The Cruising Club of America (CCA) has selected Kaspar and Trisha Schibli of Victoria, B.C. to receive its 2015 Far Horizons Award, established in 2005 to recognize “a particularly meritorious cruise or series of cruises that exemplify the objects of the Club as stated in its Constitution.” The Schibli’s were cited for their extensive offshore cruising, including, specifically, their current multi-ocean cruise. The award was presented at the CCA’s annual Awards Dinner at the New York Yacht Club in New York on March 4, 2016. 

CCA Far Horizon Awardees Kaspar and Trisha Schibli 

Before starting their current cruise, the Schiblis had already completed a five year (1993-1998) 50,000 mile circumnavigation via Japan, Australia, the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, and the Panama Canal in their lovely 53’ wooden yawl Starfire. In 2005, the Schiblis felt that is was again time to leave Victoria, B. C. and head offshore, this time sailing south down the Pacific, rounding Cape Horn, sailing north up the Atlantic to Argentina, Brazil, Bermuda and the east coasts of the USA and Canada, then on to the west coast of Scotland via the Azores and the west coast of Ireland. The Schiblis arrived in the Hebrides in time to enjoy the Clyde Cruising Club’s Centennial in the Fall of 2010. To no one’s surprise, the Schiblis have been cruising ever since, exploring northern Europe, Scotland, Norway and the Baltic. This past summer they sailed south from Norway to La Rochelle, France via Denmark, Germany and the U.K.

All the while the Schiblis have themselves maintained the 1962-builtStarfire in Bristol fashion, including installing new steering, completely refitting and re-caulking her bottom, and removing and installing a new teak deck with only a minimum of professional help. They exemplify lofty CCA standards in both seamanship and sociability as is portrayed in Trish Schiblis’ article in the 2015 issue of CCA’s annual magazine Voyages.