It was a time for seafaring memories as 126 Cape Horners met up in Portsmouth today to applaud the latest in a Who’s Who list of global circumnavigators to be inducted into the Cape Horn Hall of Fame.

First to by recognised was five-time circumnavigator Paul Standbridge from Hamble, Southampton followed by two fellow British sailing heroes, photographer Rick Tomlinson and Samantha Davies all from the Solent area

Joining them in this very select group of 46 sailors that now have their names enscribed on the Hall of Fame Honours board were French Vendée Globe Race winner Charlie Dalin, Catherine Chabaud, the first women to complete a Vendée Globe solo circumnavigation, and fellow French sailing heroine Isabelle Autissier.

The International Association of Cape Horners (IACH) received 31 nominations from the public for this year’s Hall of Fame. The list was verified by an independent selection committee chaired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, and 15 names went forward to a vote by all members of of IACH.

This is the 4th year of the Cape Horn Hall of Fame awards and the names of 46 of the most famous round the world sailors now adorn the Cape Horn honours board housed in a club house in the French port of Les Sables d’Olonne, the home of solo sailing, and host port for the Vendée Globe and Golden Globe Race events.[br]

This annual reunion lunch, sponsored by Les Sables d’Olonne, Spinlock, Ocean Safety Ltd, McIntyre Adventure and Pindar, saw the Pindar Lifetime Achievement award go to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston receives his life time achievement award from Andrew Pindar

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Also honoured were the Chilean lighthouse keepers based on Cape Horn who man this remote station 24hrs and happily offer advice to passing sailors and log their passage. And if one passes close enough to the Cape, they invariably take a memorable photograph and forward it on.

Captain Patricio Concha, the Chilean Naval Attache was presented with an honorary membership certificate by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on behalf of the lighthouse keepers who remain on station of a year at a time.

The International Ocean Safety Award was presented jointly to the crews of RNLI Newhaven Lifeboat and the Lydd-based Coastguard rescue helicopter team for the hazardous joint operation to rescue an injured sailor stranded aboard his yacht as it broke up on rocks during a storm off Newhaven Harbour UK on 4^th June 2024.

The International Ocean Safety Award was presented jointly to the crews of RNLI Newhaven Lifeboat and the Lydd-based Coastguard rescue helicopter team for the hazardous joint operation to rescue an injured sailor stranded aboard his yacht as it broke up on rocks during a storm off Newhaven Harbour UK on 4^th June 2024.

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Paul Standbridge– British.  DOB:1958.

Rick Tomlinson– British  DOB 1958

Skip Novak, Rick Tomlinson, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Charlie Dalin– French, DOB 1984

Samantha Davies– British. DOB 1974.

Catherine Chabaud, French, DOB 1962.

Isabelle Autissier– French DOB 1956

 Video link to the Awards ceremony