News

*Partial Inventory

Congratulations to Peter “Louis” Johnson, 2009 Outstanding Member.

Louis, Doyle Sails Buffalo, is long time participant to the Buffalo racing scene with BHSC and the BYC. He has been heavily involved in the Lake Erie Interclub Cruise and served as its chairman. He has always been there to help anyone and he would give you the shirt off his back, unless it was one of his favorite regatta shirts. He loans his rib out for regattas before he is asked. Louis has been involved with just about every racing event the BYC has held over the last 10 years and served as the regatta chair for 3 years, while serving on the BOD. We think he knows every sailor within a 250 mile radius of Buffalo. He has a wonderful support group in his wife Maureen and his bosses, Abby and Brendan.

Congratulations to Joe Parker, Doyle Sails Bay City, who was presented with this year’s Bay City Yacht Club Sportsmanship Award at the annual Sailing Awards Banquet on October 24. This award is presented to a club member who has contributed to the health and growth of local sailing. The winner is selected by a panel of their peers – the former recipients of the award who are actively sailing.

Joe has been actively involved in racing with the Saginaw Bay Yacht Racing Association and the Bay City Yacht Club for more years than he is willing to tell us. Fortunately for the rest of us, Joe has never been one to keep his expertise to himself. He is always willing to share his advice and to offer suggestions on topics ranging from boat repairs (using West System epoxy of course) to boat handling, rigging and sail trim, and more – all done in the spirit of advancing our sport.

He also keeps the local racers straight and true on the race course by conducting his springtime ritual, the annual rules seminar. This event is always well attended as Joe explains the rules in plain words so we know how they apply on the race course.

Joe Parker was instrumental in the formation of the Saginaw Bay Community Sailing Association and has served as its president since its inception in 1995.

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.