THE 1993 AWARDS

Tony Vasey, Chairman Awards Sub-Committee

As befits such a club as ours, only two of the eight members who received awards were at the dinner to collect them; the rest were out at sea. Admiral Mary made the presentations at the annual dinner on 11 March when sixty-six of us gathered for a most enjoyable evening at the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

AWARD OF MERIT -- Mike Richey, Jester

Through his association with Jester and the many singlehanded voyages he has made in her, and through his amusing and instructive writing, Mike has been a source of inspiration to the sailing fraternity for many years. The award is made in recognition of this depth of contribution to small boat sailing.

BARTON CUP -- Geoff Payne, Skookum I

Geoff and Margaret Payne set out from near the Alaskan border in 1988 and in four years left all the Americas to port arriving in Canada late in 1992. They visited most of the remote islands from the Galapagos to St Helena and fitted in a two year cruise round the Antarctica Peninsula and the South American east coast. Their log arrived too late for the 1992 awards but they richly deserve our premier trophy for this magnificent cruise. Geoff's record of their adventures appears in this issue.

RAMBLER MEDAL -- Nina Kiff, Wetherly

The Kiffs are attempting to emigrate to New Zealand so went the civilised way by yacht. Nina wrote a splendid account of their Pacific crossing with their four children from thirteen years down to six, the older two standing night watches. A brave passage and an example to those who have doubts about taking children to sea. The award is made in recognition of this stage of their long voyage.

ROSE MEDAL -- Rona House, Cacique

Rona has just completed a circumnavigation in Cacique, her Vancouver 27, much of the voyager being singlehanded. It was not without its trials and tribulations as her account in Flying Fish 1993/2 recounts. She well deserves the award for a shorthanded voyage, as not only was she mostly alone but her boat was small. Rona was unable to collect her medal as she was attempting to visit the Arctic and Antarctic in one year, but this time in a 55 footer.

OCC AWARD -- Geoff Pack, Foreigner, Kiskadee

Geoff is well known for his writings, which have done much for the sailing world, but less well known for the quiet way he puts to sea with a brood of small children. He and Lou Lou sailed their 40ft catamaran across the Atlantic with three children under five, and were planning to go further until the old curse of work intervened to curtail their voyage. Geoff well deserves this award for his depth of service to the cruising fraternity.

WATER MUSIC TROPHY -- Peter Radford, Hunny Bear

Throughout his circumnavigation which ended last year, Peter has produced well written and presented details of many ports and passages. These have mostly appeared in Flying Fish (1992/2, 1993/1 and 1993/2) but are also a valuable addition to our Cruising Information files. He is home for a while but you will see from his notice in the Newsletter that he is already feeling the tug of the sea.

DAVID WALLIS TROPHY -- Patsy and Chris Watney, Jalingo III

Of the many circumnavigators on the way, several of whom have written articles for Flying Fish, the Watney's description of the passage from Panama to the Galapagos -- Seal with a Loving Kiss, Flying Fish 1993/1 -- was judged to be the best contribution to the magazine. The detail of their visit to the islands was particularly evocative.

QUALIFIER'S MUG -- Martin Buss, Force Five

This new pot, given by Mary on her retirement as Commodore for the most ambitious or arduous qualifying passage, was presented to Martin for his article on taking part in the Cape to Rio race -- an arduous, if not masochistic, way of qualifying. Martin was last seen in St Martin on the next stage of his circumnavigation.