THE 1995 AWARDS

Geoff Pack, Chairman Awards Sub-Committee

AWARD OF MERIT -- Robin Davie

Presented to a person who has performed some outstanding voyage or achievement (and the only Award open to a non-member), the Award of Merit this year goes to Robin Davie, who has twice circumnavigated singlehanded in the last two BOC races aboard his own, elderly, 40ft Hurley Tailwind. His voyages, very much in the Corinthian manner, were made on very limited budgets but to the highest standards of seamanship, including a 2700 mile stint under jury-rig around Cape Horn. Excerpts from Robin's fax thanking the club for the honour follow this report.

BARTON CUP -- The Rev Bob Shepton

Awarded to a member for the most meritorious voyage, there was always a fairly clear contender for this in the Rev Bob Shepton. In 1993 Bob set out from the UK, crewed by a variety of lads often from underprivileged backgrounds, to circumnavigate in his largely standard Westerly 33. Last year he completed his cruise via Cape Horn, despite losing his mast in the Antarctic and experiencing disproportionate headwinds, in the very best traditions of this club.

RAMBLER MEDAL -- Graham and Avril Johnson

Although many of our members are able to cruise full time, the majority need to confront the practicalities of earning a living or perhaps looking after family and don't sail long distances as much as they would wish. The Rambler Medal, awarded to members for the most meritorious short voyage, is awarded to Graham and Avril Johnson specifically for their voyage from Southampton to Iceland last year, but also recognises their ability to maintain a shore-based existence (not to mention being our Membership Secretaries) at the same time as complete successful voyages which in recent years have taken in such locations as the Azores, Portugal, Spain and Morocco. In Praise of Port Officers, the story of their Iceland adventure, appears in this issue.

ROSE MEDAL -- Sidney and Sandy van Zandt

Awarded to a member for the most meritorious short-handed voyage, this year the Rose Medal is awarded to Sandy and Sidney van Zandt (a Roving Rear Commodore). They built their 39ft steel cutter Sequel in America, launching her fourteen years ago, and the Rose Medal recognizes the leisurely circumnavigation they have subsequently undertaken in her. They write in this issue.

OCC AWARD -- Lin Pardey

Intended for the 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 year the award goes to Lin Pardey. Lin and her husband Larry have been full-time cruisers for many years and through their writing in magazines and books have inspired many more to follow in their wake.

WATER MUSIC TROPHY -- Oz Robinson

The Water Music Trophy is awarded to the member who has contributed most to the Club by way of providing cruising information, navigation and pilotage. Last year Oz retired as Director of the RCC Pilotage Foundation, an organisation which, through his tutelage, has been able to produce not only excellent pilot guides, but also ones covering out-of-the-way locations (of great use to OCC members) which commercial publishers could not take on. The award of the Water Music Trophy acknowledges this considerable effort and vision.

DAVID WALLIS TROPHY -- Anne Hammick

It is, perhaps, slightly unconventional for the Editor to be awarded a trophy for `the most valuable contribution to Flying Fish'. It was nevertheless the unanimous decision of the Awards Sub-Committee that Anne should receive the David Wallis Trophy for her many years' of unstinting work producing a house magazine which seems to get better with every edition.

QUALIFIER'S MUG -- Jim Moore

Jim Moore qualified for the club by crewing aboard Malcolm Eyles' Sun Legend 41 on the outward leg of last year's Azores and Back Race. It was a fast passage, 1200 miles in eight days and one hour, and all the more meritorious in that Jim is registered blind. His account of the passage will be found in this issue.

And finally, the fax from Robin Davie:

Dear Geoff

Please convey my thanks to the Ocean Cruising Club for the Award of Merit, and my apologies for not being able to be in London to accept and thank you all in person.

Sailing isn't really about the great ocean voyages and the highly publicised races -- it's about enjoying your time on the water in whatever you happen to be sailing, be it a dinghy, a small cruiser or an oceangoing yacht, and similarly it really doesn't matter whether it's on a reservoir, river, coastal or ocean sailing as long as you're enjoying doing your own thing, and hopefully doing it safely. I'm just very lucky to have been able to have `done my thing' the way I have, and it's only because many thousands of people have helped me somewhere along the way that it's been possible.

A dismasting is one of those things that could happen to any of us. It tends to ruin your day at the time. It was an experience I shall never forget and would never wish on anybody. I certainly hope never to repeat it, but on the other hand I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

So, take two spinnaker poles with you whenever you go offshore, and in the meantime have a really good dinner and a great evening. Thank you all.