Awards Defined - Bluewater Cruising Association

Awards Defined

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Ceremonial presentations to the skipper and crew upon their return to home port are a nautical tradition. BCA hosts an annual awards ceremony so that achievements of its members may be recognized first-hand and celebrated by the membership at large. This is also an occasion to inspire the "Dreamers" and encourage the "Doers" to continue their membership while cruising and then share the benefits of their offshore experience upon their return.

To register for an award, please complete the

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Membership Status While Qualifying

Active BCA members: BCA members who maintained their membership during the qualifying voyage and are currently BCA members will receive the Award at no cost. They will also receive a "Doner" pin at no cost and be recognized with a "Bluewater" membership status.

Previous BCA members: Previous BCA Members who did not maintain their BCA membership during the qualifying voyage (i.e. lapsed membership) may still receive the Award provided they 1) re-join BCA and 2) pay the cost of the Award production. Upon re-joining, they will also receive a "Doner" pin at no cost and be recognized with a "Bluewater" membership status.

Non BCA members: New BCA members who were not BCA members prior toor during the qualifying voyage may not receive the Award. Upon joining BCA, they will however receive a "Doner" pin at no cost and be recognized with a "Bluewater" membership status.

Awards Process
The Past Commodore coordinates the Awards process and chairs the Awards Committee consisting of the Past Commodore, Commodore, chapter Vice Commodore, Secretary and Treasurer. BCA members can apply or nominate other members for Awards. The Past Commodore will first seek confirmation of the qualifying voyage from the member. The Past Commodore will then circulate pending Award requests to members of the Awards Committee on an ongoing basis, typically by email, to solicit approval of the Award preparation and issuance.

Award Presentation
Any award may be presented prior to termination of a complete voyage and, in special circumstances, awards may be presented in absentia. In the case Offshore Awards and joint skippers (e.g. husband and wife team), the members should specify whether they prefer to receive a single Offshore Award naming both members or if they wish to recognize one as the Skipper (and thus the recipient of the Offshore Award), and the other as crew (and thus the recipient of the Offshore Crew Award), or. For both names appear on the plaque, each partner must have qualified for the Offshore Award. If one partner has sailed part of the voyage but not qualified for an Offshore Award, that member may be eligible for a 999 Coastal Award.

Sailing Awards - Definitions
Coastal 999 Award
For members who complete a coastal (harbour-hopping) voyage outside Canadian territorial waters, as crew or skipper, on a non-commercial vessel, whether their own or someone else's, where the shortest straight-line charted distance between the starting and ending port is a minimum of 999 nautical miles. A member who receives the Coastal 999 Award may later qualify for and receive the Offshore Crew Award., the Offshore Skipper’s Award or the (Owner’s) Offshore Award,

Offshore Crew Award
For members who complete an offshore passage outside Canadian territorial waters as crew aboard a non-commercial vessel, where the shortest straight-line charted distance between the starting and ending port is a minimum of 999 nautical miles without putting into port prior to completion of the 999 miles. A member who receives the Offshore Crew Award may later qualify for and receive the Offshore Skipper's Award or the (Owner’s) Offshore Award.

Offshore Skipper's Award
For members who skipper or co-skipper someone else's non-commercial vessel on an offshore passage outside Canadian territorial waters, where the shortest straight-line charted distance between the starting and ending port is a minimum of 999 nautical miles without putting into port prior to completion of the 999 miles. A member who receives the Offshore Skipper's Award may later qualify for and receive the (owner’s) Offshore Award.

(Owner’s) Offshore Award
For members who complete an offshore passage outside Canadian territorial waters on their own non-commercial vessel, where the shortest straight-line charted distance between the starting and ending port is a minimum of 999 nautical miles without putting into port prior to completion of the 999 miles. The recipient of an Offshore Award will not be further recognized by a Coastal 999 Award, Offshore Crew Award or Offshore Skipper's Award, but may qualify for a supplemental Cape Horn Award or Circumnavigator's Award.

Cape Horn Award
For members who have qualified for an Offshore Award and have rounded Cape Horn on their own boat.

Circumnavigation Award
For members who have qualified for an Offshore Award and have successfully circumnavigated on their own boat.

Members are encouraged to contact the Past Commodore any time after their return home to receive an award.

Perpetual Awards

Hill-Padwick Award, the 'Bent Mast" or "Boo-Boo of the Year". Named after Patrick Hill and Peter Padwick, whose competitive urges once brought them together in a very close encounter that resulted in considerable damage to both pride and rigging. (See Currents). Awarded by popular vote during Awards Night, as determined by the most raucous applause from the raconteur's nomination.

Antares Pacific High Finders' Award awarded annually to the members who log the longest time Hawaii-Victoria passage (in either direction). The glass Japanese net float atop the award was donated by Past Commodore Blake Williams from the collection he accumulated during his twenty-five-day passage in 1981.

Ted Long Award for outstanding personal contributions to BCA. First presented in 1992 to Ted Long himself. A founding member and teacher by profession, Ted was active on the Watch for years as Education Watchkeeper extraordinaire. He was made an Honorary Member in 1997 and passed away in April 2001. In accordance with a revision to our bylaws in 2007, former recipients of this award were retroactively granted Lifetime Membership in BCA. Recipients since 2007 are automatically granted Lifetime Membership, when recommended by the Past Commodore and approved by the Board of Directors. Members may nominate another member for the Ted Long Award , by submitting a written nomination to the Past Commodore.

Doug Mitchell Memorial Single Handler's Award is presented to members who have made a significant single-handed voyage. Named after the late Doug Mitchell, whose seamanship during a fierce storm off Vancouver Island in 1991 was an inspiration to intrepid BCA sailors.

Ben Rusi Seamanship Award recognises outstanding acts of seamanship by individuals or groups, for single, multiple, or extended feats demonstrating a level of courage, determination, citizenship, and discipline to which all Bluewater cruisers should aspire. The award was designed, constructed, and donated to BCA by artist Ben Rusi, well known for his sketches on Currents covers from 1982 to 1994. Any member may nominate another member or group of members for this award, by submitting a written nomination to the Past Commodore.

Service Award recognises Watchkeepers who have served three or more years on the Watch or Board of Directors since inception in 1978.

Lex Peterson Award- to honour former Commodore Lex Peterson, once a worthy competitor, awarded to the winner of BCA's annual Peterson Cup Rally.

Peter Doherty Goodwill Ambassador Award- awarded from time to time to the person or couple who exemplify while cruising outstanding commitment to further the cruising lifestyle of camaraderie and providing assistance.

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