West Coast Designer Paul Bieker Wins CCA’s Diana Russell Award
The Cruising Club of America (CCA) has chosen Paul G. Bieker, of Anacortes, Washington, to receive the 2023 Diana Russell Award. This award goes to a club member in recognition of innovation in sailing design, methodology, education, training, safety, and the adventurous use of the sea, with a focus on recipients whose accomplishments deserve recognition by the CCA. The award is named for one of the first three women to join the CCA; Russell optimized designs under the IOR handicap rule for Sparkman & Stephens and later became president of the design think tank named WingSystems.
CCA Awards Chairman Steve James said, “The CCA is proud to recognize our member Paul Bieker with the Diana Russell Award. Paul’s foil designs and developments are the leading edge of our sport. With them he continues to advance sailing and the adventurous use of the sea in remarkable ways.”
Bieker is a yacht designer and boatbuilder with a degree in naval architecture. He has 30 boat designs to his credit, starting with a series of immediately successful International 14 skiffs. His development of small hydrofoils for 14s led to his being recruited to work on foil design and structures in several America’s Cup campaigns optimizing IACC monohulls and semi-foiling and foiling multihulls. His work helped win two America’s Cups (2010 and 2013) and he is recognized as one of the world’s foremost foiling-boat designers. His work ranges from surfboard foils to International Moth and 14 classes, the America’s Cup, SailGP’s 50-ft foiling cats, and foiling powerboat and foiling ferryboat projects. He’s worked with Alameda-based Navier to develop foils for the electric Navier 27 seen flying over the Bay.
On Monday we wrote about the CCA Blue Water Award winner, Kirsten Neuschäfer, who was recognized for the effort, determination, and skill exhibited during her 235-day solo circumnavigation aboard her Port Townsend, WA-built Cape George 36, Minnehaha. You can read about Neuschäfer’s award here.