The Ocean Cruising Club 2023 Awards for Sailing and Voyaging Excellence
When I try to judge whether an article is relevent to the world of traditional craft, I sometimes refer back to the “pillars” or values of what makes this interest area so special. The most obvious ones to me are “authenticity” (of actions as well as objects), “a respect for the past” & “craftsmanship” (I’m struggling for a gender neutral word for this). There is I believe there is a fouth one, equally important, and that is “adventure”. Although the awards issued each year by the Ocean Cruising Club, are giving for extraordinary feats, I don’t believe adventure has to necessarily be so monumental. A weekend exploration of the nooks and crannies of your local waterway can be meaningful adventure, filled with discovery and unpredictability.
From its earliest days, the Ocean Cruising Club has celebrated those who dared to brave the ocean in small boats, and many of its early members are now legend: founder Hum Barton, Francis Chichester, David Lewis, Bill Tilman, the Reverend Bob Shepton, John Guzzwell and famed boat designers Rod Stephens, Bill Crealock and Colin Mudie among many others.
The sole qualification for full membership, entails stepping aboard a boat and making a continuous ocean passage of at least 1000 nautical miles, measured by the shortest practical Great Circle route between two ports, in a vessel not more than 70 feet overall length.
Each Year The Ocean Cruising Club announces the winners of a swathe of awards for sailing and voyaging accomplishment, the three most prestigious being the OCC Lifetime Award, the Barton Cup and the Seamanship Award.
Here are the recently announced winners for 2023
THE OCC LIFETIME AWARD
Bob Shepton aboard ‘Dodo’s Delight’ is a Westerly 33ft Discus built in 1980.
The Reverend Bob Shepton has combined decades of high latitude sailing with extreme mountain climbing to earn the OCC’s Lifetime Award for noteworthy ocean voyaging. His accolades and accomplishments aboard his modest Westerly Discus 33, Dodo’s Delight, are too numerous to list but include:
• Circumnavigating the world, via Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope, with a group of disadvantaged ex-students from the school where he was Chaplin in the early 1990s.
• Multiple passages across the North Atlantic to Greenland, combining serious climbing and trekking and once anchoring at the foot of a sheer cliff to serve as “base camp” for his climbing team’s ascent.
• Traversing the ice-clogged Northwest Passage twice in consecutive years and logging more than 150,000 ocean miles.
• Jury-rigging a broken mast in Antarctica to cross the Drake Passage and sail on to the Falkland Islands.
• Authoring numerous articles and books including Addicted to Adventure and Addicted to More Adventure, as well as High Latitude Sailing with Jon Amtrup.
Bob has received multiple British and international awards from the Cruising Club of America, the Royal Cruising Club, the Piolets d’Or climbing award and other OCC honours including the Barton Cup and the Vasey Vase. Now in his 80s, Bob continues to share his experiences and expertise as an artic advisor, consultant and lecturer.
THE BARTON CUP
Rob Barton rowed the 4,470 nautical miles from Australia to Tanzania solo in 86 days to earn this year’s Barton Cup. This award, named for his grandfather and OCC Founder, Hum Barton, recognises an OCC member who has made an exceptional voyage. Rob is the first person to successfully row this passage, solo and non-stop, earning him a Guinness World Record.
The southern Indian Ocean includes some of the most challenging waters in the world. Rob encountered multiple storms, strong ocean currents and 10m waves which capsized his 21ft (6.4m) boat Australia2Africa. He endured months of isolation, severe sea sickness and extreme weight loss but persevered, arriving in Tanzania 21 July 2023.
Instead of seeking a world record, Rob’s main aim was to draw attention to youth mental health issues and raise funds for the Australian charity, Zero2Hero, which helps to prevent youth suicide. For Rob, the row was personal. He and his daughter, Jess, have been very public about her difficulties with depression and anxiety and hope that the almost $150,000 (AUD) Rob raised will enable young people to get help. Rob adds that he was also motivated by, “focusing on the finish line and a dry bed.” His Facebook page contains additional information about his journey:
THE OCC SEAMANSHIP AWARD
Astrid Clausen-Grube and Martin Grube
The OCC Seamanship Award recognises exceptional skill or bravery at sea. German OCC members Astrid Clausen-Grube and Martin Grube exemplified skill and composure when faced with a potential dismasting of their Jutlandic 37 DS sloop Pincoya during their first Atlantic crossing.
En route from the Cape Verde Islands to Martinique, they noticed their intermediate port shroud had started to part. With brisk winds and 3m seas, the couple used Pincoya’s running backstays to stabilize their compromised mast. While Astrid managed the boat from the deck, Martin climbed to the upper spreaders multiple times to successfully repurpose their running backstays as temporary shrouds, clinging to the mast “like a little monkey” as it swung through a 10m arc After 20 days and more than 2100 nautical miles (1400 of them with a broken shroud), Pincoya arrived in Martinique with her mast still standing. There is a comprehensive account of the whole event HERE
The additional award winners for 2023 include:
• Vasey Vase: Stephanie Connor and Martin Fuller
• Jester Trophy and David Wallis Trophy: Trevor Robertson
• Water Music Award: Sherry and Dave McCampbell
• OCC Award (members only): John Maddox
• OCC Award (open): Peter Mott
• Qualifier’s Mug: Reija Treacy Wolnik
• Port Officer Service Award: Bill and Joanne Harris / Allan and Cathy Rae
• Events & Rallies Award: Dick Morris
• Environmental Award: Howard Dryden/Diane Duncan of the GOES Foundation
• The Vertue Award: Ted Laurentius
• The Australian Trophy: Kayo Oazki