THE 1992 AWARDS

Tony Vasey, Chairman Awards Sub-Committee

The Awards for 1992 were presented by the Commodore at the Annual Dinner on 12th March 1993.

THE BARTON CUP -- Willie Ker, Assent

The Barton Cup was presented to Willy Ker for his most arduous exploration of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, described in Flying Fish 1992/2. Neither is Willy resting on his laurels -- this season he has explored the Patagonian Channels and is now on his way to Hawaii after calling at Easter Island.

THE OCC AWARD -- Mary Falk, QII

The OCC Award, made for an outstanding contribution to ocean cruising and the practice of seamanship and navigation in small craft, went to Mary Falk for her great successes in short-handed racing. Although Mary's sailing can hardly be described as `cruising', her practice of seamanship is such that she has become the fastest woman to cross the North Atlantic singlehanded and was second in class in the 1992 Singlehanded Transatlantic Race. She has been described as the fast single-hulled lady in the club.

THE ROSE MEDAL -- Ralph Featherstone, Valiant Lady

The Rose Medal, for the most meritorious short-handed passage, was presented to Ralph Featherstone for his singlehanded voyage from Malaya to Cyprus as described in Northwards up the Red Sea on page 00 of this issue. This was a most popular award since Ralph is a relatively new member and, dare I say it, relatively middle-aged being a retired farmer.

AWARD OF MERIT -- Miles Clark, Wild Goose of Moyle

The Award of Merit, presented to a non-member for an outstanding achievement, went to Miles Clark as the first foreigner to take a private vessel through the Russian inland waterways from the White Sea to the Black Sea. After the passage from the UK to Archangel and great perseverance with Russian bureaucracy he eventually got authority to enter the waterway, and was rewarded with an almost trouble-free voyage, motoring and sailing the 3000 miles to the Black Sea.

THE WATER MUSIC TROPHY -- Pat and Mike Pocock, Blackjack

The Water Music Trophy, for the greatest contribution to Cruising Information, was presented jointly to Pat and Mike Pocock for the steady stream of well researched and presented information resulting from their Pacific wanderings over the past four years.

THE DAVID WALLIS TROPHY - Alan Logan, Katy II

The David Wallis Trophy is awarded by the Flying Fish Editorial Sub-Committee to the member who, in their view, makes the most valuable contribution during the year. For 1992 it was presented to Alan Logan for his description of Exploring the Eastern Baltic, after having been a close runner-up in 1991 with the account of his Return to the Black Sea. Members will wonder at his persistence in the face of obdurate bureaucracy, but those who wish to follow will thank him for the detail of his information.

Members are particularly requested to send in their nominations for all the Awards (other than the David Wallis Trophy) for consideration by the Awards Sub-Committee. Details of requirements for each Award appear on page 12 of the current Members' Handbook. Recommendations should reach the Club Secretary or the Chairman of the Awards Sub-Committee by 30th November at the latest.

The Committee were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Miles Clark while this issue of Flying Fish was in preparation. Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife and family.