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HomeClean Wake Award Winners

Past Clean Wake Award Winners

 




2019 Recipients


Rick & Julie Peterson, Believe
Rick and Julie were recognized for their unceasing efforts in providing leadership and assistance not only to SSCA members but for their sacrificial service providing medical volunteer efforts in Rwanda, Africa.










Holly & Rob Sanger, Hampshire Rose
Holly and Rob were recognized for their long-term devotion and coordination efforts to ferry school supplies to the Bahamas.


2015 Growltiger Clean Wake Award Recipients

Mona & Bob Jankowski for their heroic actions in the Puddle Jump rescue of s/v Nirvanafrom the Jankowski's boat s/vContinuumin April, 2015



2014 Frank Virgintino, Raffles Light

Frank Virgintino,Raffles Light, was nominated by the SSCA Board. He cruised the North American coast and the Caribbean for over four decades. Early on he ventured off the beaten track into the lesser known Greater Antilles and fell in love with Haiti and its people, particularly Ile à Vache. Over the years he came to know a number of families on that little island and, in an effort to spread the word of welcome he found there, he featured Ile à Vache in one of his series of Free Cruising Guides, and organized a flotilla to bring children’s clothing and staples such as Ovaltine and powdered milk to Sister Flora’s orphanage there. His efforts over the years have produced an increase in boats visiting Ile à Vache to an average of 20 per week.

Intrigued by the possibility of encouraging more cruisers to challenge stereotypes and visit Haiti, Frank explored the option of using the Windward Passage to enter the Caribbean and access a string of Haitian fishing villages. That eye-opening research cruise led him to establish Second Life Sails, to provide a conduit to bring used sails and other basic fishing gear to fishermen and their families who rely largely on a barter economy in their remote seacoast. In short, Frank has singlehandedly opened up the Windward Passage, enticed more and more cruisers to visit Ile à Vache and other coastal Haitian villages, and made it logistically feasible for cruisers to lend support to families with very scarce resources (hooks, nets, line, etc.) who depend on the sea. The results are unforgettable experiences for cruisers and locals alike and a welcome hand up to people where that is sorely needed.



Frank Virgintino




















2013 Janis and Tom Bell, Tomboy

The Seven Seas Cruising Association selected Janis and Tom Bell, Tomboy, as recipients of the 2013 Growltiger Clean Wake Award. Janis and Tom were nominated for this award for their assistance to fellow SSCA member Philip DiNuovo, who was seriously ill in Australia. Later, while in the villages of the Florida Islands (north of the Solomon Islands), the Bells unselfishly, and at their own expense, treated dozens of individuals who otherwise would receive no medical care. While Janis was saving limbs and easing pain, Tom was busy teaching children to read and write.

The Bell's began cruising in 1984. After a couple of interruptions in their travels due to family, business and health, they hope to complete their circumnavigation in June of 2014.

Submitted by Leslie Linkkila and Philip DiNuovo, Carina



Janis and Tom Bell


















2012 - Philip DiNuovo and Leslie Linkkila, Carina

Philip and Leslie were presented the Clean Wake award for unselfishly offering continual help to all other cruisers in the form of actual physical assistance, as well as carefully considered verbal assistance via radio, computer, and the SSCA Bulletins. Leslie offers all interested cruisers training with electronic charting problems. Philip and Leslie are very generous with people who live in the communities they visit by yacht, helping them with computers and technical assistance, filling in their supplies, food and sewing items where possible and generally offering sincere friendship. Most recently in Roderick Bay of the Florida group of Solomon Island, they helped put together a promotional package to encourage boater visits to this secure and friendly anchorage. This involved using Carina’s computer and printer plus leg work in visiting appropriate tourism offices. Philip and Leslie reflect the finest in Clean Wake philosophy and are truly deserving of recognition for their generosity with everyone they meet.


Philip DiNuovo and Leslie Linkkila


















2010 - Cameron and Leighia Murray, Tranquility

The Murrays were honored with this award for all of the efforts they made in support of Haiti, including sailing Tranquility to Haiti to deliver desperately needed supplies and medicines to the orphans of the Association Amis des Enfants de L'ile de La Gonave (AAE) and others in La Gonave (see June 2010 Commodores’ Bulletin). 

Wherever Cameron and Leighia and their two children, Maya and Fynn, sail they have supported clean energy (solar and wind), and are environmentally conscious. They continue to demonstrate the cruising spirit to which we all aspire.


