Dick Rose
Sailor of the Week: November 15-21
Dick Rose (Seattle, Wash.) was honored at US Sailing’s Annual Meeting in San Francisco earlier this month with the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy, the organization’s most prestigious service recognition, awarded annually since 1957 to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the sport of sailing in the United States. Rose’s contributions in simplifying the Racing Rules and making them more understandable has allowed the sport to be more welcoming for beginners and more enjoyable for experienced sailors.
Rose recalls a Racing Rules Committee meeting at the Annual Meeting in Seattle back in the late 70s. “I watched and listened to Gregg Bemis, Bill Bentsen, Bob Bavier and Harman Hawkins debating issues that I was keenly interested in,” said Rose. “Observers were supposed to just observe and not speak, but I couldn’t help putting up my hand insistently to make some suggestions. I guess they thought I had something to say, and shortly afterwards I was invited to join the committee.”
“In the mid 90s ISAF challenged its Racing Rules Committee, which I was a member of, to stop complicating and instead simplify the rules,” said Rose. “This opportunity allowed me to be part of a fascinating project – a complete re-write of the racing rules. I was able to apply my background in psychology, logic, and education to the sport I enjoy. I remain committed to keeping the rules simple.”
Rose has held and continues to hold numerous positions on rules committees within US Sailing and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).
• Member of International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Racing Rules Committee
• Member of ISAF Racing Rules Committee Working Party, since 1991
• Chairman of the ISAF Racing Rules Committee Working Party since 2009
• Chairman of ISAF Case Book Working Party since 1997
• Member of ISAF Equipment Rules of Sailing Working Party since 2009
• Member of US Sailing Racing Rules Committee for over 20 years, Chairman for 12 years, currently Secretary
• US Sailing Senior Judge (since the US Sailing Judges Program was begun)
• Member of US Sailing Appeals Committee since 2008
• Member of Pacific International Yachting Association Appeals Committee for 12 years
• Rules advisor to US Olympic Sailing Teams at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Pusan and Barcelona
• Member of US Sailing Board of Directors for one year
• Member of the Board of Directors of The Sailing Foundation, a charitable foundation that works to promote youth racing and safety at sea in the Pacific Northwest.
• Developer and organizer of the annual Northwest Clinic for Youth Sailing Coaches, since 2008
• Past President, Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association
• Past President, North American Laser Class
• Columnist, Sailing World magazine, writing monthly column on the racing rules since 1984
• Lecturer on the racing rules
Rose has raced for over 50 years, mostly in dinghies, including International 14s, Lasers, Snipes, Lightnings, Penguins and more recently a Laser 28. He won the International 14 Team Racing World Championship twice, the Frostbite Championship of Long Island Sound, Overall Winner at Whidbey Island Race Week, and was runner-up at the Intercollegiate Sailing National Championship.