HomeSouthbound II Award Winners

Past Southbound II Award Winners

2019 Recipients

Al Golden, IMIS/Gowrie

Al met the need in the cruising community by creating a business dedicated to serving and insuring cruisers while being an outstanding active supporter and volunteer in SSCA activities.

2018 Recipients

Terry Sargent,Valhalla
Nominated by Luc Callebaut,Sloepmouche, and Leslie Linkklia and Philip Dinuovo,Carina

For over a decade, Terry has been working countless hours compiling navigation resources for cruisers sailing around the Philippines and the entire SE Asia. Compiling series of anchorages sent from cruisers in the area as well as developing precious corrected chart overlays using the latest and best satellite imagery available, Terry has made navigation and cruising safer for all sailors. He maintains up-to-date info and has hundreds of sailors getting his free, short monthly updates with links to all his navigation resources with newest releases in color to make it easy for sailors to update their files.

Terry is also a top contributor in the development of OpenCPN, by cruisers for cruisers, the best free opensource navigation software. He also gives lectures to interested cruisers that meet him and is an SSCA Volunteer Ham Examiner. Terry does not seek any awards; he just does all this work to give back to the sailing community.

Paul Higgins, Gday II
Nominated by Sherry McCampbell, Soggy Paws

Paul Higgins has had a HUGE positive impact on the cruising community with his program called GE2KAP. This program will take a screen shot from GoogleEarth or SASPlanet (satellite imagery display programs) and create a properly geo-referenced electronic chart file, in KAP format. I first heard of GE2KAP in 2011 when we were in Tonga, struggling with cruising in reef-strewn waters with inaccurate charts. It has revolutionized our cruising, as we can use the very detailed charts that we create with his program to navigate safely in poorly charted off-the-beaten-path areas. Paul has not been happy to just put his program out there, but he has continued to add features to it, making it more and more useful to the cruising community.

In addition to the program itself, Paul has created a massive amount of help and documentation, and also personally provides technical support for his program via a Facebook group. And, it is downloadable for free, with no gimmicks, no adware, no compensation.

Glenn Tuttle, Tothill
Nominated by the SSCA Board of Directors

Glenn Tuttle is the founder and net controller for SSCA’s High Frequency Radio Service, KPK. When Glenn Tuttle was asked to join the SSCA Board of Directors in 2014, he thought to himself, “How could he combine his passions--cruising and radio communications and serve SSCA?” He realized that perhaps he could make useful contributions to the organization and the cruising community by promoting the use of radio communications among cruisers.

A full-time liveaboard for over 30 years, who’s cruised 10 years in remote areas of the Southern and SW Caribbean, spending months at a time at anchor without cellular or Internet access, Glenn realized the importance of the HF/SSB radio aboard cruising vessels.

Glenn established an SSCA Voice Service (not a formal net) on the HF Marine radio band to assist cruisers in remote locations who are without cellular and Internet access, in order to relay priority and emergency information and to provide any vessels needing assistance with additional resources. The assistance includes radio checks, float plans, telephone contact with family/friends, boat-to-boat relays, access to medical or mechanical professionals, marinas, Internet searches, or other assistance that he might be able to provide to cruisers in remote locations. All vessels are welcome to participate in this service provided by SSCA.

Since 2015, Glenn has broadcast every morning and developed KPK into an internationally recognized safety net and service for cruisers by utilizing his unique investigative skills, and coordinating the assistance of multiple organizations. Glenn developed a partnership with the Caribbean Safety and Security Service, regularly coordinates with the US Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center in Miami, FL as well as with Chris Parker’s Weather Service, Dick Giddings’ Do Dah Net, and is often a relay station on the Cruiseheimers Net. In April of this year, he implemented the seasonal Trans-Atlantic Cruisers Net with three other FCC Coastal Maritime Stations, Chris Parker, Dick Giddings and Jim West.

This has resulted in the rescue of persons and boats lost at sea, the location of stolen vessels, emergency communications provided during Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and assistance to cruisers with emergencies at sea. Glenn’s KPK has received coverage in Ocean Navigator, Cruising World, The Compass, Harbor Magazine and the news media. Glen represents SSCA’s best qualities with the international cruising community on a daily basis. We are proud to honor him with this recognition.

2017 Recipient

Dave Skolnick, Auspicious

Dave Skolnick's many contribution to SSCA certainly meet the criterion for this award. Dave has served on the SSCA Board of Directors and as President of the organization.

2016 Recipients

Chris Parker

Chris Parker's name is synonymous with many words to the cruising community. Of course there is "weather forecasting" but equally, words such as friendly, reliable, caring, patient and generous come to mind. Chris's Marine Weather Center provides forecasts, routing options and departure recommendations for cruisers six days a week, every week. He never fails to come to the aid of a boater in trouble and has been extremely generous with his talents as a seminar speaker at SSCA Gams.

