The Storm Trysail Foundation have awarded the prestigious Seamanship Bell to Finnish ocean sailor Tapio Lehtinen, recognizing a lifetime of seamanship, resilience at sea, and his ongoing commitment to sharing safety and seamanship knowledge with sailors around the world.

The Seamanship Bell, an imposing trophy that now resides at the The Sailing Museum in Newport, Rhode Island, was first awarded shortly after the founding of the Storm Trysail Foundation in 2010. The plaque atop the bell reads:

“This bell represents the rich heritage and tireless spirit of the great sport of ocean sailing. It will be awarded to honor the skippers, the crews, their yachts, and to highlight the many historical and noteworthy blue water passages of our past.”

The award’s first recipients were Ted Turner and the crew of Tenacious for their victory in the 1979 Fastnet Race. That race, in which 18 sailors tragically lost their lives, became a defining moment for offshore sailing and served as a catalyst for modern Safety-at-Sea education and training programs. The Seamanship Bell was created to recognize the broader lessons of seamanship that emerged from that historic event.

As John Fisher, founding President of the Foundation, explained when the trophy was introduced, the Bell is unique among sailing awards because it honors the collective effort required offshore.

“The trophy is meant to emphasize that seamanship is a collective group effort, which is why not only the owner or skipper is recognized, but the entire crew. It is one of the only trophies in sailing that includes the crews’ names.”

Indeed, all 18 members of the Tenacious crew are engraved on the Bell. The bell itself was commissioned and cast in Europe, while the brass hoop and wood base were fashioned under the direction and generosity of Rives Potts, one of Tenacious 1979 crew, at Pilot’s Point.

Unlike many sailing trophies, the Seamanship Bell is not awarded annually. It is presented only when a story of seamanship, courage, or historic achievement warrants recognition.

Since its inception, the award has honored remarkable moments in offshore sailing, including the crew of Boomerang for their performance in the 1996 Newport Bermuda Race, the crew of IMP in 2012 under skipper David W. Allen, and the 20-person crew of Rambler, owned by George David, following their dramatic Fastnet sinking in 2015.

The names of Charlie Enright and his crews appear twice on the Bell for their laps around the globe in The Ocean Race with Team Alvimedica and the victorious Vestas 11th Hour Racing. Last year marked another milestone when Cole Brauer became the first solo sailor recognized on the trophy for her historic non-stop solo circumnavigation and the global awareness she brought to seamanship and offshore sailing.

Now, Tapio Lehtinen joins this distinguished lineage.

Lehtinen is widely respected throughout the offshore community not only for his accomplishments as a solo sailor, but for his composure and professionalism in the face of extreme adversity at sea. During a solo round-the-world race in the Southern Ocean, his boat sank unexpectedly. Remaining calm under pressure in one of the most remote and unforgiving regions on the planet, Lehtinen executed the safety procedures he had prepared for and was ultimately rescued by fellow competitor Kirsten Neuschäfer — an episode that became a powerful real-world example of the value of seamanship and preparation.

Since then, Lehtinen has continued to dedicate his time to promoting seamanship and Safety at Sea education worldwide, frequently sharing his experiences with sailors and aspiring offshore racers. He now continues that mission aboard his Swan 56 Galiana, using the yacht as a platform for offshore training passages, outreach, and seamanship education.

Through Galiana, Lehtinen offers sailors the opportunity to gain real offshore experience on demanding ocean passages. This year’s training schedule includes voyages to the Newport Bermuda Race, as well as expeditions to Nova Scotia, Greenland, and Iceland. Looking ahead, plans for next year include the Fastnet Race as preparation for the Ocean Globe Race.

The award was formally presented during the Storm Trysail Club’s Annual Meeting in January at The Sailing Museum, where Lehtinen joined via Zoom to accept the honor.

“I can’t believe my name appears alongside so many legends in the sport,” said Lehtinen in his acceptance remarks. “I am truly humbled and honored.”

With his name now engraved on the Seamanship Bell, Tapio Lehtinen becomes part of a tradition that celebrates not only achievement, but the enduring values of offshore sailing: preparation, resilience, teamwork, and respect for the sea.