Captain Walter Rybka receives the 2008 Lifetime Achievement award

CAPT Chris Sinnett of the USCG Barque Eagle receives the 2008 Sail Trainer of the Year Award

Cindy Buffa Accepts the 2008 Sail Training Program of the Year award for Privateer Lynx

The Class Afloat Program aboard the CONDORDIA is awarded the 2008 Sea Education Program of the Year Award

Hal Barstow - 2006 volunteer of the year

Tacoma Washington is awarded the 2008 Port City of the Year Award

Harry Anderson is presented with a special recognition award at the 2008 Conference in Halifax, NS

Annual Sail Training Awards

Each year at the Annual Conference of Sail Training and Tall Ships, Tall Ships America honors a seclect group of sail trainers and supporters who have been recognized by their peers and fellow sail trainers for their outstanding contributions to the world of sail Training.

The annual award recipients are nominated by the membership of Tall Ships America and the final winners selected by the Board of Directors and staff.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded to an individual who has dedicated his/her life's work to getting people to sea under sail and who has worked to preserve the traditions and skills of sail training.

2012	Captain Jan Miles
2011	Captain George Moffett
2010	Captain James Gladson
2009	Captain Jonathan "JB" Smith
2008	Captain Walter Rybka
2008	Captain Karl Mehrer
2007	Captain Joe Maggio
2006	Beth Bonds
2006	Captain David Hiott IV
2005	CAPT David V. V. Wood, USCG (Ret.)
2004	Rafe Parker
2003	Francis MacLachan
2002	Karl Dillman
2001	Captain Lane Briggs
2000	Exy Johnson
2000	VADM Thomas R. Weschler USN (Ret.)
1999	Captain George Glasier
1999	Ward Cleveland
1998	Ernestine Bennett
1998	Henry H. Anderson, Jr.
1997	(not awarded)
1996	Captain Arthur Kimberly
1995	Biff Bowker
1994	(not awarded)

Sail Trainer of the Year
Awarded to a member of Tall Ships America who has made a significant contribution to sail training through the demonstration of leadership by means of empowerment and inspiration.

2012	Captain Deborah Hayes
2011	CAPT Eric Jones, USCG
2010	Captain Wesley Heerssen
2009	Meghan Wren Briggs
2008	CAPT Chris Sinnett, USCG
2007	Captain Ken Neal
2006	Captain Walter Rybka
2005	Captain Tim Pyron
2004	Terry Davies
2003	Captain Jan Miles
2002	Captain Peg Brandon
2001	Captain Bob Hodgson
2000	Captain George Moffett
1999	Captain Dan Moreland
1998	Captain Alice Moore Robinson
1997	Captain Richard Bailey
1996	Captain Christopher Rowsom
1995	CAPT David V. V. Wood, USCG (Ret.)
1994	Captain Walter Rybka

Sail Training Program of the Year
Awarded to a current Tall Ships America member program that significanly contributes to the development of seamanship, navigation skills, teamwork, and leadership skills. The program must be offered aboard a USCG (or national equivalent) inspected vessel, must be offered by certified/qualified personnel, must have clear training goals and a curriculum which is compatible to the Tall Ships America sail training logbook and must offer students the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge at sea by participating as active trainees in the running of the vessel.

2012	Schooner PIONEER at South Street Seaport Museum
2011	Ocean Classroom Foundation
2010	US Brig NIAGARA
2009	Maine Maritime Academy / BOWDOIN
2008	LYNX
2007	SPIRIT OF BERMUDA
2006	PICTON CASTLE
2005	TABOR BOY
2004	Ocean Classroom Foundation
2003	(not awarded)
2002	LETTIE G HOWARD
2001	ST LAWRENCE II
2000	HMS ROSE
1999	Sea Explorer Program
1998	SALTS
1997	USS CONSTITUTION
1996	BRILLIANT
1995	SWIFT OF IPSWICH
1994	PATHFINDER and PLAYFAIR

Sea Education Program of the Year
Awarded to a program offered by a current member of Tall Ships America which has significantly contributed to the educational credibility of programs under sail. The program must be offered in conjunction with a school, school system, school group or other recognized educational institution, must have a clear curriculum of educational goals which are compatible with curriculum goals of traditional schools and must have qualified instructors on a certified vessel.

2012	Sound Experience aboard the Schooner ADVENTURESS
2011	Sea/mester
2010	Sea Education Association (SEA)
2009	Sultana Projects / Sultana
2008	Class Afloat
2007	Explorer Program aboard ALMA
2006	Tall Ship Semester for Girls
2005	Bayshore Discovery Project and the A J MEERWALD
2004	New York City Harbor School and the LETTIE G HOWARD
2003	(not awarded)
2002	BaySail's Environmental Education Program aboard the APPLEDORE IV
2001	Inland Seas Education Association's Great Lakes Schoolship Program
2000	Class Afloat aboard CONCORDIA
1999	Tall Ship Semester for Girls
1998	Harvey Gamage Foundation
1997	South Street Seaport Museum
1996	Orange County Marine Institute
1995	Living Classroom Foundation
1994	Sea Education Association (SEA)

Volunteer of the Year
Awarded to an individual member of Tall Ships America who has significantly advanced our overall mission

2012	Roberta Kacenjar
2011	Captain Deborah Hayes
2010	Captain Jonathan Boulware and Captain Jonathan Kabak (J2)
2009	Claudia Bankert
2008	(not awarded)
2007	Ron Tasker
2006	Hal Barstow
2005	Richard "Rusty" Rice
2004	Cathy Spencer
2003	Chuck Fowler
2002	Nancy Richardson
2001	Hisakazu Nakayama
2000	Alison Healy
1999	Thad Koza, Billy Black, Roger Archibald
1998	Graeme Smith
1997	Gregg Swanzey
1996	Tom Gochberg
1995	Nick Fairhurst
1994	Bob Walker

Port City of the Year
Awarded to a city which has demonstrated significant support of Tall Ships America or a member organization of Tall Ships America and who has furthered public recognition of sail training

2012	Halifax, Nova Scotia
2011	Oxnard, CA
2010	Chicago, Illinois
2009	Boston, Massachusetts
2008	Tacoma, Washington
2007	Norfolk, Virginia
2006	Bay City, Michigan
2005	Tacoma, Washington
2004	Halifax, Nova Scotia
2003	Chicago. Illinois
2002	Richmond, British Columbia
2001	Bay City, Michigan
2000	Charleston, South Carolina
1999	Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
1998	South Haven, Michigan
1997	Los Angeles, California
1996	(not awarded)
1995	Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut
1994	(not awarded)

Special Recognition Awards

2012	Michael J. Rauworth
2011	Thaddeus J. Koza
2008	Henry H. Anderson, Jr.
2008	Bart Dunbar, Perry Lewis, Captain Joe Davis, Dr. Robin Wallace
2006	Don Treworgy
2005	Steve Baker, Lori Aguiar
2004	Steve Luthultz
2003	NINA
2002	Toronto Brigantines
2001	CAPT David V. V. Wood, USCG (Ret.)
1998	Captain Walter Rybka, Nancy Richardson
1997	James L. Kerr
1994	Nick Horvath

Allen Insurance and Financial Award for Safety

2012	Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center and Air Station Elizabeth City
2010	Captain John Beebe-Center and Captain Bill Curry