Andrew Moon, the Commodore of the Cayman Islands and the first Caymanian to reach the South Pole, has been awarded the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour.
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Mr Moon was cited for firmly establishing the CISC in the community, evidenced by the club’s higher visibility and membership since he became the Commodore in early 2005.
In a Government statement, GIS said that Mr Moon had been instrumental in the recovery and rebuilding of the club, its fleet and its facilities, since Hurricane Ivan. It said he placed a particular emphasis on youth sailing, which has gone from strength to strength in the last two years, involving a continually growing number of schoolchildren.
Prior to becoming Commodore, he was on the CISC’s executive committee from 1988-1995.
He has represented the Cayman Islands in numerous international sailing competitions, including the Central American and Caribbean Games, the J24 World Championships, the Soling World Championships, the World Sailing Championships, the Infanta Chritina Cup and South American Match Racing Championship, the North American Championships for J22 and Soling, Olympic Class Regattas.
He was unable to receive the honour in person at the recent Queens Birthday celebrations in Cayman as he is currently officiating at the America’s Cup regatta in Valencia.
Speaking from Spain, he said the honour came at a time when the partnership between the CISC and the Cayman Islands Government has never been stronger, adding that Government as well as private schools continue to receive world-class tuition from the club’s team of instructors.
‘Sailing is a tradition yet it is also a modern sport, an environmentally-friendly sport using renewable energy and open to all persons of all ages, sizes, fitness levels and genders,’ he said, reflecting on sailing’s place in Cayman Islands society.
‘It is a participatory sport and Cayman is lucky to have so many dedicated volunteers supporting this activity. Participants can choose recreational or competitive sailing. Caymanians have reached the pinnacle of the sport representing this country at the Olympic Games.’
Mr Moon has also been an active participant and generous supporter of the Cayman community with a particular interest in projects involving youth, environment, culture and history.
Other projects that he has supported include the National Trust, the Special Olympics, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, the National Gallery, Cayman Hospice, the Cayman Islands Cancer Society and the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee.
The Moon family live in South Sound on the site of Captain Bush’s house, which still remains on the property and was renovated by the couple in 1996.
Mr Moon and his wife Jane have lived in Cayman since 1986 when he joined the legal firm of Maples and Calder. During his time at Maples, he was a partner for 16 years and head of the capital markets department. He was a member of the management committee for 10 years and managing partner for several years.
He retired from the firm in November 2004 and took the opportunity to explore other interests.
He became the first Caymanian to reach both Poles, and is among a few hundred persons to have reached the South Pole on skis, something he achieved in December 2004.
He is a Guinness World Record Holder for the fastest land crossing of Antarctica to the South Pole in December 2005.
For more information on the Cayman Islands Sailing Club, please contact club manager Heather Bradley at [email protected].
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