Past Clean Wake Award Winners

2014 Frank Virgintino, Raffles Light

Frank Virgintino,Raffles Light, was nominated by the SSCA Board. He cruised the North American coast and the Caribbean for over four decades. Early on he ventured off the beaten track into the lesser known Greater Antilles and fell in love with Haiti and its people, particularly Ile à Vache. Over the years he came to know a number of families on that little island and, in an effort to spread the word of welcome he found there, he featured Ile à Vache in one of his series of Free Cruising Guides, and organized a flotilla to bring children’s clothing and staples such as Ovaltine and powdered milk to Sister Flora’s orphanage there. His efforts over the years have produced an increase in boats visiting Ile à Vache to an average of 20 per week.

Intrigued by the possibility of encouraging more cruisers to challenge stereotypes and visit Haiti, Frank explored the option of using the Windward Passage to enter the Caribbean and access a string of Haitian fishing villages. That eye-opening research cruise led him to establish Second Life Sails, to provide a conduit to bring used sails and other basic fishing gear to fishermen and their families who rely largely on a barter economy in their remote seacoast. In short, Frank has singlehandedly opened up the Windward Passage, enticed more and more cruisers to visit Ile à Vache and other coastal Haitian villages, and made it logistically feasible for cruisers to lend support to families with very scarce resources (hooks, nets, line, etc.) who depend on the sea. The results are unforgettable experiences for cruisers and locals alike and a welcome hand up to people where that is sorely needed.

2013 Janis and Tom Bell, Tomboy

The Seven Seas Cruising Association selected Janis and Tom Bell, Tomboy, as recipients of the 2013 Growltiger Clean Wake Award. Janis and Tom were nominated for this award for their assistance to fellow SSCA member Philip DiNuovo, who was seriously ill in Australia. Later, while in the villages of the Florida Islands (north of the Solomon Islands), the Bells unselfishly, and at their own expense, treated dozens of individuals who otherwise would receive no medical care. While Janis was saving limbs and easing pain, Tom was busy teaching children to read and write.

The Bell's began cruising in 1984. After a couple of interruptions in their travels due to family, business and health, they hope to complete their circumnavigation in June of 2014.

Submitted by Leslie Linkkila and Philip DiNuovo, Carina

2009 - Ellen and Tony Sanpere, Cayenne III

In 1998, during their very first voyage on their sailboat, Ellen and Tony Sanpere rescued two men who had been adrift for 10 days in the Caribbean Sea. The men had little chance of survival as they were slowly drifting through open ocean toward Haiti. In rough seas, Tony and Ellen brought the men aboard, fed them and brought them to Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, towing the men’s open boat. They housed and fed the men aboard for three weeks in Venezuela until the men were able to get papers and money to return home to Trinidad and St. Vincent.

Ellen and Tony continued to leave a clean wake throughout the Caribbean. For years, Ellen and Tony volunteered with Fundamigos Children’s Surgical Mission in Venezuela. Tony, who is fluent in Spanish, would translate for the visiting doctors who would come down to perform cleft palate operations. Ellen would help with fundraising and publicity.

One of Ellen’s special talents is in public relations and writing, and she has helped a number of worthy organizations get the word out about their activities. She translates Fundación La Tortuga’s press releases into English and submits them to Caribbean news sources. She has written articles about Fundamigos, Fundación La Tortuga, Schooner Roseway/World Ocean School, St. Croix Safe Boating Week, East End Marine Park and Haiti Community Support and published them in magazines such as Cruising World, Latitudes and Attitudes and Caribbean Compass. Ellen also works the race committee for many international regattas in the Caribbean.

Ellen has worked with St Croix Reef Jam and as a Press Contact for the St. Croix Hospice Regatta. She has put in hundreds of hours developing a sponsorship brochure and other publicity materials for the regatta to attract both new sponsors and new racers to this charitable event, while raising awareness and funds for their local hospice, Continuum Care. End-of-life services are provided regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Funds raised by the regatta will help to ensure continuing coverage for all who require supportive care in their final days.

Nominated by Kathy Parsons and Bill Raynor, Hale Kai