World-record holding Australian sailor Jon Sanders has been awarded the prestigious Blue Water Medal, without date, by the Cruising Club of America.
It is only the fifth time since 1923 the award has been handed out, with Sanders being recognised for his nine circumnavigations of the globe.
Sanders, now 76, set an unbroken world record in 1988 when he completed a triple circumnavigation of the planet, a journey which began in 1986 and took 658 days.
He grew up in Perth and spent 17 years working with shearing teams until heading to sea and completing his first solo circumnavigation in 1977.
Almost 30 years after that he completed his ninth journey around the world last year when he arrived in Fremantle on his yacht the Perie Banou II in February.
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The award recognises a meritorious example of seamanship that ranges over a lifetime of achievement and will be officially presented to Sanders in New York on March 4.
