US SAILING Recognizes Key Sport Contributors at 2011 Annual Meeting in Annapolis

Contact:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
401.683.0800 x614

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (October 28, 2011) – Several remarkable sailing contributors were presented with US SAILING’s highest honors during Friday night’s Annual Meeting Awards Dinner at the Annapolis Yacht Club in Annapolis, Md. US SAILING presented eight esteemed awards to those who made extraordinary achievements in the areas of sailing education, race administration and operations, disabled sailing, safety and overall contributions to the sport.

Dave Rosekrans (Cincinnati, Ohio) received the prestigious Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy for his outstanding contributions to the sport of sailing in the U.S. The Annapolis Yacht Club earned the St. Petersburg Yacht Club for its superior organization and execution of the Beneteau First 36.7 North American Championship, held in October of 2010. Matthew Chao (Boston, Mass.) was honored with the Gay S. Lynn Memorial Trophy for his exceptional contributions to sailors with disabilities and to the sport of disabled sailing. Sailing safety expert Ron Trossbach (Green Cove Springs, Fla.), and sail trainers Jo and Dale Mogle (Punta Gorda, Fla.) received the President’s Award. Ken Legler (Reading, Pa.) was announced as the recipient of the Harman Hawkins Trophy, awarded annually to an individual who has played a major role in advancement of race administration. Veteran Umpire Ron Ward (Annapolis, Md.) received the Judge’s Emeritus Award for his long and distinguished service to the Judges Program of US SAILING.

US SAILING’s 2011 Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy – Dave Rosekrans
A long-time Thistle class sailor, Dave Rosekrans, has been tremendously impactful on the sport of sailing in a variety of ways. As President of US SAILING from 2001 to 2003, he was proactive with organizations such as the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). Rosekrans was instrumental in establishing Paralympic sailing as a fundamental part of US SAILING initiatives.

“I am honored and humbled,” said Rosekrans. “I race in a little boat on a little pond,” he added.

Rosekrans has held a variety of leadership positions for US SAILING. He served as the Vice President of US SAILING from 1998 to 2001, President of the US SAILING Foundation from 2004 to present, and Vice Chairman of the One-Design Class Council from 2009 to current. He has also played an important role in his own sailing community. Rosekrans was the Commodore of the Cowan Lake Sailing Association in 1990 and served a second term in 2011. He was also the Chairman of the Council of Sailing Associations from 1997 to 1998.

“I’ve always wanted to work hard for sailing,” Rosekrans explained. “Sailing is good for the mind and body. It helps nature and encourages communities to work together. Music and sports are great for international cooperation, and sailing is a big part of that.”

Rosekrans raced Thistles for 50 years, including over 1,000 races. He received the Minton Award in 2004 for his contributions to the National Thistle Class. He also served in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps from 1955 to 1957.

“We are all better off because of Dave’s efforts over the years,” said presenter and US SAILING President Gary Jobson. “The programs that he initiated and the difficult decisions he had to make were critical to the organization.”

This is US SAILING's most prestigious award. It was donated in 1957 by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, and is awarded annually to the individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the sport of sailing in this country in an associated activity. The recipient is selected by the Board of Directors from nominations made by members of the Board, Committee Chairs, Past Presidents and Counselors of Honor. For more information about this award, please visit the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy site.

US SAILING’s 2011 St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy – Annapolis Yacht Club
The Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC) is this year’s recipient of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy for the outstanding organization and execution of the Beneteau First 36.7 North American Championship that took place on October 20-24, 2010 with Wayne Bretsch as the Principal Race Officer.

This year’s Beneteau First 36.7 North American Championship had the full package of great competition, a workable boatyard, efficient registration and entertaining socials, which made this a top flight event. The Regatta Organizing Committee included Chairmen Keith Mayes and Garth Hichens, Annapolis Yacht Club Regatta Manager Linda Ambrose, Jim Hyde and the Sailing Center crew, and the entire AYC clubhouse staff.

Chip Thayer, the AYC Race Committee Chairman, was ecstatic about the AYC being recognized for hosting this superb event. “It is our commitment to provide the same excellent race management, week in and week out, every time we’re on the water, no matter whether it’s a small local event or a major championship. That’s how we’ve built the capability to provide excellent racing and that’s why classes continue to ask AYC to run their championships. The club has run quite a few events over the years, worthy of this recognition, so it certainly is truly gratifying to see the committee recognized by US SAILING,” Thayer commented.

Emblematic of excellence in race management, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy was awarded originally by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club in the late 1960s to recognize the club which ran the best regatta. The trophy was retired for several years, and then donated to US SAILING in 1977. The winner is selected on the basis of race management superiority and evaluation by participating skippers. To learn more about this award, please visit the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy site. 

US SAILING’s 2011 Gay S. Lynn Memorial Trophy – Matthew Chao
Despite being visually impaired since infancy, Chao has embraced sailing at an early age. In 1979, Chao began sailing with the SailBlind Program at Boston’s Carroll Center. Chao developed a love for racing big boats and small boats, with other disabled sailors as well as able bodied sailors. His skill levels improved significantly over time and he competed successfully worldwide.

“Sailing has become a vital part of his life and his passion for the sport has made believers out of the many who doubted that blind people can sail,” said award presenter Peter Goldman of the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation.

Chao is a six-time U.S. Blind Sailing National Championship. He collected a silver medal at the 1997 Blind Sailing World Championships and a bronze medal in 2006. Chao has proven his abilities in able bodied competition with sighted sailors. In fact, Chao won the 2001 Hinman Masters as a crew in team racing. He is also a multi-winner of the Sail for Hope Regatta.