Lee Chesneau

Lee Chesneau is a Senior Marine Meteorologist who has used his degree in meteorology as a U.S. Naval officer and later with NOAA's National Weather Service and Satellite Service. He was a route analyst for Ocean Routes, Inc. and is currently an accomplished U.S. Coast Guard-certified instructor of basic and advanced meteorology for professional mariners. Despite his background in formal classroom training, Lee has adapted his curriculum for use by recreational boaters and has become a primary instructor with SSCA's Seven Seas U online webinar program and has generously presented seminars at SSCA Gams.

2014 Recipients

Tom Theisen, Out of Bounds

Tom was nominated by Dave Skolnick to receive this award for his vision and efforts in developing SSU exemplifying the sharing of knowledge and information that has its roots in the Commodores’ Bulletin and Gam seminars. In 2009 Tom Theisen proposed the concept that would become Seven Seas U (SSU) to the SSCA Board of Directors. The Board was skeptical. Tom persevered and convinced the Board of the value of his vision. Tom was and is correct. SSU has become a critical component of SSCA. SSCA owes a debt of gratitude to Tom. This award is a small measure of our appreciation to Tom for his vision and sustained effort over time in support of SSCA.

Sherry and Dave McCampbell, Soggy Paws

Sherry and Dave were also nominated by Dave Skolnick for the volume of information they have contributed to the cruising community through Additional Publications, letters to the Commodores’ Bulletin, Gams, the SSCA Equipment Survey and their own website, www.svsoggypaws.com.

2013 Recipient

Joan Conover, Growltiger

Joan was presented with this award for her tireless efforts assisting cruisers across the globe as SSCA Cruising Station Coordinator, a tremendous contributor to boat watches, an outstanding liaison with SSB cruising nets and a valuable proponent of Clean Wake projects.

2012 Recipient

(awarded posthumously)

Vic Poor

Vic Poor was founder of the Winlink Radio Email System. Among many other accomplishments, Mr. Poor was a member of a small group of engineers who conceived of a computer network called Arcnet, which became a popular way of linking personal computers to share data. This foundation in networking and communication, together with Mr. Poor’s interest in amateur radio and boating, led to APLINK—passing e-mail over radio—and ultimately Winlink. Winlink continues to provide service to sail and power cruisers, RV’ers, and emergency communications providers.

2011 - Maritime Mobile Service Network

Those who have cruised the Atlantic or the Caribbean and have a ham license know that the Maritime Mobile Service Network has been there every day on 14.3 Mhz since 1968. The original purpose of the MMSN was to "Serve Those Who Serve" in the United States military during the Vietnam crisis.

Since that time, the network has grown considerably in hours of operation and services provided and consist of a dedicated group of Radio Amateurs who unselfishly volunteer their time, equipment, and efforts to serve and assist those in need of communications from foreign countries and the high seas. Their primary purpose now is that of handling legal third party traffic from maritime mobiles, both pleasure and commercial and overseas-deployed military personnel. They also help missionaries in foreign countries, and volunteer net control stations from throughout North America and the Caribbean maintain the network. Furthermore, these stations are assisted by relay stations to ensure total coverage of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean & Caribbean Seas, and eastern Pacific Ocean. The network, in particular, has been formally recognized for its work with emergency traffic by the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Coast Guard, and the National Weather Service, to mention a few.

The network acts as a weather beacon for ships during periods of severe weather and regularly repeats high seas and tropical weather warnings and bulletins from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. The network is also part of the MAROB (MARineOBservation) program of the National Weather Service. They gather "real-time" weather and sea conditions, measured and observed, from maritime mobile stations and forward that information directly to the weather service via the internet. This information assists the meteorologists with upcoming maritime weather forecasts.

The Maritime Mobile Service Net is operational every day from 12:00pm until 9:00pm Eastern Standard Time, and from 12:00pm until 10:00pm Eastern Daylight Time, on the 20 meter *Global Emergency Center Of Activity frequency of 14.300 MHz as outlined by the International Radio Union.They have helped many when stranded, sinking or in need of any kind of assistance.

2009 Recipient

Wolfgang Kirsten, Patagonian Cruisers Net
Nominated by by David Lynn, Michael Whitby, Ruth Martin, Maritta van Bakel, David Masters and Benno Klopfer

Wolfgang Kirsten began his service as the controller of the Patagonian Cruisers’ Net on 8164.0 KHz @ 12.00 hr. UTC in 2003. Every day, 365 days a year Wolfgang is the only link to civilization for some boats in this vast area from Buenos Aires east to the Falkland Islands, south to Cape Horn and the Drake Passage, through the remote Chilean canals up to Valparaiso and west as far as Easter Island.

As a former cruiser, he is well aware of the needs and difficulties cruisers experience. He keeps accurate records of check-ins with specific descriptions of crew and boat and follows up assiduously when there is no check-in. Cruisers use the net for vital weather forecasts and information exchange, in addition to the daily check-ins. Wolfgang has been instrumental in alerting the Chilean Armada to boats in distress and causing rescues to be made. Beyond the net he hosts cruisers at his home and visits several Chilean ports throughout the year to deliver lines or gear or just to put faces with the many voices he hears daily. He is dedicated to cruisers and exemplifies the best type of service provided to the cruising community.

