The organisational world of dedicated cruising moves at its own leisurely pace, and the publication of the Irish Cruising Club yearly awards only really becomes official at the Annual General Meeting in February. Thus our new “Sailor of the Month (Cruising)” is receiving the award for a successful venture which was actually completed in March 2022.

But when the ICC’s premier trophy, the Faulkner Cup, which dates back to 1931, was confirmed on February 17th at the Club’s AGM in the Royal St George YC in Dun Laoghaire, it was rightly acclaimed as something fresh, and good news for the club. For in an era when ever-larger yachts seem dominant, it went to former Mayo SC Commodore Duncan Sclare for a determinedly executed delivery cruise from the North Sea to Clew Bay in limited time with his newly-acquired vintage 29ft Verl 900 Quibus.

Such a venture may seem at odds with the popular notion of cruising as being gentle swanning about in warm weather in an attractive cruising area at a leisurely pace. But it’s all part of a bigger picture in which sound seamanship, and the readiness to take full advantage of a fair wind, are respected qualities in a boat owner. Duncan Sclare demonstrated this with style.