RCC Open Awards

Founded and endowed by Mr Meredith Fitzwalker Wren in 1949 for an act or acts of outstanding seamanship. It is awarded to yachtsmen or women of any nationality by a Judge or Judges appointed by the Committee of the Royal Cruising Club for the purpose.

• About last years Winner

Previous Prizewinners

This medal is awarded in memory of Bill Tilman, an RCC member who delighted in combining cruising in high latitudes with mountaineering. It is awarded by the Committee of the Royal Cruising Club for an outstanding voyage in Arctic or Antarctic waters or in other remote places in high latitudes. The Committee takes into account objectives and achievements of exploration and of mountaineering.

• About last years Winner

  Steve Brown in Novara, a Bestevaer 60 departed Camden, Maine in 2014 and sailed around the Americas via the Northwest Passage and Antarctica. Novara, is a 60-foot aluminium-hulled yacht built in Holland as a scientific research vessel. The expedition covered Alaska to Mexico in 2015, Mexico to Chile in 2016, Chile to the Falkland Islands in 2017, Falkland Islands to Grenada in 2018 and completion of the circumnavigation of the Americas at Camden, Maine in June 2019. Steve Brown conducted a climbing expedition, completing the Shackleton Traverse, in South Georgia. On passage to the Falkland Islands, he endured the most challenging conditions with hurricane force headwinds that necessitated the use of a drogue and running SE away from his destination for 42 hours. Steve Brown has displayed the highest standards of seamanship and determination, including scaling mountains in several countries and in Antarctica, whilst completing this 32,000 mile circumnavigation of the Americas. The Tilman Medal is awarded to Steve Brown.

Previous Prizewinners

This medal was founded in memory of Jocelyn Swann and can be awarded by the Committee of the Royal Cruising Club to any person, club, corporate body or company who, in the opinion of the Committee, has rendered outstanding services to yacht cruising.

• About last years Winner

  Janet Murphy has recently retired as Director of the Specialist Division at Bloomsbury, comprising nautical publications, most notably the Adlard Coles and Reeds lists including Reeds Almanac. She has been responsible for the commissioning and nurturing of sailing books which have become classics. Janet Murphy’s insight into the yachting scene, which she has used to produce books, has encouraged sailors and furthered their knowledge of the nautical world. She has published several titles by members of the Royal Cruising Club and has published in excess of 300 books during her career. Janet’s contribution to the literature of going to sea as a leisure pursuit is exemplary. The Medal for Services to Cruising is awarded to Janet Murphy.

Previous Prizewinners