2008 Recipient

Don Anderson, Summer Passage

Don Anderson, of Summer Passage SSB Radio, reported weather for sailors from his home in Oxnard, CA since 2002. His reports encompass the west coast from California to Panama, including the Sea of Cortez as well as weather routing to the Marquesas. He spent 4-5 hours a day six days a week, starting at 3 am, with two to three morning schedules, an evening schedule, as well as two watch schedules for people with weather routing questions. When there were hurricanes forecast he made numerous additional hurricane watch reports daily. He was also the first contact for USCG Urgent Health & Welfare queries. Most all of the UHW queries were solved by cruisers who listened to his broadcasts via the Amigo Net or Southbound Net. Don received no compensation for the enormous amount of time and energy that he put into very detailed daily weather reporting that hundreds of cruising boats relied on for safe passage making.

Nominated by Chuck Houlihan and Linda Edeiken, Jacaranda; supported by Rich Crowell & Jan Schwab, Slip Away; Bill Finkelstein & Mary Mack, Raptor Dance; Gerry & Darby Gragg, So Bella; Maureen & Buzz Hatheway, ?; Frank Hemmert & Denise Ward, Cursail; Phil Kinnison, Brier Patch; Paul & Susan Mitchell, Elenoa; andSteve & Kay Van Slyke, Kavenga.

2007 Recipient

Jim Corenman

Jim was presented with the Southbound II award for his efforts creating and maintaining the free Airmail software program for HF email. Airmail is used today by thousands of world cruisers via the ham radio-based Winlink or the commercial Sailmail program. He also created Saildocs, a free program for email retrieval of text-based internet documents, used by offshore sailors primarily to download weather forecasts.

Jim has been a loyal supporter of SSCA for several years, instructing members about Winlink use and organizing comprehensive seminars on Offshore Communications in Melbourne, and he is currently involved in an SSCA website project that will use his www.saildocs.com program for downloading cruising information from our website per email.

Jim is an engineer and sailor. His professional career started with a BSEE in Computer Science followed by a few decades working with computers and software in the medical field. A Ham since the early 60's and a sailor since the early 70's, Jim and his wife Sue cashed in their options in 1989, built Heart of Gold and went sailing. After logging another 25,000 miles in circles between Hawaii, Mexico and Alaska they headed west on a larger circle, winding up back in Alaska and home to San Juan Island, WA, nine years later in 2001. During that period Jim wrote the Airmail software to access Winlink, releasing the program to the ham community in 1997. With partner Stan Honey, Jim then founded Sailmail in 1998, and created the Saildocs weather server in 1999, adding custom GRIB weather files in 2000. In January 2007, Jim received the Special Recognition Award for "significant service to the sailing community in developing the Airmail/Sailmail service... Thousands of sailors are now utilizing these systems and benefiting from their efforts and accomplishments.

2005 Recipient

Jesse James

Jesse received this award for his many acts of unselfish kindness and sincere concern for helping foreign cruisers in times of need and stress, including aiding with emergency medical attention and humanitarian services to Venezuela and Grenada hurricane and flood relief. Jesse is well-known in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and runs Members Only Maxi-Taxi Services with his wife, Sharon Rose.

2004 Recipient

Arnold Gibbons, ZL1MA

Arnold received the Southbound II award for 20 years of weather and communications support for Pacific Ocean cruisers. He is known throughout the South Pacific for providing weather information to mariners via ham radio. Arnold Gibbons works at the airport and picks up weather bulletins from Fiji, Papeete, and Honolulu. Then, everyday, seven days a week, he reads these weather bulletins over the ham radio on a voluntary basis.

2003 Recipient

Robby Beets

Mr. Beets was awarded the Southbound II award for decades of service to cruisers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and Southeast Asia. Mr. Beets started the net from Apia, Western Samoa, in early 1975 approximately or late 1974. Beets, a New Zealander, was contracted as a power station engineer in Apia. From here he was transferred to Port Vila, New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), where he continued the net until his contract expired and he returned to New Zealand about mid 1976.

2000 Recipient

Des Renner

Des Renner is the man behind the Kiwi voice on Russell Radio, talking yachts down to New Zealand through calm or storm. Hundreds of sailors who have made the difficult passage to New Zealand from the Pacific Islands have him to thank for giving selflessly of his time as a volunteer.

Renner tailors weather information to the voyager's situation, bringing clarity to the often confusing conditions of the unpredictable Tasman Sea. On occasion his timely advice has given skippers and their crew forewarning and precious hours to prepare for the worst. His cheery, no-nonsense voice has soothed fears and helped strained sailors back into rationality. When things really get rough, though, and there is a large-scale emergency, Renner defers situations to the country's Maritime Services.