 Sixty seven year old Alex Whitworth, Sydney based owner of the 33 foot sailing yacht Berrimilla will receive the 2010 C.C.A. Blue Water Medal to mark his outstanding seamnship in a ceremony in New York in March 2011.
Alex has completed two short handed circumnavigations, one in 2005, East West from Hobart and the second North South from Sydney via the North West Passage. An accomplished racing yachtsman he has completed many Sydney to Hobart, Fastnet and Gosford to Lord Howe races spanning 40 years.
Previous holders of the Blue Water Medal include Sir Francis Chichester. Pete Goss, Minoru Saito, Eric and Sue Hiscock, W.H. Tilman, Eric Tabarly, Dr David Lewis to name but a few.
Alex’s remarkable voyages have gone unrecognised in his home country due largely to his lack of self promotion and the 2010 focus on the achievements of the 16 year old Jessica Watson.
Peter Crozier who accompanied Alex in the 2005 voyage and the south bound leg on the North South 2009-10 voyage said “the old fart pulled me out of the South Atlantic when I fell overboard. he deserves a gong”. |
