News

Congratulations to Debbie Robertson, 2009 EYCRF Yachtswoman of the Year.

The EYCRF Yachtswoman of the Year Award is given to encourage and promote women’s racing by annually recognizing a female racing sailor who has participated in the Erie Yacht Club Racing Fleet in the current racing season as well as in the past. The candidate must have demonstrated excellent racing knowledge and skills as well as served as Corinthian representative of the Erie Yacht Club Racing Fleet.

Debbie, wife of Dick Robertson, Doyle Erie, has spent her adult life racing sailboats and participated in over 400 races in those 22 years. She has developed into an excellent sailor in all conditions; windy and light, rough and calm. Her position specialty over her racing career is the pit. However she is capable of working any job or position on your boat. Her racing experience has been garnered over many different rides and varied venues during which her fellow crew came to know just how good a sailor she is.

A few of the boats Debbie has raced on, and influenced their finish position, include: Revenge, Cookie Monster, Earth Wind and Fire, Mary Lou, Pigs at Sea and Down Time. Most of these boats have a prominent place in EYC racing history with Debbie sailing on two Boat of the Year winners over five years.

She is instrumental in major regattas not only serving her crew position, but keeping that certain calmness on the boat that is much needed in the heat of the battle. This is a very important quality.

Finally, and most importantly, many people have argued that anyone who can endure the direction of Dick Robertson on a racing boat for over 22 years deserves a huge, justly earned dose of recognition and sympathy.