Last week I was notified that I have been awarded the 2025 OCC Vasey Vase Award recognizing an unusual or exploratory voyage made by one of its members.  It’s not awarded every year but only when a voyage is significant enough to qualify. I was very surprised by this news.

Someone I don’t know wrote:

“In nominating Harry for the Vasey Vase in 2025 I ask you to consider his unique achievement in emulating a previous feat of flying solo to seven continents and by then undertaking a single-handed sailing voyage to the same seven continents. Having already become only the fifth person to fly solo to all seven continents, the completion of the subsequent solo voyage turned the achievement into a world record worthy of the OCC Vasey Vase Award.”

I will travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, for the awards dinner on April 18. 

I was last in Edinburgh three decades ago but still feel acquainted with the place through Ian Rankin’s series of police/crime novels set there featuring sardonic, chain-smoking detective John Rebus. While investigating an apparent suicide of someone jumping off a castle wall during a military ceremony, complete with bagpipes, Rebus commented “Maybe the sound of the pipes broke his will to live.” Ha!  Good books.

Founded in 1954 and based in the UK,  the Ocean Cruising Club is the premier international organization for ocean-going sailors with more than 3,700 members in 85 countries. www.oceancruisingclub.org