| Ahoy BCA members!
It is time once again to recognize our members' significant cruising achievements and our long-serving volunteers. Ever since the first awards were presented in November 1978, BCA has taken time to acknowledge our members who made it out onto the deep blue seas and the volunteers who helped along the way. These celebratory occasions, shared with the membership at large, inspire the “dreamers” among us, encourage the “doers”, and remind the “doners” of their own bluewater experiences. Although some of this year's activities are significantly different due to the COVID situation, we still have members who deserve to be recognized and celebrated.
So, if your answer is “yes” to any or all of the following questions, now is the time to act: - Have you recently returned from offshore?
- Are you eligible for a cruising award?
- Are you retiring from a Chapter Watch or the Board of Directors after a minimum of three consecutive years of service?
- Do you know someone who is eligible for a cruising or service award or deserves special recognition with a perpetual award?
If you think you are eligible for an award, or know someone who is, please let me know! The greatest compliment you can pay to a fellow BCA member is to put them forward as a nominee.
Nomination / Application Process
In order to allow time for review by the Awards Committee, award ordering and engraving, the deadline for all nominations is November 15, 2020. Presentations will be scheduled in conjunction with Chapter celebrations. Applicants for cruising awards will be asked to provide detail about the qualifying voyage(s), including dates. Nominations for Service or Perpetual awards will be required to include detail about nature of service to BCA, including dates, and/or address specific award criteria. Detailed information about BCA’s awards, application criteria, and the nomination process can be found on the BCA website and in the 2020 Member Directory, pp 14-16. A quick overview of all the awards can be found below: Cruising Awards honour the sailing achievements of BCA skippers and their crews and/or their safe return to home port: - Coastal 999 Award – for members who complete a minimum 999nm coastal (harbour-hopping) voyage as measured in a straight line outside Canadian territorial waters
- Offshore Crew Award – for members who complete a minimum 999nm non-stop offshore passage as measured in a straight line outside Canadian territorial waters as crew on a non-commercial vessel
- Offshore Skipper’s Award – for members who skipper someone else’s non-commercial vessel for a minimum 999nm non-stop offshore passage as measured in a straight line outside Canadian territorial waters
- Owner’s Offshore Award – for members who complete a minimum 999nm non-stop offshore passage as measured in a straight line outside Canadian territorial waters on their own boat
- Cape Horn Award – for members who have rounded Cape Horn on their own boat
- Circumnavigation Award – for members who successfully circumnavigate on their own boat
Service Awards recognize Watchkeepers and those who are particularly deserving of recognition due to their unflagging volunteer contributions, often carried out quietly behind the scenes: - Service Award – for "retiring" Watchkeepers who have served more than three years on the Watch and/or Board of Directors
- Rudi Seifert Keeper of the Light – awarded from time to time for significant contributions to BCA that reflect and support BCA's spirit, vision and/or values
Perpetual Awards acknowledge unique sailing, organizational and sometimes humorous achievements and / or actions that are worthy of recognition: - Peter Doherty Goodwill Ambassador Award – awarded to an individual or couple who, while cruising, exemplify an outstanding commitment to furthering the cruising lifestyle of camaraderie and providing assistance
- Ben Rusi Seamanship Award – awarded for acts of seamanship demonstrating levels of courage, determination, citizenship and discipline
- Doug Mitchell Memorial Single Hander’s Award – awarded to an individual who has made a significant single-handed voyage
- Antares Pacific High Finders’ Award – awarded annually for the longest time Hawaii-Victoria passage in either direction
- Hill-Padwick Bent Mast Award – awarded for the “boo boo of the year” as determined by popular vote during Awards night
- Ted Long Award – awarded to an individual for outstanding personal contributions to BCA
I look forward to receiving your applications / nominations. Please don't delay! Regards, Leslie Leslie Hansen Past Commodore pastcommodore@bluewatercruising.org
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