Wosser Trophies Are Trophies We Don’t Deserve
The close of the 2023 racing season means the close for entries for the recently created Wosser Perpetual trophies. Applications are easy and due by December 15 (that’s one week from today!). As with many new initiatives, the number of applicants is small, meaning the chances of winning are big. Much better than the lottery.
With this in mind we decided to apply for the Ruth Wosser and Susie Wosser trophies even though we didn’t race that many times, and didn’t take too many different crew members. Tallying it up, we only raced 21 times (mostly Friday night beer can races), and we only took 16 different crew members with us across all those races. Surely, many boats did more racing and took many more people sailing. Despite that, we could be winners, but only because we’ve applied. If you raced more and/or took more people sailing, make sure you apply today or at least before the December 15 deadline.
Like yacht racing, the contest relies on the honor system. If you hit a mark and nobody sees it, do you do your circle? Of course you do. It’s the same with the Wosser trophies. If you say you raced both days of the Vallejo Race, BAMA’s Doublehanded Farallones, and every single Richmond Yacht Club Wednesday night race, we’re going to believe you. Though just as with that mark, somebody whom you didn’t see may be watching and speak up.
If you raced more races than we did this year, or took more people racing, you should apply for the Wosser trophies. Doing so gives you an excellent chance to look back at your racing year and all the fabulous crew who helped you around the race course.
The nice thing about these trophies is they honor your dedication and commitment to racing, to learning, and to getting out on the water, regardless of your results. Winning these trophies and winning races is even better, but despite Vince Lombardi’s quote, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing,” getting out on the race course at all is its own reward. These trophies recognize those who do it often and those who invite more people sailing. It takes just a few minutes.
Apply for the Ruth Wosser Trophy for most races in a season here and the Susie Wosser Trophy for taking the most crew sailing here. (Crew under age 19 count double!) The YRA receives all the entries and will let us know the winners.
Plus, by entering you can save us the embarrassment of winning our own trophies and again writing about ourselves!