Each year, the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) recognizes the outstanding achievements of blue water sailors and brings those achievements to the attention of the sailing community at large. This year\u2019s winners represent a diverse group of sailors scattered around the earth\u2019s oceans. They were selected from a rich pool of candidates, indicating that many adventurous sailors continue to tackle new frontiers. Jenny Crickmore-Thompson, Chairman of the OCC Awards Sub-Committee which was composed of accomplished members representing multiple continents, made the announcement after ratification by the OCC Committee.<\/p>\n
The recipient of the OCC\u2019s premiere award for members, the Barton Cup<\/strong>, for 2015 is Michael Johnson,<\/strong> s\/v Gitana<\/em>, for his successful two-year transit of the Northwest Passage. Sailing from Chesapeake Bay, VA to Nome, AK, this passage took place in a period that was particularly challenging due to ice conditions when many vessels attempting the Passage turned back. Michael is a prior recipient of the Barton Cup (1990) for his engineless E-W rounding of Cape Horn in 85 days.<\/p>\n The OCC Award of Merit<\/strong>, an award that may recognise either members or non-members, is shared among multiple members and the OCC Port Officer Representative who contributed exceptional efforts to assist the people of Vanuatu after the devastation caused by hurricane Pam. The recipients are:<\/p>\n The OCC Award<\/strong> goes to Tom & Vicky Jackson s\/v Sunstone <\/em>for their many cruising and racing achievements, amounting to 34 years and almost 200,000 NM, aboard their 40\u2019 Sparkman & Stephens designed, almost 50-year old sloop. They were recognized in 2007 with the OCC Barton Cup for their 80,000 mile circumnavigation, which included rounding of the five great capes. They have also just been named as recipients of the Cruising Club of America\u2019s Blue Water Medal.<\/p>\n The Vasey Vase<\/strong> goes to Australian doctor John Vallentine, s\/v Tainui<\/em>, for a series of interesting and challenging voyages over a ten year period during which he devoted half of each year providing medical services to remote Aboriginal outstations in the western Australian deserts and the other half sailing mostly to cold climates and rugged isolated locations. \u00a0In 2013, Tainui <\/em>became the second foreign yacht to voyage from the White Sea through Russia and Ukraine to the Black Sea; John and his present crew, Maxine, have written a guide book to these waters being published in 2016.<\/p>\n The OCC Seamanship Award<\/strong> recognises Bob and Mona Jankowski, s\/v Continuum<\/em>, for the heroic rescue of Randy and Dawn Ortiz from s\/v Nirvana Now<\/em> taking on water in the Pacific.\u00a0 They motored more than 40 hours into strong wind and rough seas standing two-hour watches to enable radio contact with the stricken vessel. The situation was critical when\u00a0Continuum\u00a0arrived on scene, but a safe\u00a0transfer was achieved via dinghy thanks to the seamanship of the crew.<\/p>\n Commodore John Franklin issued his personal congratulations to each of the winners and the impressive number of nominees. \u201cThis year posed a particularly difficult challenge for our judges who had to read through volumes of high quality submissions and reach consensus on individual selections,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Jenny Crickmore-Thompson added, \u201cNot only were the choices difficult, reaching the winners proved challenging as so many of them are underway right now crossing oceans in remote regions of the world. Such is the nature of our global cruising community. We offer our congratulations to all.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional award recipients announced include:<\/p>\n Geoff Pack Memorial Trophy<\/strong> \u2013 Behan Gifford s\/v Totem <\/em><\/p>\n Jester Medal<\/strong> \u2013 Rory McDougall s\/v Cooking Fat<\/em><\/p>\n Rose Medal<\/strong> \u2013 Chris Cromey & Suzanne Hills s\/v Whanake<\/em><\/p>\n Rambler Medal<\/strong> \u2013 Peter McCrea & Doug Theobolds s\/v Panacea <\/em><\/p>\n Water Music Trophy<\/strong> \u2013 Mike Reynolds s\/v Zen Again<\/em><\/p>\n Qualifiers Mug<\/strong> \u2013 Debi Dennis & Jack Markin s\/v Iroquois<\/em><\/p>\n Port Officer Medal<\/strong> \u2013 (2) Oliver SoLanas Heinrichs (Fuerteventura), Donal McClement (Crosshaven)<\/p>\n David Wallis Trophy<\/strong> \u2013 Bill McLaren s\/v Vagrant of Clyde<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In addition, two regional awards recognised members in Australia and North America respectively:<\/p>\n\n