Carter Bacon of Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the 2024 recipient of the Cruising Club of America’s Rod Stephens Seamanship Trophy for his meritorious handling of the sinking of his classic 50-foot K. Aage Nielsen sloop Solution during the return sail after the 2024 Newport Bermuda race.
Abandoning one’s 60-year-old yacht after 24 years after numerous voyages, including several races to Bermuda and a transatlantic crossing, is a difficult decision to make—comparable to losing a family member. Bacon put his crew’s safety first and foremost, which he is quick to say was an easy decision for him. For what is all too often a dangerous and chaotic event, in a carefully orchestrated manner and with expert support from the U.S. Coast Guard, Bacon and his crew abandoned Solution 200 miles off Cape Cod, bringing everyone home safely.
The CCA annually awards the Rod Stephens Seamanship Trophy to a sailor “for an act of seamanship which significantly contributes to the safety of a yacht, or one or more individuals at sea.”
Designed by K. Aage Nielsen, framed of white oak and double planked in mahogany over cedar, Bacon’s Solution was built in 1963 by Paul Luke in East Boothbay, Maine. Owners of classic yachts like Solution are less owners and more caretakers, responsible for maintaining and passing on their vessel to the next owner/caretaker. Having to make that hard decision to abandon ship was not an easy one, and something every leader can be inspired by.
Learn more about the sinking of Solution in Bacon’s own words (https://bermudarace.com/the-loss-of-solution-on-return-delivery)
