For his very well planned and executed single-handed nonstop circumnavigation from Victoria to Victoria, British Columbia. His 177 day voyage began in late 2002 in his 42 foot cutter, Taonui and was completed in 2003. Prior to that, he and his wife, Coryn, had sailed about 115,000 miles over most of the world.

For thirty years of ocean adventure on two boats, both built by Noel himself. Their first boat, Masina, was a 38' cutter in which they circled the world, compiling 80,000 miles. Their second boat, Masina, is a 53' yawl, in which they completed a 57,000 mile circumnavigation including visits to Labrador and Iceland and an east to west rounding of Cape Horn in gale force winds. The crew included their daughter, Sina, who performed gallantly during a near capsize when they were hit by a rogue wave off Cape Horn.

For his circumnavigation of Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia. He departed St. Petersburg, Nov. 1996, spent a winter laid up on the NE coast of Siberia, made it through the Bering Strait, where ice forced him to lay up again in Tiksy (Northern Siberia). In Aug. 1999, he made it through the Northeast Passage, a first in history. After 30,905 miles, he finally returned to St. Petersburg in November.

For 160,000 miles of remarkable cruising in his 57-foot ketch. Prior to 1994, two circumnavigations via Antarctica. From 1994 to 2000 circled west to east from St. Thomas, V. I. to Seattle. Highlights included a Northwest Passage attempt stopped by impassable ice and extensive cruising in Europe, India, Asia, and Australia. Swanson was dismasted in the South Pacific and sorely beset by ice floes in the Arctic, but through good seamanship, brought Cloud Nine through all danger.

For a remarkable voyage in his 42-foot sloop to Antarctica from Patchogue, Long Island, via Panama Canal, Galapagos, Chile, Port Lockroy on the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island, Capetown, and home by way of St. Martin and Bermuda. 21,784 miles, 10 months with crew of 1 or 2 young men. Wrote copious descriptions of his cruise, and produced special guide to the Patagonian passages.

For two-year circumnavigation in her 36-foot cutter, from San Diego, covering 30,000 miles to Hawaii, Tahiti, Cape Horn, Falkland Islands, the Argentine, Tasmania, New Zealand, and returning by way of Tahiti and Hawaii. She inspired school children with her daily reports and encouraged them to make adventurous use of the sea.

For seamanship during 21,000 mile voyage from Seattle to Seattle by way of Cape Horn. His 10 months were plagued with hurricanes, squalls, and gear failures. He managed to jury-rig repairs at sea, even a loose skeg and bad rudder on a 1000-mile leg from Cocos Islands to Acapulco. Other stops: Puerta Vallarta, Falklands, Trinidad, Venezuela, Panama Canal.

For the extraordinary feat of returning 160 miles upwind, in a Force 10 gale, to locate fellow competitor Ralph Dinelli during the Vendee Globe single-handed, round-the-world race. After searching for 20 hours, he hoisted Dinelli, suffering from hypothermia, on board and sailed 1800 miles to Tasmania while caring for his passenger.

For a 7-year, 53,000-mile circumnavigation on a Bermuda 40 that included both coasts of South America, the Pacific Islands, Indonesia, the Red Sea, the canals of France, the Orkney Islands, Iceland, and Greenland before returning back to Quissett, Massachusetts with seamanship and love of adventure intact.

For a circumnavigation from 1993 to 1995 in a 33' sloop, England via Antarctica (twice), Easter and Pitcairn Islands, the South Pacific, New Guinea, Australia, South Africa and returning to England, with a crew of lads from the Kingham Hill School.