Royal Cruising Club awards the Medal for Services to Cruising – 2020 to the Ocean Cruising Club
by Daria Blackwell / OCC 12 Jan 2021 07:11 UTC
Ocean Cruising Club © Ocean Cruising Club
The RCC announced at the Awards Evening 07 January, held on Zoom, that the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) has been awarded the Medal for Services to Cruising.
"The Medal for Services to Cruising was founded in memory of Jocelyn Swann for rendering outstanding services to yacht cruising.
The Ocean Cruising Club provided exceptional services to cruising yachtsmen during the COVID 19 pandemic. There was early recognition of the mayhem caused by the pandemic to the cruising community around the world. Many cruising yachtsmen found themselves and their yachts trapped in places they did not expect to be, at the wrong time of the year, and with tropical storms threatening for which they were not insured.
The Ocean Cruising Club rapidly became a trusted centralised source of information concerning border restrictions for recreational craft. Communications platforms were established to provide the wider cruising community, including non-members, with advice, support and practical help for hundreds of yachts, faced with challenges of unplanned ocean passages. This initiative was a major factor in helping coordinate support for two yachts which were dismasted, one hit by lightning and the rescue of a yachtsman when his yacht sank, after an unfortunate collision with a whale.
The Medal for Services to Cruising is awarded to The Ocean Cruising Club."
OCC Commodore Simon Currin remarked, "Congratulations to the whole team. This is great recognition for our Club. Some great news to lift the spirits during a grim new year."
The story behind the effort, which occurred in tandem with other organisations, is documented in the OCC's publication Flying Fish ('Retreat from Paradise' by Vice Commodore Daria Blackwell). 'Lessons Learned' during the pandemic response was documented by Regional Rear Commodore (Ireland) Alex Blackwell.