History of the CCA Tracing Our History XVII 1961 - 1962 As these articles progress, they begin to include the names of individuals whom many of us have known, hopefully making the stories or reminisces more pertinent and enjoyable. The recent Hollywood production Dunkirk prompted several members to suggest that some mention be made of that heroic event. The 1940 Blue Water Medal was presented to the British Yachtsmen at Dunkerque. The citation reads, “To the British yachtsmen who took part in this rescue, both those who survived the hazardous undertaking and those who gave their lives in the attempt, The Cruising Club of America awards its Blue Water Medal for 1940.”
Reindeer • E. Newbold Smith
This event and the citation were mentioned in the Fall 2011 issue of the GAM (Tracing Our History V). The heroic efforts of the British yachtsmen far outweigh the Hollywood version and make fascinating reading for those inclined. The Marblehead-Halifax Race, sailing in its often foggy conditions, saw the following members bring home silver: Newbold Smith’s Reindeer was first on corrected time and first in Class C. Other winners included: Class A - First - Magic Carpet - Peter Richmond; Second - White Mist - Blunt White; Class B - First Gay Gull III - Bob Love; Second Salmagal III - Arthur Homer; Third - Blithe Spirit, Forbes Morse; Class C Second - Astral,
Bob Hall. Smith and Reindeer went on to win the first N.O.R. trophy championship with 14 points previously won in the qualifying races (Annapolis-Newport, Marblehead- Halifax and the Vineyard Series). The CCA Cruising Citation was established in 1961. The Board of Governors felt there were many prizes given for the Bermuda Race and other racing events. The intent was to establish a trophy reflecting the true meaning of the Club and the premise under which the Club was formed. The awarding of the trophy by the Awards Committee would be predicated on the awardee’s completion of a long distance cruise. The cruise would not ‘simply’ be a transoceanic cruise; but venturing to distant places and to seldom visited destinations. In the 1960’s the Labrador Coast and the Canadian Maritimes were popular destinations. Internationally known artist and CCA member Charles J. Lundgren volunteered to design the citation to be presented yearly. (Prior to 1961 several members had made cruises that certainly would have qualified them for the award.) Probably the most significant cruise of the year was the Club cruise to the Bras d’Or Lakes. This was the farthest cruise the Club had attempted. The cruise started in Halifax at the completion of the Marblehead-Halifax Race, heading east rendezvousing in Liscomb Mills, St. George’s Creek and St. Peter’s Inlet. The cruise took on a serious note when a near tragedy was averted. Commodore Blunt White, cruising onboard his beloved White Mist off Musquodoboit Inlet, came across two fishermen clinging to their overturned fishing skiff. In the frigid, windswept waters their time was growing short when the right man with the right boat showed up at the right time. The Commodore preformed a proper “safety-at-sea” maneuver and snatched the two men from a certain watery grave. In recognition of his efforts, the
Elsie • Gilbert H. Grosvenor
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia sent White a letter of gratitude and commendation. Entering the Lakes, the fleet continued to Baddeck and Maskell’s Harbour, birthplace of the Cruising Club of America. This was the first Club cruise to visit its birthplace and was met by founding member Gilbert Grosvenor on board Elsie. (As every member should know, it was on board Elsie that the ideas and concept of the Club were formed. At that time, Elsie was the only yacht to have flown the CCA burgee continually since the inception of the Club.) Several parties followed, including a gala event replete with bagpipes and Scottish folk dancing. The event was hosted by Gilbert Grosvenor at Beinn Bhreagh, Alexander Bell’s home on the lake. (Dr. Bell was Grosvenor’s late father-in-law.) Returning home, winds were mostly from the north as the fleet began its cruise to the west with a stop in Chester, then crossing the Bay of Fundy for a Gam in Somesville, Maine. The fleet of forty-six boats gathered for a final Gam in Pulpit Harbor hosted by Rear Commodore Alan Bemis and the Boston Station. The event’s agenda featured a trained tarantula. (No report was included regarding the disposition or behavior of the tarantula.) Following the cruise, each member received a
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