For the first time in a week, it's quiet around the marina in Nanny Cay. While most of the boats of the BVI fleet remain in the marina, several crews have gone home for the Thanksgiving Holidays, and those still here have been lounging by the pool or on the beach. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTO GALLERY FROM LAST NIGHT'S PRIZEGIVING! It's understandable why. Last night's prize giving ceremony at Peg Leg's by the beach capped a fantastic week of post-race activities here in Nanny Cay. There was nervous energy in the air as participants patiently waited for the competitive results to be announced from the stage on the beach. But, as the 1500 is a rally and not a race, there were many special prizes to hand out first, and important guests to thank.
Brendan and Miles were on hand from Nanny Cay Marina, as was Sam from the hotel, who was presented flowers to start off the evening in thanks for her hard work with staff and participants friends and family staying in the dockside hotel. Brendan, the Nanny Cay dock master, presented the first award, explaining why most of the staff here in the marina were sporting mustaches.
"We celebrate Movember here in the marina each fall," he explained. "Thanks to a worldwide initiative to raise awareness and money for men's health issues - namely prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mens' depression - the month of 'November' becomes 'Movember,' when men around the world proudly wear mustaches in solidarity," Brendan continued. Indeed rally staff have been sporting mustaches since November 1. They fit right in in Nanny Cay. "Last year the BVI Movember campaign raised more money than the country of Belgium," Brendan continued, "and we try to keep the money local. One guy on the island we support has to go to St. Thomas everyday for his chemotherapy shots, and money we raise helps him do that."
In the end, Merril and Fred from Serenity were the most enthusiastic 'Movember' supporters, and were awarded a Movember hat and beer coozie. Brendan also had on hand Movember t-shirts and merchandise, which contributed to their fundraising effort. The Caribbean 1500 agreed to continue supporting the BVI's Movember campaign, and it will be an annual competition within the fleet.
The evening continued on a humorous note when Mia Karlsson announced the 'Best Breakfast Award' to Pat on Cutter Loose for her daily fresh muffins, despite the rough weather at the beginning of the passage. And then came Martin from JAC…
The boys on JAC - Martin, Bruce and Gordon - are from Australia, and the boys on JAC know how to have fun. Earlier in the week Martin suggested a 'Best Bruise' prize for the evening, and given his enthusiasm, rally staff decided to invite him on stage to present the award. And a fine presentation it was! He began his talk pacing in front of the audience in the sand and teaching everyone the 'Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! - Oy! Oy! Oy!' chant to build up the energy. Then he invited one crew from each boat to come on stage - the best story behind the best bruise would win, the prize decided by audience applause. He had many entrants, but in the end it wasn't much of a contest.
Larry from Saudade won handily: "There I was!," Larry began, "on that second stormy evening at sea, my crew all harnessed together in the cockpit. One nasty wave lurched the boat sideways," he continued, "and I - with ONE HAND! - grabbed the crew and pulled them back aboard!" If it wasn't exactly true, Larry was indeed a great storyteller. "And just as I got them back aboard, I lost my balance and SLAMMED into the cockpit winch, and got THIS!" Larry then pulled up his shirt to reveal a horrific bruise down his side, which received an audible gasp from the crowd. For his efforts, Larry received a package of band-aids!
The evening continued with a positive energy throughout the night. Dave, also from Saudade, was awarded a gift certificate to Bluewater Divers in Nanny Cay for the 'Best Diver' award after rally staff heard of his exploits freeing the preventer from the propeller mid-ocean, and the fishing award was split between Escapade and Miss Piggy for their enthusiasm as anglers. Each received gift certificates to the on-site Budget Marine.
Before the competitive awards were announced, each boat was called to the stage to receive their participation plaques, which was followed by a grand applause for all of those who completed the event safely this year. An email was read aloud from Miramar, the only boat still at sea. Miramar set out one week after the rest of the fleet after encountering some problems on departure day, which they remedied after a week in Little Creek, VA. Jeremy and Jamie also were recognized for their youth, and received the 'Youngest Skipper' award, which will be waiting for them in Nanny Cay. Toby of Comocean received the 'Senior Cup' for being the first yacht on corrected time with a skipper over 65. Ellie from Helia likewise received the 'Junior Cup,' for being the first boat on corrected time with crew under 18. Helia also received the 'Family Boat Award,' a gift certificate to the Arawak Surf Shop in Nanny Cay Marina (hopefully next year they'll have more competition!).
Following the competitive awards - the full results of which can be seen here - the two most coveted awards - the 'Steve Black Trophy' for Overall Winner in the Cruising Division, and the 'Tempest Trophy' for Spirit of the Rally - were announced. Steve Black was the founder of the 1500 and organizer for the first 21 years, and this year the J/42 Keep It Simple took home the overall from Class B (as well as a custom ceramic mug from Bamboushay Pottery in Nanny Cay), correcting ahead of Comocean (also from Class B), and Serenity, from Class A.
The Tempest Trophy was presented by Rick and Julie Palm of Altair, rally veterans who were able to tell the story of why it's called the 'Tempest Trophy' - they were there when it happened.
"It was the first year of the event," explained Rick, "in 1990. There was a yacht called Orbiter in the rally that year. It had aboard a former astronaut who had been round the world in space, and had a dream of sailing round back on Earth," he continued. "Orbiter lost her rudder west of the Gulf Stream. It was blowing 40 knots in the stream - we were listening to the drama on the radio - and another yacht, Tempest, stood by for 18 hours until the Coast Guard could come and rescue the crew of Orbiter."
July Palm then went on to explain that the Tempest Trophy was given each year since then to the yacht that best combined seamanship, enthusiasm, helping others - generally the all-around best ambassadors for the 1500, the yacht that best displays the kind of community that forms on the ocean. This year the yacht Avanti - who lost their crew two days before the start but decided to sail double-handed anyway and not miss the weather window - was given the award. On the second night out, Avanti - who had radar equipped on board - guided Helia through a series of squalls just east of the Gulf Stream.
"They were amazing," said Rob, the skipper of the family boat Helia. "Jeremi [skipper of Avanti] just called us up on the radio and said 'follow me!', and we steered clear of the worst thunderstorms that night."
"You all really helped us," Jeremi said to the crowd humbly after receiving the award. "It's really everyone who makes this event special, we all deserve this one this year," he concluded. The Tempest Trophy itself is a perpetual award - a gorgeous varnished half-hull model - that will remain on display in Nanny Cay, continuing a tradition that started with the first event in 1990. '2012: Avanti' will be inscribed on the award. Jeremi and Agniescska took home a 'Spirit of the Caribbean 1500' plaque. And with that, the awards ceremony came to a close. Participants filed upstairs to Peg Leg's restaurant, where chef Vaughn had prepared a wonderful display of local Caribbean cuisine, which the participants enjoyed on the open-air deck while a slideshow played photos from the entire event.
"it was an overwhelmingly positive year for the 1500," said rally vets Miles and Anne Poor. "You guys did a fantastic job!" added Scott and Jennifer from Pendragon. "And the decision to leave a day early was the best move the organizers have ever done," added Miles Poor of Karina.
Click here for the full results of this year's Cruising Division, and make sure to check out the gallery page for photos of last nights event in Nanny Cay! Thanks to all of those who participated in this year's event - see you on the water! 
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