Now that all the yacht clubs are decommissioned, one would think that nothing was going on in the sailing world. That is far from the case. Clubs up and down Long Island Sound frostbite all winter and we have a fleet right here in Manhasset Bay that races during the cold weather months.
Much of the sailing news now is about end-of-the-season awards. Both the Port Washington Yacht Club (PWYC) and the Sonar Fleet at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club (MBYC) had their awards dinner on Saturday, Nov. 7. At PWYC, their awards were part of Decommissioning.
PWYC has a tradition of including the annual awards ceremony at Decommissioning. The following trophies were awarded for the 2015 season: Edward I. duMoulin Memorial Trophy (for the greatest contribution to the advancement of junior sailing): George Catallo; Martin F. Stein P.I.C.A. Participate in Club Activities Award (to the couple who contributes the most to club activities during the year): Lisa and Sean Grygiel; Everett B. Morris Memorial Trophy (to a club member who has made the greatest contribution to yachting at PWYC. This trophy is intended to perpetuate the spirit and principles of the sport): Dr. Daniel Griffin. Mayero Race Committee Award (in recognition of race committee work done by Commodore Don Wefer and family over the year. This award goes to a race committee member who has exhibited a level of excellence in regatta management): Andrea Watson; Nor’easter Bowl (awarded to the class boat skipper of the PWYC with the best performance in season racing in his class or at outside-sanctioned events): Craig T. Albrecht. Rainbow Bowl (awarded annually to the skipper of PWYC with the best performance in officially sanctioned distance races of the YRALIS or other recognized authority): Arthur H. Buhr, III; Luther B. Beck Trophy (for outstanding sportsmanship in yachting): George “Chuck” McCarty; Commodore’s Bowl (awarded annually for the best competitive performance by a skipper of the PWYC): Arthur H. Buhr, III; Buccaneer Trophy (awarded to the PWYC yacht with the lowest corrected time overall in the annual YRA Day Race): Craig T. Albrecht.
North Shore Yacht Club (NSYC) hosted the 2015 Annual Sonar dinner and awards. Thanks to scorer Allyn Salamon who kept track of the Sonar finishes throughout the season. According to Sonar Fleet Captain, Bill McCullum, the following sonar racers were honored: Past MBYC Commodore Sue Miller and John Browning won the overall season championship. Their boat is #451, Ping. Their accomplishments include: 1st Championship Series, 1st in both the Saturday and Sunday Series. Cindy Jordan and Ted Toombs, #678, Whimsey: 2nd Championship Series and 3rd Saturday Series. Claes Larsson, #678, Whimsey: 2nd in the Championship Series and 2nd in the Sunday Series. Bob Kirtland, #396, Delight: 2nd in the Saturday Series. Bob Baskind, #568, Laurie B2: 3rd in both the Championship Series and the Sunday Series. Stephanie Baas, #678, Ping: 1st in the Crew Race. Sue Miller, #451, Ping: 1st Single-Handed Race. Cindy Jordan, #678, Whimsey: 1st Herbert J. Schmidt, Jr. Memorial Race.
Additional Sonar trophies were awarded. The Order of the Bath: George Huntington with John Browning at the helm; the Coconut Award: MIDN. Carl Whallin, United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). The Kinked Cable award went to Sue Miller for her efforts to hoist her Sonar properly out of the water. It seems that as she was lifting her boat on the hoist, the mast somehow got tangled in the cable raising the boat. That’s when you know you are having a really bad day.
From left: Dr. Daniel Griffin, Commodore Ken Weigand, Vice Commodore Howard Curt, Rear Commodore Michael J. Lyons.
Another award was given to John Browning, who was part of the team that raced across the pond at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club this past summer. Because of the MBYC’s outstanding performance, they lost every team race, the Booby Award was bestowed on Browning. This very award was given to the Brits that last time the two teams got together, which was in Manhasset Bay. One can only imagine the speech that Browning gave to the racers gathered at NSYC upon receiving this award.
US Sailing has announced that it is now accepting nominations for its 2015 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards, widely acknowledged as the foremost individual sailing honors in the nation. Through Nov. 30, each member of US Sailing may nominate the one male and one female sailor they believe has turned in the most outstanding on-the-water performance during the 2015 calendar year. If you have a name to submit for US Sailing’s 2015 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, please submit your nomination at www.rolex.ussailing.org.
