Sailing Hall of Fame Gets First Class

If you’ve been racing for any length of time, and the above photo didn’t make you think "wow!", then chances are you might need medical attention. The lineup above represents some of the most iconic American sailors from the sport’s highest echelon. And the fact they’re all together indicates that there’s finally a place to honor them all at once. Several years ago, US Sailing president Gary Jobson and other sailing advocates set out to create a National Sailing Hall of Fame, which finally came to life as its first class was inducted yesterday at the San Diego YC. While attending the ceremony, we quickly felt like a 10-year-old kid again with all the famous ‘adults’ in the room. These are the people who’ve illuminated sailing world and inspired so many to find their sailing passion.

Amazingly, all living inductees were in attendance, while the posthumously  inducted were all represented by relatives. The actual National Sailing Hall of Fame is to be built in Annapolis, Maryland, but as part of its effort to be truly national, the inaugural induction ceremony was not only held on the West Coast, but included many West Coast inductees. Hobie Alter, Paul Cayard, Dennis Connor, Lowell North and Joshua Slocum — who was from San Francisco — were all honored. Among others, Bruce Munro of St. Francis YC and Tad Lacey of San Francisco YC were in attendance — their clubs were acknowledged as founding member clubs of the Hall. It was a spectacular few hours in the presence of sailing gods and we feel fortunate to have seen it. 

Here’s a complete list of the inductees with very incomplete notes on their accomplishments:

Living:
Betsy Allison — US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics Paralympic Coach and five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.
Hobie Alter — Inventor of the Hobie Cat and surfboard industry pioneer.
Paul Cayard — ’98 Whitbread Round the World Race-winning skipper, Star World Champion and Olympian.
Dennis Conner — Four-time America’s Cup-winning skipper, Star World Champion.
Ted Hood — Naval architect and America’s Cup-winning skipper.
Gary Jobson — Winning America’s Cup tactician, author and Emmy award-winning sailing commentator.
Buddy Melges — America’s Cup winner, Star World Champion and ’72 Soling Olympic gold medalist.
Lowell North — ’68 Star Olympic gold medalist, Star World Champion and founder of North Sails.
Ted Turner — America’s Cup-winning helmsman and four-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year.

Posthumous:
Capt. Charles “Charlie” Barr — Transatlantic Race record setter and second-winningest America’s Cup skipper.
Capt. Nathanael G. Herreshoff — Designer of five America’s Cup winners.
Emil “Bus” Mosbacher, Jr. — Two-time America’s Cup winning skipper.
Joshua Slocum — First-ever singlehanded circumnavigator and noted writer.
Olin Stephens — Designer of six America’s Cup winners.
Harold S. Vanderbilt — Three-time America’s Cup winning skipper.