Cameron and Leighia Murray














2009 - Ellen and Tony SanpereCayenne III

In 1998, during their very first voyage on their sailboat, Ellen and Tony Sanpere rescued two men who had been adrift for 10 days in the Caribbean Sea. The men had little chance of survival as they were slowly drifting through open ocean toward Haiti. In rough seas, Tony and Ellen brought the men aboard, fed them and brought them to Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, towing the men’s open boat. They housed and fed the men aboard for three weeks in Venezuela until the men were able to get papers and money to return home to Trinidad and St. Vincent.

Ellen and Tony continued to leave a clean wake throughout the Caribbean. For years, Ellen and Tony volunteered with Fundamigos Children’s Surgical Mission in Venezuela. Tony, who is fluent in Spanish, would translate for the visiting doctors who would come down to perform cleft palate operations. Ellen would help with fundraising and publicity.

One of Ellen’s special talents is in public relations and writing, and she has helped a number of worthy organizations get the word out about their activities. She translates Fundación La Tortuga’s press releases into English and submits them to Caribbean news sources. She has written articles about Fundamigos, Fundación La Tortuga, Schooner Roseway/World Ocean School, St. Croix Safe Boating Week, East End Marine Park and Haiti Community Support and published them in magazines such as Cruising World, Latitudes and Attitudes and Caribbean Compass. Ellen also works the race committee for many international regattas in the Caribbean.

Ellen has worked with St Croix Reef Jam and as a Press Contact for the St. Croix Hospice Regatta. She has put in hundreds of hours developing a sponsorship brochure and other publicity materials for the regatta to attract both new sponsors and new racers to this charitable event, while raising awareness and funds for their local hospice, Continuum Care. End-of-life services are provided regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Funds raised by the regatta will help to ensure continuing coverage for all who require supportive care in their final days.

Nominated by Kathy Parsons and Bill Raynor, Hale Kai



Ellen and Tony Sanpere






























2008 - Multiple Awards

Jim and Kyoto Bandy, Also II, for their humanitarian efforts with the villagers of Also Island, Fiji.
Nominated by Nancy Birnbaum, Saga (formerly); Luc & Jackie Callebaut, Sloepmouche, and Michael and Kendra Homsany

Ralph and Barbara Beyhl, Wakea, for their humanitarian efforts delivering medical supplies while cruising in the Caribbean.

Nominated by Wayne Marshall, Imagine 

Karen Earnshaw and Cary Evarts, Seal, for their environmental efforts initiating the Mieco Beach Yacht Club Majuro Reef Protection Mooring Project in the Marshall Islands.

Nominated by Ken and Bonny Taggart, Moonbird, and Judy Knapp and Bryan Lane, Ursa Minor 

Henk and Nelleke Meuzelaar, Rivendel IIfor their humanitarian efforts asProject MARC founders/directors in Vanuatu. Project MARC (Medical Assistance to Remote Communities) provides medical,
educational and technical support to outer island communities in the Vanuatu archipelago.

Nominated by Nancy Zapf, Halekai

Burger Zapf, M.D., Halekai, for his medical volunteer efforts in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Mexico, Ecuador and Fiji.

Nominated by Bill and Laura McCourt


2007 - Multiple Awards

Rob & Dee Dubin, Ventana, for their creation and support of a scholarship program in Indonesia (description February 2007 Bulletin pp 6-7).

Charles & Sharon Vassallo, Providenza, for their volunteer work with children in Black Point, Exumas (see March 2007 Bulletin p 39).

Bruce & Marilyn ConklinReflection, for their volunteer work as Coordinators of the SSCA-affiliated Operations Bahamas Project, based in Punta Gorda, FL. Together with their crew of volunteers,
the Conklins fundraise and purchase school supplies which they then arrange to be transported aboard cruising yachts to the children of the Bahamas.


2006 - Multiple Awards

 

Bob and Karen Abt
Aquila
2006 Bermuda Cup Rally
Orange Coast College
Alaska Eagle
2006 Baja Ha-Ha Rally
Hunter and Devi Sharp
Arctic Tern
2006 Caribbean 1500 Rally

 

2005 - Multiple Awards

 

Chris O’Brien
West Wind
2004 Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers’ Rally
Greg & Lisa Smith
Indigo
2004 Caribbean 1500
George & Frances Sadler
Kittiwake
2005 Bermuda Cruising Rally
The Bailey Family
Talisman
2005 Caribbean 1500
Michael Ganahl
Leslie Hardy
Millennium Falcon
Millennium Falcon
2005 Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers’ Rally
2005 Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers’ Rally

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