CONTACT:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
(401) 683-0800
Each year at the One-Design Sailing Symposium, up to five awards are presented to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations in one-design sailing. The categories are: Service, Leadership, Club, Regatta, and Creativity. These awards highlight role models of creative leadership in one-design sailing.
US SAILING is proud to congratulate - Todd Haines, Geoff Hurwitch, William Bradford, Massapoag Yacht Club, and Ephraim Yacht Club - for their contributions to one-design sailing and improving our sport.
SERVICE AWARD - Gardiner Trophy
To recognize individual distinguished service and exceptional dedication in the promotion of one-design sailing and class organization.
Winner: Todd Haines (Dousman, WI)
• Started at a young age as an advocate for A Scows during a resurgence of the fleet.
• Throughout his involvement with the A Scow, regatta participation increased from single digits in the 1980s to an unprecedented 29 A Scows at the 2007 National Championships.
• Guided the fleet during rule and the design changes that kept the fleet on the leading edge of technology.
• Involved in the creation of a promotional video for the fleet, “The Ultimate Ride,” narrated by Gary Jobson.
LEADERSHIP AWARD
To recognize individual initiative, enthusiasm, organizing ability and leadership in creating the one-design fleet building program of the year.
Winner: Geoff Hurwitch (Park City, UT)
• A skilled one-design sailor and former boat builder, Geoff has been the driving force in growing the Park City Sailing Association (PCSA) and is a strong proponent of establishing a serious one-design presence in the thin, dry air of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. Starting two years ago with two boats and two skippers, Geoff has since grown the fleet to over 40 skippers.
• Geoff fostered growth by acting as a clearinghouse for used Lasers. He has put forth strong efforts to build the Laser fleet from the ground up.
• Geoff has worked with the International Laser Class Association to bring the No Coasts Masters Championships to Park City in 2009.
• Geoff started a Yahoo user group which allows communication for race updates, boat availability, and for scheduling weekend training sessions.
• He facilitated a Fleet Purchase Program to grow the fleet, created an enclosed boat/rig storage area, and built a custom trailer, which allows PCSA sailors to support other events in Colorado, California and the Northwest.
CREATIVITY AWARD
To recognize outstanding individual creativity and contribution in the year's most innovative one-design event of national or international significance.
Winner: William Bradford (Hull, MA)
• Given the weak economic conditions and the declining attendance at prior Rhodes 19 East Coast Championships, Bill's creativity helped make this an extremely well attended regatta with double the participation of the prior year.
• The regatta entry fee was set low, less than half of prior class sanctioned regattas. Even with the low entry fee, the regatta committee was able to provide phenomenal trophies, plenty of food, daily prizes to the skipper and top notch race management.
• Bill personally created a new perpetual team trophy for the fleet with the best five finishers in the regatta. This encouraged each fleet to bring more boats to compete for the trophy and "bragging rights".
YACHT CLUB AWARD
To recognize the yacht club of the year for administrative excellence, fleet growth, creative programming, regatta support and member contribution at regional, national and international levels of the one-design.
Winner: Massapoag Yacht Club (Sharon, MA)
• A small, all-volunteer club comprised of 70 member families, located in the shadow of Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.
• MYC hosted their 63rd annual regatta including Flying Scots, Day Sailors, Sunfish and Lasers.
• They organize five racing series’ during the year, including over 150 races over the course of the sailing season.
• The self-help spirit of the Club has allowed MYC to keep dues at a minimum while maintaining the ability to host several regattas a year.
• Their Flying Scot fleet is one of the largest in the country. They’ve crowned several National Champions. MYC has hosted the Flying Scot Nationals twice. A number of MYC members are represented as Officers in the Flying Scot Sailing Association.
• MYC hosted the “Area A” eliminations for the U.S. Men's and Women's Sailing Championships, and sent two boats to the Finals in 2009. A club member won the sportsmanship award.
• For nine years the MYC has hosted a Women Skippers Regatta to get more women at the helm position. They also host a singlehanded regatta, in which boats that normally have crew are raced single-handed to test the raw skills of the skippers and improve their understanding of the crew’s responsibilities.
REGATTA AWARD
To recognize excellence in development, promotion and management of the year's outstanding regatta at any level.
Winner: 2009 Flying Scot North American Championship, Ephraim Yacht Club (Ephraim, WI)
• Ephraim Yacht Club (EYC), a summer club with 300 non-resident members, hosted the 2009 Flying Scot North Americans (NAC). Regatta chair Carol Claypool and her vice chair commuted more than 1,000 miles away.
• There was no room for social events on the city-owned clubhouse property and no alcohol allowed on city property, so club members and local residents stepped up to host the parties, with parties such as the Beer-Brats-Corn night, a Bar-B-Q overlooking Green Bay. Ephraim Village Hall became the primary location for breakfast and homemade bag lunches, meetings and trophy presentations. A local resident across the street from the club donated space on his property for an “R&R” tent.
• Dock space was another constraint. The EYC dock usually holds 35 boats, however; they squeezed in 45 for this event. The Club’s junior sailors handled the launch and retrieval from the hoists. When 77 boats showed up, they needed more room. The Town provided the space at no charge.
• The Lake Norman Yacht Club donated race marks and flags, and they transported in Scots going to the regatta. PRO Jim Tichenor was recruited along with others from the Lake Norman and Milwaukee Yacht Clubs.
• Hotel / motel accommodations were limited but this issue was dealt with and resolved. Housing was provided to many in local homes, and sponsors played a huge role. A B&B donated two cottages for race committee at no charge.
For additional information on US SAILING's One-Design Awards, contact Lee Parks.
About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.