stephens Trophy for Outstanding Seamanship: Awarded to Maurice and Sophie Conti for their brave rescue of three sailors whose boat was wrecked on a reef in the Fiji Islands.(See Sail-World Cruising's http://www.sail-world.com/CruisingAus/IMO-Bravery-Award-for-American-Cruising-Sailors/63697!story ) The Contis also received a bravery award for the rescue from the International Maritime Organisation last year. The Conti family could not attend the dinner, and accepted the award on their behalf was Kirsty Graham, Deputy Permanent Representative of the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

2009 Richard S. Nye Trophy: Awarded to John Rousmaniere for bringing distinction to the Cruising Club of America as a sailor, writer and historian.

2009 Charles H. Vilas Literary Prize: Awarded to Rich Wilson for his recent article in the Cruising Club News 'Race France to France, leave Antarctica to Starboard,' where he tells about his successful completion of the Vendee Globe Race at age 58.

Additional CCA member awards were presented including:

Royal Cruising Club Trophy to C. Tanner Rose Jr. for his cruise to the Faeroe Islands in Witch of Pungo

John Parkinson Memorial Trophy for Transoceanic Passage to Gregory C. Carroll for his Indian Ocean 'East to West', the fourth recognition

Special Achievement Award to Eric B. Forsyth for his successful transit of the Northwest Passage, east to west in his 42’ cutter, Fiona

15-Plus Thrashes to The Onion Patch to Stephen G. Kasnet and William B. Read III

Commodores Award to Arthur J. 'Tuna' Wullschleger for dedication to judging regattas for over 30 years, and for contributions to the jury system and development of on-the-water umpiring

About the CCA: Now in its 89th year, the club has 10 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. It also sponsors several Safety at Sea seminars and hosts a series of 'Suddenly Alone' seminars for the cruising couple.

www.cruisingclub.org