Distinguished crew awarded for record breaking sail

In January, the M/Y Arctic P went on a month-long voyage to the Ross Sea region of Antarctica, including nearly 2000nm crossing the Southern Ocean. The voyage, organized with EYOS Expeditions, took them along the Ross Ice Shelf to the Bay of Whales where it nosed into the ice to set a new record for the most southerly position of any vessel ever: 78°43.0336’S, 163°42.1317’W, as officially recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.

“My reaction was one of feeling surreal,” Capt. Pugh told Ben Lyons of EYOS Expeditions, which organized the voyage. “It wasn’t until we actually crossed the furthest south that it hit home to everybody that this was a first.”

Capt. Pugh, who has an Australian master’s unlimited license, has spent eight years with M/V Arctic P, and before that was first mate on M/Y Octopus. He’s also worked with cargo ships, sailing ships, tall ships and cruise ships in his nearly 25-year career.

Capt. Pugh and the crew were honored with the Distinguished Crew Award at the International Superyacht Society’s annual awards gala Wednesday night in Ft. Lauderdale.

“It was a little different this year,” said Gary Groenewold, area vice president for the southern region at Westrec Marinas. “Nobody’s life got saved and there was no tragedy, thank goodness. But it is a milestone event.”

The crew are: Capt. Russell Pugh, Capt. Ronnie Maclean, Chief Mate Paul Crierie, 2d Mate Sam Daly, 2d Mate Luke Johnston, Tender Mate David Kerr, Bosun Afkar Ergis, Relief Bosun Sam Webb, Dive Master Jason Cram, Carpenter Upul Gamaralalage, Deckhand Xavier Mclean, Deckhand Sam O’Flaherty, Purser Tony Barnes, Supernumery Ikuyo Pugh, Chief Eng. Johann Pawlik, 2d Eng. Oleksandr Barchan, Fitter John Britto, Fitter Amit Dias, Electrician Vikrant Chavan, ETO Martin Potter, Chief Stew Lal Hikkaduwage, Chief Stew Kari Rasinaho, Stew Anton Dabrera, Stew Azhar Ergis, Stew Keith Samarakone, Stew Dush Siyanayake, Chef Arham Ergis, Chef Sarath Induruwage.

The crew are: Capt. Russell Pugh, Capt. Ronnie Maclean, Chief Mate Paul Crierie, 2d Mate Sam Daly, 2d Mate Luke Johnston, Tender Mate David Kerr, Bosun Afkar Ergis, Relief Bosun Sam Webb, Dive Master Jason Cram, Carpenter Upul Gamaralalage, Deckhand Xavier Mclean, Deckhand Sam O’Flaherty, Purser Tony Barnes, Supernumery Ikuyo Pugh, Chief Eng. Johann Pawlik, 2d Eng. Oleksandr Barchan, Fitter John Britto, Fitter Amit Dias, Electrician Vikrant Chavan, ETO Martin Potter, Chief Stew Lal Hikkaduwage, Chief Stew Kari Rasinaho, Stew Anton Dabrera, Stew Azhar Ergis, Stew Keith Samarakone, Stew Dush Siyanayake, Chef Arham Ergis, Chef Sarath Induruwage.

Four expedition crew also accompanied the voyage, including an ice pilot, naturalist and doctor.

Click here for a 10-minute video.

Westrec sponsors the Distinguished Crew Award, which is part of the International Superyacht Society’s annual design and leadership awards. Other winners announced at Wednesday night’s gala:

For Best Power larger than 65m, the 213-foot (65m) Heesen M/Y Galactica Star

For Best Power 40-65m, the 152-foot (46m) Feadship M/Y Como, which also won for best interior

For Best Power 24-40m, the 111-foot (34m) M/Y Quaranta built by Curvelle.

For Best Sail larger than 40m+, the 185-foot (56.4m) S/Y Mondango3 built by Alloy Yachts.

For Best Sail 24-40m, the 107-foot (32.6m) S/Y Inukshuk built by Baltic.

For Best Refit, the 196-foot (60m) M/Y Dream built by Abeking & Rasmussen refit at Jones Boatyard in Miami.

Its Business Person of the Year was awarded posthumously to John Percival of Hoylake Sailing School and John Percival Marine Associates in the UK. Capt. Percival died in March.

Leadership Award was given to Tom & Henk De Vries of Feadship.

Fabien Cousteau Blue Award was given to the International SeaKeepers Society.

Waterscapes was honored for Excellence in Innovation.

Lucy Chabot Reed is editor of Triton Today; [email protected].