Chao is also known for his innovative downwind sailing techniques. In his attempt at reading the wind direction and speed, he often turns away from the course and looks over the stern to feel the wind on his face while sailing downwind.

The Gay S. Lynn Memorial Trophy recognizes outstanding service, over a significant period of time to disabled sailing and disabled sailors in the United States. The trophy may be awarded to a volunteer, a professional, or an organization. In 2003, the trophy was awarded for the first time. The recipients were Peter Goldman and the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation. To learn more about this award, please visit the Gay S. Lynn Memorial Trophy site. 

US SAILING’s 2011 President’s Award – Jo Mogle, Dale Mogle, Ron Trossbach
Jo and Dale Mogul have made major advancements in sailor education and training in the U.S. From the onset of her early training days, Jo became determined to ensure that no prospective Sailing Instructor or Instructor Trainer was lacking in a template for best practices.

Jo has been a small boat Instructor Trainer and a Keelboat Instructor, and she and Dale have long served as at-large Regional Training Coordinators, visiting and supporting many instructor and trainer courses around the country to provide support, oversight and to drive forward the culture of quality training.

She created annual reports of candidate feedback about every course and every trainer. These reports detail every comment from an instructor trainer or instructor candidate who taught or took a course that year. It became the gold standard for training’s quality control efforts.

While serving as Vice Chair for Standards and Credentials, “Jo has been the conscience of the Training Committee for well over 20 years,” said presenter and US SAILING President Gary Jobson.

“Her efforts on the Training Committee have brought a new level of quality and professionalism to our quality assurance efforts, testing and evaluation standards, appeal and complaint resolution processes, instructor trainer screening and selection, and many other areas,” Jobson stated. “Dale has been a partner to Jo in all ways, at her side, volunteering and leading in the sail training world.”

In response to receiving this award, Jo said, “We have the best sail training system in the business, and I will forever be proud of having been able to be a part of such a notable achievement.”

Ron Trossbach’s steadfast commitment to Safety-at-Sea education has been highly impactful on the lives of sailors for years. Trossbach currently serves on US SAILING’s and the Cruising Club of America’s (CCA) Safety-at-Sea Committees. He is one of five approved moderators for US SAILING’s Safety-at-Sea Seminars. Trossbach is a retired Naval Officer (30 years) who commanded a Guided Missile Cruiser. In 1994 and 1995, he held the Vanderstar Sailing Chair at his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy. He is past chairman of CCA‘s and US SAILING’s Safety-at-Sea Committees and was Chairman of the 2000 Newport Bermuda Race.

Trossbach and his wife, Kathy, helped develop “Suddenly Alone”, a safety series for cruising couples which includes segments on Navigation, Communications, Person in the Water Prevention & Recovery, and Stabilizing the Boat - for a person who unexpectedly finds him or herself alone with an incapacitated partner. Ron and Kathy are Rear Commodores in the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA), which they joined over 25 years ago.

They are also members of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), the New York Yacht Club (NYYC), Cruising Club of America (CCA), Storm Trysail Club (STC) and are past members of Annapolis Yacht Club, San Diego Yacht Club, and the Blue Water Sailing Club.

US SAILING’s President’s Award goes to those who have contributed above and beyond to the support and advancement of US SAILING and the sport of sailing. This special award may be presented at the discretion of the President as often as is merited.

US SAILING’s Harman Hawkins Trophy – Ken Legler
Ken Legler is widely recognized for his commitment to excellence in race administration, his racing rules knowledge, teaching ability, and his overall contributions to the quality of racing for more than 30 years.

He began running races in 1974 at the US Sailing Center at Association Island, which culminated with the 1976 U.S. Olympic Yachting Trials. In 1975, Legler ran the 470 World Championship. As Principal Race Officer, he has run more than 40 World, North American and National Championships for classes such as the Optimist, Laser, 420, 505, Melges 24 and Farr 40. Legler has been recognized for his exceptional race management at Key West Race Week since 1994. He has also run more than 240 college and high school regattas. As an active Judge and Umpire, Legler hears all protests for the Boston Sailing Center’s frostbite racing. He also chaired the protest committee for the 2005 U.S. Youth Sailing Championships and the 1974 Windsurfing World Championships.

Legler uses his experience to educate and engage others. He has taught over 150 clinics and seminars on racing, racing rules and race management. He has written numerous articles for Sailing World and SAIL magazines. His innovation in the development of new race management techniques has greatly improved this area of the sport.

Legler has been the head coach for the Tufts University sailing team since 1980. He has led the Jumbos to nine National Championships. Prior to his coaching days at Tufts, he won two Nationals Championships as head coach of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy sailing team.

The Harman Hawkins Trophy is awarded yearly to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the sport of sailing in the field of race administration.

US SAILING’s 2011 Judge Emeritus Award – Ron Ward
Ron Ward has a long and distinguished list of involvement in the area of race management. The 47-year member of US SAILING was a Senior Judge for 30 years before retiring in December of 2010. He also served 12 years on the U.S. Yacht Racing Union Judges Committee. For 18 years, Ward was Chairman of the Annapolis Yacht Club race committee. 

Ward has worked on a number of race committees for major championship events and international sailing competition, including four America’s Cups, the Congressional Cup, J/22 World Championship, J/24 World Championship, Star World Championship, Pan Am Games, ISAF World Match Race Championship, and more. Ward was the inaugural winner of the Harman Hawkins Trophy in 2005.

Ron continues to give guidance and encouragement to those current and future judges who have followed him,” said presenter Bill Torgerson. “His distinguished contributions as a leader, race official, supporter of sailing and development of practices typifies the Corinthian spirit of sailing.”

The Judges Committee may designate a retired US SAILING Senior Judge as a Judge Emeritus in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the Judges Program of US SAILING.