AYSF Receives Hanson Rescue Medal

While the men on the American Youth Sailing Force, San Francisco’s ‘home team’ for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, undoubtedly want to win the event’s trophy so bad they can taste it, the award six of its team members received this week proves more about who they are as people than any sports trophy ever could.

On Wednesday, US Sailing announced that the six sailors — Ian Andrewes, David Liebenberg, Tommy Pastalka, Evan Sjostedt, Mikey Radziekowski and Nick Andrewes — will be awarded the Hanson Rescue Medal for their attempt to save a woman who’d driven her minivan into San Francisco Bay on June 21. Sadly, they weren’t able to break out the minivan’s rear window in time to save the driver, 60-year-old Debra Crenshaw, but the team’s instantaneous response to the accident and unrelenting attempts to free her proved their selflessness and earned them the award, as bittersweet as it may be.

Congratulations to the team for the well-earned honor.