OCC Award of Merit

To a member or non-member for performing some outstanding voyage or achievement (may award more than one per year!)

Dee Caffari MBE – the first female in the world to have completed a solo non-stop round the world voyage in both directions.

Mike Perham – the youngest person in the world to have completed a solo round the world voyage.

OCC Award

To a member or Port Officer non-member who has done most to “foster and encourage ocean cruising in small craft and the practice of seamanship and navigation in all branches”.  This may include any invention, report, idea or action, which is calculated to promote the objects of the Club.

 John Armitage – ‘Ostrica of Orwell’ 43’ – for his 14-year circumnavigation together with his wife, Jean  after visiting 48 different countries.  Thinking a couple of slow years would find them back refreshed and seeking re-employment, they found they could; “just about do it, enjoy it, survive and stay relaxed”. They ate mainly what the locals ate and did all their own maintenance. They said of the voyage: “It just seemed to get better and better!” “Highlights”, they say; “were always the people, both local and fellow cruisers”.  John and Jean have been regular contributors to the OCC  over the years.

Geoff Pack Memorial Award

To a member or non-member  who, by his or her writing, has done most to foster and encourage ocean cruising in small craft.

John Harries and Phyllis Nickel – ‘Morgan’s Cloud’ a custom 56’ McCurdy Rhodes cutter. Since purchasing the boat in 1991, they have lived aboard since 1996 and have sailed her about 100,000 miles. They have twice circumnavigated Newfoundland and cruised to Labrador. They have been to Greenland four times and twice departed Greenland to cross the Atlantic via Iceland.

 John and Phyllis are very experienced sailors in the OCC tradition who have written extensively about their travels primarily though two vehicles:-

 1. The Norwegian Cruising Guide, currently an electronic (eBook) publication which will be available in print in 2010. http://www.norwegiancruisingguide.com/ is a superb cruising guide – 650 pages in length, it is the original, most complete and up-to-date English language guide for mariners to the coasts of Norway, Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Bjørnøya (Bear Island) and the SW coast of Sweden.

2. Attainable Adventure Cruising , a website directed at long distance cruisers.

http://www.morganscloud.com/index.html is a website dedicated to offshore cruisers. In their own words: "We publish this site to share some of what we have learned in 100,000 miles of offshore sailing and 18 years of sailing in the high latitudes of the North Atlantic and the adjoining Arctic waters. In addition to technical information on sailboats and sailing, our site is crammed with information on our favourite sailing grounds of Newfoundland & Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Svalbard (Spitsbergen), and the islands in between."

The Rose Medal

For the most meritorious short-handed voyage by a member.

Mike Bickell – ‘Alchemi’  - Crealock 34’.  For his seven year singlehanded circumnavigation, completed at 0030 on 29 March 2009 when Alchemi dropped anchor in La Vache Bay on the north coast of Trinidad.

The Jester Medal

For an outstanding contribution to the art of single-handed sailing.

Roger Taylor -  ‘Mingming’ – Corribee. Roger sailed single handed in a junk rigged Corribee with no engine from Scotland to the Arctic.  His website and videos are well worth a visit. 

http://www.thesimplesailor.com/video.html

http://www.jesterinfo.org/mingmings2009northernvoyage.html

The Barton Cup

For the most meritorious voyage

Alex Whitworth – ‘Berrimilla’ -  Brolga 33 - became the 77th vessel (mostly ice breakers and ice strengthened ships) since Amundsen in 1903/6 to complete a transit of the Northwest Passage. She is one of about 25 yachts, the third smallest and one of very few to have done so in one season. The transit was the 114th ever completed – some vessels have made more than one – and Berrimilla can perhaps claim to be the first vessel to have circumnavigated via both Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage.

The Rambler Medal

For the most meritorious short voyage

 Stephen Pickard  - ‘Samharcin’ -  Westerly Conway 36 - For his singlehanded Atlantic passage in an elderly Westerly Conway, proving that ocean cruising need not cost six figures!

Vasey Vase

For a voyage of an unusual or exploratory nature

Beth Leonard – ‘Hawk’  47’  - for their voyage to South Georgia in Antarctica and the wonderful reports that they sent back for publication.

 Beth and Evans are slowly heading homewards to the US at the end of a ten year circumnavigation. 

David Wallis Trophy

For the most valuable contribution to ‘Flying Fish’.

This trophy, a gift from the family of the previous editor of the OCC Journal ‘Flying Fish’. The recipient is nominated by the Editorial Sub-Committee

Dave Jesinger - for ‘Rapture of the Deep - The Underside of Blue Water
Cruising’

Diving – either snorkelling or SCUBA – must rate high on the list of reasons to go ocean cruising, and Dave’s well-written article demonstrates why this is so. Illustrated by more than two dozen excellent photographs showing all aspects of the underwater world, Rapture of the Deep was a truly memorable contribution to Flying Fish 2009/2.

The Water Music Trophy

To a member who has contributed most to the Club by way of providing cruising information, navigation and pilotage.

John Franklin – for his valuable articles concerning pilotage in the Caribbean as well as maintaining a much respected and well supported SSB radio net.

The Qualifier’s Mug

For the most ambitious or arduous qualifying voyage by a new member as submitted for publication in the OCC  journal, “Flying Fish” or in the OCC Newsletter.

Qualification for Ordinary Membership consists of the completion of a port to port non-stop ocean passage of not less than 1000 miles as skipper or member of the crew in a craft of not more than 72 feet (21.3 metres) overall length.

Peter Wood – ‘Moonshiner’ – Peter writes in his article – ‘Barbados on a Bursary‘I greatly enjoyed my time on Moonshiner, but found the crossing itself harder than the ‘milk run’ some claim it to be. I also learned a great deal, though it took some time for it all to really sink in. I’m keen to continue long distance sailing with more passages in other parts of the world, and would like to obtain my RYA Yachtmaster ticket. One day I hope to complete an Atlantic circuit aboard my own yacht’

Awarded to a Port Officer who has provided outstanding service to the Club and the wider sailing
community by developing and promoting their port

Ted Laurentius, Port Officer Newfoundland Coming from a Province known worldwide for the generosity of its citizens Ted Laurentius sets the bar far higher over many years providing invaluable information, advice and hospitality to those exploring not just St. John’s but the entire island of Newfoundland.