Irish Cruising Club makes the first award of its "Friendship Cup" gifted from the CCA.

Last year, then CCA Commodore Christopher Otorowski presented a beautiful silver cup to the Irish Cruising Club (ICC) at the ICC's Annual Dinner in Sligo, Ireland. The cup is designated the "Friendship Cup." This year, Past Commodore Bob Medland attended the ICC's annual dinner in Cork on March 23 and made the first presentation of the Cup to ICC member Peter Haden. 

"Peter Haden," says Medland, "received the award for his contributions over many years in creating, fostering, and supporting friendships amongst many ICC members through his annual 'Encuentro Nautico,' which also involves local sails in Spain, sailors from other cruising clubs and personnel at so many venues in the region."

Irish sailing writer Wm. Nixon described the event in more detail for Afloat.ie:
"The Annual Dinner of the Irish Cruising Club in Cork on Saturday night was outstanding for many reasons, with the most important being the first awarding of the Friendship Cup. This was presented to the ICC last year at the 2023 Annual Dinner in Sligo by then Cruising Club of America Commodore Chris Otorowski as an inter-club gesture, to be used to honour the ICC member who had contributed most to goodwill and co-operation among cruising people and their various areas and organisations." Read more