Renowned sailor Jimmy Cornell has been honoured by the Cruising Association with the presentation of the prestigious Duchess of Kent Trophy.
The Cruising Association may present the Duchess of Kent Trophy to any sailor, not necessarily a member, who has achieved something exceptional in or around small boats.
Jimmy Cornell has influenced the contemporary cruising scene more than any other sailor. An accomplished sailor, public speaker and author, he has sailed over 200,000 miles in all oceans of the world including three circumnavigations, as well as voyages to Antarctica and the Northwest Passage. Jimmy has spoken may times at CA Events, given lectures and talks which are always hugely popular.
"I am certainly very moved by being awarded such a prestigious prize," said Jimmy, "As you know, I fully support the CA and what it stands for."
Image: Jimmy Cornell © John Hadley
Jimmy also congratulated the 2022 Log Competition winners and encouraged everyone to keep logs of their voyages, telling how he still refers to logs he has kept himself from the 1970s onward and how valuable this sort of information can be.
His books, including the bestseller World Cruising Routes, have helped thousands fulfil their dream of blue water cruising. Now in its 9th edition and with over 200,000 copies sold, it's one of the best-selling nautical publications worldwide.
As the founder of the highly successful ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), Jimmy is credited with having devised the offshore cruising rally concept. In the last four decades .he has organised 38 transatlantic rallies, six round the world rallies and one round the world race, with over 3,000 boats and 15,000 sailors having participated in his sailing events.
Jimmy was presented with the Trophy by CA President Derek Lumb at the annual Hanson Lecture on 29 March 2023.
About the Duchess of Kent Trophy
The Duchess of Kent Trophy was bequeathed to the Cruising Association by B.H. LePine Williams following the demise of the Motor Boats Association. It had previously been awarded to Vice Admiral Bertram Ramsay for his role in organising the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in 1940.
Past recipients include Pip Hare in 2021 for her successful completion of the Vendée Globe race, becoming the first British skipper to reach the finish in the 2020-21 race and only the eighth woman ever to complete the event.
In 2012 the Duchess of Kent Trophy was awarded to Jeanne Socrates following her successful single-handed circumnavigation of the world at the third attempt. It was awarded again to Jeanne in 2019 for being the oldest person to sail non-stop, solo and unassisted around the world.
Members can login into their account to find out more about the Duchess of Kent Trophy.
31 March 2023