Recipients named for 2022 CCA awards

The Cruising Club of America (CCA) has revealed its 2022 award winners, putting the spotlight on achievements ranging from ocean crossings by young and old, a rescue at sea, and a new award recognizing sailing innovation, to service to the Club itself.

The awards for adventurous use of the seas will be presented at the 2023 CCAs Spring Meeting on March 4 in New York, NY.

Blue Water Medal: Kenichi Horie
For a lifetime of ocean-crossing achievement, Japan’s best known ocean sailor has been named winner of the prestigious Blue Water Medal, awarded 95 times since 1923. His most recent voyage began in March, 2022, when he sailed alone from San Francisco to Nishinomiya, Japan, at age 83. – Details

Young Voyager Award: Cal Currier
This high-school student from Palo Alto, California, had a big year in 2022—first learning to sail, then buying and preparing a modest, 30-foot sloop. Last summer, he set sail alone from Marion, Massachusetts, and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to Lagos, Portugal, via the Azores. – Details

Rod Stephens Seamanship Trophy: Kirsten Neuschäfer
The South African sailor is this year’s recipient of the CCA’s seamanship award for playing a pivotal role in the successful rescue of a fellow 2022 Golden Globe Race competitor, Tapio Lehtinen. The race is on-going, and Neuschäfer’s 36-foot Minnehaha is contending for the lead with 12,000 nautical miles still to sail to the finish in Les Sables d’Olonne, France. – Details

Diana Russell Award: Mary Crowley
The winner of the inaugural CCA award, which recognizes a club member for innovation in sailing design, methodology, education, training, safety, and the adventurous use and enjoyment of the sea, is a lifelong sailor. She is recognized for founding and directing the Ocean Voyages Institute, as well as her active support for several other non-profits dedicated to the marine environment. – Details

Richard S. Nye Award: Barbara Watson
The 2022 winner has served, and continues to serve, the Cruising Club of America (CCA) at the highest levels. She has served as a station Rear Commodore and historian, on the Club Nominating Committee, chair of the Events Committee, an editor of Voyages Magazine, and is currently the Yearbook Editor. – Details

Far Horizons Award: David Tunick
Recognizing CCA members for a particularly meritorious cruiser or series of cruises, the 2022 award, recognizes the winner’s pair of transatlantic passages solo aboard his 55-foot Sparkman & Stephens yawl, Night Watch, more than two decades apart—the “bookends” to an extended cruise through the Baltic and Northern Europe. – Details

The CCA is a collection of passionate, accomplished ocean sailors making adventurous use of the seas. Founded in 1922, the 1400-member organization has no physical clubhouse and is organized among 11 stations throughout North America and Bermuda. In even-numbered years, the CCA organizes the Newport Bermuda Race in conjunction with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

For additional information regarding the awards, click here.