Cruising as a sporting category became popular in the 1920s, when awards for ambitiously sailed voyages became fashionable. Soon after, cruising was on an equal footing with racing. And to this day, it is customary in many sailing clubs to honour achievements that stand out from the crowd on ambitiously sailed voyages.
In addition, a number of organisations award prestigious prizes in various categories such as inland, sea and ocean sailing. The three best-known organisations are the sailing association Wappen von Bremen, the Trans Ocean Association and the German Sailing Association.
An overview of the prizes they award and how you can apply:
German Sailing Association (DSV)
The DSV cruising competition goes back to the cruising competition of the Cruiser Yacht Association, which was first organised in 1911, merged into the DSV in 1917 as the Cruiser Division and was dissolved in 2023. It was extensively revised for the 2024 season. It was important to the DSV to simplify the criteria.
Gold, silver and bronze awards are presented in the inland, coastal and sea/ocean categories. The jury can also award special prizes. The Commodore Prize for outstanding performance, the Gudrun Calligaro Prize for the best voyage led by a female skipper and an environmental prize. A new addition is the Audience Award, which is presented directly by those present at the awards ceremony.
According to the DSV, the jury endeavours not to highlight only the most far-flung voyages. Rather, the focus is on the "hidden gems" among the voyages submitted: from short charter trips to summer holidays and sabbaticals under sail.
The aim is to honour voyages that inspire imitation because they lead to exciting areas or offer new perspectives or experiences and thoughts on particularly environmentally friendly, sustainable sailing.
There is a separate category for beginners and a special category for family crews, which recognises trips where the children on board are under the age of 16.
Sailing Comradeship "The Coat of Arms of Bremen" (SKWB)
The SKWB was founded in 1934 as a yacht school. The SKWB traditionally calls on all ocean sailors to send in their travel reports in order to award the association's traditional prizes in the various categories. The honours are awarded every year at the ocean sailing evening in Bremen's town hall - even to non-members.
The award recognises team voyages on the high seas, but also on the North Sea and Baltic Sea, which are distinguished by good preparation and careful seamanship.
Informal application by 10 September
Applications will be accepted - informally - until 10 September 2025. It is important to provide information about who was travelling with whom in which sea area. The prize committee will coordinate further details directly with the entrants.
If you have any questions, the Chairman of the Prize Committee, Lukas Wendisch from SKWB, can be contacted by telephone on +49 163 745 816 6 or by e-mail (hochseeseglerpreise@skwb.de) are available for information.
Honoured on 1 November in Bremen City Hall
The presentation of the Franz Perlia Youth Prize, the Tanja Cup, the Silver Globe or the Golden Compass will take place on Saturday, 1 November as part of the traditional sailing comradeship evening in Bremen's town hall.
Which prize for what - an overview of the award criteria
First awarded in 1937, the Golden Compass is the oldest German offshore sailing prize. It is awarded for special sailing achievements on the North Sea, Atlantic or other oceans. The Silver globe goes to skippers of crew vessels for outstanding voyages on the open sea. Otherwise, the award criteria for this prize are deliberately kept open.
The Tanja Cupalso known as the Magnus Müller Memorial Prize, was established in 1951 by Ernst Burmester, the owner of the Burmester shipyard on the Lesum at the time, and friends in memory of his son-in-law Magnus Müller, who died in an accident in the same year, as a travelling prize for outstanding sailing and nautical achievements. The competition was deliberately kept general and not tailored to a specific type of voyage. "Tanja" was the name of the yacht sailed by Magnus Müller.
For the Franz Perlia Seafaring Prize for Young People The aim is to recognise the best voyage of a youth crew in terms of seamanship, sailing, navigation and camaraderie. This can also be accompanied by adults.
The Rolf Schmidt Memorial Prize was offered again this year by the Schmidt family for the best yacht in the ORCi I, II and ORCc I, II classes in the following races: 1st Nordseewoche - Rund Helgoland, 2nd Nordseewoche - H.O.T., 3rd Kieler Woche Aalregatta (Kiel-Eckernförde and Eckernförde-Kiel) 4th blueribboncup (Kiel-Århus and Århus-Kiel). In case of non-participation in a race, the yacht receives the "DNC" rating from the respective largest rating group.
Finally, the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen annually awards the Key price for top performance in ocean racing. The prize is awarded to the best ocean-going yacht flying the German flag for an outstanding performance in regattas starting or finishing abroad in the opinion of the prize committee. The prize committee consists of the Senator for Science and Ports of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, the chairman of the Bremen State Sports Association, the chairman of the Bremen Sailing Association and the sailing master and chairman of the sailing association "Das Wappen von Bremen".
The prize, donated by Oliver Berking, managing partner of Robbe & Berking, Flensburg Robbe & Berking German Offshore Trophy is a result of the co-operation between the German Touring Yacht Club and the sailing club "Das Wappen von Bremen". This year, it was organised as a transfer and qualification regatta for the Fastnet Race. The start was on 19 July off Helgoland, the finish Cherbourg.
Trans Ocean Sailing Club (TO)
Anyone who wants to be mentioned in the same league as the greatest German sailors such as Boris Herrmann, Wilfried Erdmann or Bobby Schenk should contact the Trans-Ocean Sailing Club (TO) apply for one of its awards.
Trans-Ocean e.V. is an association of blue-water and long-distance sailors that has set itself the goal of promoting ocean sailing. With over 5,300 members, the TO is one of the largest sailing clubs in the world and is a lively community of committed cruising sailors. Many of the club members are on extended sailing trips, ocean crossings or circumnavigations.
The TO will once again honour sailors for exceptional achievements at a festive evening on 8 November 2025 in Cuxhaven.
Prices for everyone
The Trans-Ocean price and the Ocean Award are among the most important German awards in ocean sailing. While the Trans-Ocean Prize primarily honours outstanding voyages and lifetime sailing achievements, the Ocean Award has a broader scope and also recognises exceptional achievements in organisational or supporting activities. The Ocean Award can therefore also be presented to teams and institutions, including at international level.
Prices for TO members
Neither prize is linked to membership of the association. TO members can also apply for other interesting awards:
The Trans-Ocean Medal is awarded to TO members for voyages that were completed in the twelve months prior to the award ceremony and are considered to be a special sailing achievement.
With the World Circumnavigator Award the TO recognises the members who have completed a successful circumnavigation.
For TO crews starting and finishing in Cuxhaven, the home port of the TO, after a successful circumnavigation, the Glass ball beacon of the city of Cuxhaven.
In addition, the city of Cuxhaven honours the Silver ball beacon Voyages that end in Cuxhaven after a non-stop voyage of at least 2,500 nautical miles.
With the Race Award the TO emphasises its promotion of regatta sport and recognises sporting achievements and special regatta successes in offshore races by its members.
Honoured on 8 November in Cuxhaven
The award winners will be honoured at a festive evening in Cuxhaven. Outstanding voyages, exceptional achievements and special services to circumnavigators and long-distance sailors will be honoured.
How the application works
The decision on the winners will be made at a jury meeting. Anyone wishing to apply themselves or nominate someone can do so as of now. To do so, please send an e-mail to the TO office at info@trans-ocean.org with name, contact details and justification required (why should this person or crew receive this award, how do they fulfil the criteria).
