Announcing the first recipients of the new OCC Challenge Grant
by Daria Blackwell / OCC 17 Oct 2019 12:16 UTC
Two recipients, Bert terHart and Jon Sanders, have been selected to receive the first OCC Challenge Grants. The OCC Challenge Grant helps facilitate meritorious voyages of adventure or environmental concern.
Baxter Gillespie, Chair of the OCC Challenge Grant Review Committee remarked, "The Committee was very impressed with both candidates' initiatives, and we hope these grants will contribute to their success. We will be following Bert and Jon on their adventures and reporting progress to our members and friends throughout their voyages."
Bert terHart is sailing from Victoria, BC this month hoping to be the first North American to complete a single-handed, unassisted, non-stop west-about circumnavigation via the 5 great capes using only traditional navigation. Bert is also undertaking a significant environmental outreach program during his voyage. The Review Committee was moved by the adventure of the project, the level of preparation, and the grassroots nature of his organization relying on volunteers and his own money. The Committee recommended that the OCC provide Bert with an OCC Challenge Adventure Grant for his communications and community outreach.
Bert remarked, "What can I possibly say to express my profound gratitude and appreciation? I am humbled and deeply honoured to be the recipient of so generous an award. Please pass on my heartfelt thanks to the entire Review Committee! To be the first awardee is truly an honour and I am deeply grateful and humbled. Let me also say what a huge relief it is knowing that, if need be, there's a foot in the door in some far away place in the form of an OCC Port Officer!"
Jon Sanders is sailing from Fremantle, WA this month, west-about, on his 11th circumnavigation. Jon is looking to bring attention to ocean plastic and to collect data and samples of micro plastics in less trafficked areas. He anticipates between 10 and 11 stops which he intends to educate people and drop off samples that have been collected. Jon's is a relatively large, well-organized project. The Review Committee was impressed with the environmental nature of the project and proposed that the OCC award an OCC Challenge Conservation Grant for documentation, outreach, communication and education. The website for No Plastic Oceans has full details of Jon's project.
Jon Sanders responded, "This is not just another voyage for me even though it is my 11th circumnavigation of the world. This voyage is for everyone now and in the future. We enjoy our oceans; we get a large portion of the world's food from our oceans. So, we must make every effort to care for our oceans. I am just one person, but I hope I can make a difference. If one old sailor can make a difference, then you can too. I hope the video record of the voyage will encourage lots of young sailors to sail over the horizon as members of the Ocean Cruising Club. Don't be satisfied with being ordinary. Make a difference to our world. We can't afford plastic oceans."
Commodore Simon Currin offered, "We are so pleased to offer these grants to two very worthy recipients. We hope to help bring attention to their endeavours and will follow their exploits with great interest."
More information: