L to R: Leslie Keller, Dave Rosekrans, Bernie Kuse

L to R: Leslie Keller, Dave Rosekrans, Bernie Kuse



At the US Sailing Spring Meeting, President Dave Rosekrans presented the organization's One-Design Awards, given annually for outstanding contributions to one-design class leadership.

Bernie Kuse of the Jacomo Sailing Club (Kansas City, MO) received the John H. Gardiner Service Award, given in recognition of distinguished service and exceptional leadership in the promotion of one-design sailing and class organization. Joseph Sullivan (New York, NY) received the One-Design Leadership Award given in recognition of individual initiative, enthusiasm, organizing ability and leadership in creating the one-design fleet-building program of the year. The Corinthian Yacht Club (Seattle, WA) received the Club Award for administrative excellence, fleet growth, creative programming, regatta support, and member contribution.

Bernie Kuse's dedication to sailing made him a worthy recipient of the John H. Gardiner, Jr. One-Design Award. Kuse has helped make sailing in the greater Kansas City area and the Central Sailing States enjoyable for all sailors. He has been instrumental in turning Jacomo Sailing Club into the Kansas City's sailing resource and has created a strong sailing family in the community.

By sharing his experience with all the one-design classes in area, Kuse improved the skills of sailors at the Jacomo Sailing Club and Midwest by giving numerous race committee training seminars and offering his services for teaching basic sailing and racing.

Kuse loves sailing for all the right reasons: the competition, intellectual nature of the sport, and interaction with nature. Most of all, he loves it because of the web it weaves around sailors, drawing them closer to the sport and one another. Because of his passion, three generations of his family are involved in sailboat racing and he continuously motivates the Jacomo club members. Bernie is truly passionate about sailing; this is further exemplified by the numerous awards he has received at the Jacomo Sailing Club for his sportsmanship, contributions, and performance above and beyond the call of duty.

Joseph Sullivan's receipt of the One-Design Leadership Award recognized his initiative, enthusiasm, organizing ability, and leadership in creating the one-design fleet building program of the year.

Over the past several years, Sullivan has spent his time focusing on two programs: reviving the Fordham University sailing team and building the Sunfish class.

In 2001, Fordham University sailing team completed its first full year of competition after almost thirty years of inactivity. Sullivan, a 1958 Fordham alumnus, is Fordham Sailing's guiding hand and volunteer coach. Sullivan started up the team from scratch by using a well-articulated five-year plan. The program began at "zero" and quickly reached varsity status. He posted the plan's key elements which include measurable objectives and a specific timetable on the web and Fordham's program is hitting all its target objectives. One significant element of the plan was recently achieved: through Fordham's alumni sailors, the team has just taken delivery of six new 420's and a support boat. The program is a model for fledgling sailing programs and "selling" a start-up program to school administrations.

As Sullivan was getting the Fordham program underway, he was also elected to a two-year term as the US Sunfish Class New York Regional Representative where his introduced some ambitious and successful initiatives. He coordinated major regattas among the regions effectively expanding the calendar for a majority of class members. Sullivan also initiated three new championship events within the New York region, targeting Women's, Masters, and Junior championships. Not only did this create additional level of excitement for the Nationals events but it also expanded class membership it was required for entry. The NY Juniors event attracted 43 children making it the second-largest Sunfish Junior event in North America. The rest of the Sunfish Class took notice, and other regions are creating Junior Championship events. Sullivan's involvement in the sport is by no means a flash in the pan. Thirty-one years ago he co-founded the "World's Longest Sunfish Race Around Shelter Island," an annual Sunfish sailing marathon held out of Southold YC. There were over 40 entries in this year's running.

Inshore Director Lee Parks accepted the Leadership Award on Sullivan's behalf. The Corinthian Yacht Club (CYC) of Seattle WA the One-Design Club Award was recognized for their administrative excellence, fleet growth, creative programming, regatta support, and member contribution--at regional, national and international levels. Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle has consistently been one of the most outstanding supporters of one design racing in the US and 2001 was an exceptional year. During 2001, Corinthian Yacht Club fired off over 1,000 one-design starts as part of 34 different series or regattas. Venues included Puget Sound and Lake Washington and twenty-seven different classes participated. The fleets run deep with 108 boats participating in the club's One Design Fleet Championships and 111 boats competing in the club's Junior Regatta.

In 2001 CYC fleets produced the 49er World Champions, Tasar International Champions, 3rd in I14 Worlds, and San Juan 24 North American Champions. Historically the club has always focused on one-design competition, producing three Olympic medals, 27 world and international champions, and over 115 North American and national champions.

The key to this success is the club's commitment to high quality racing, starting with a professional race committee. The superb staff on both the salt water and lake venues guarantees the best possible racing. They have the ability to respond quickly to shifty lake conditions and set marks in several hundred feet of open water. Excellent race management wastes little time on the water allowing dinghies to often get five or more starts in one day.

Supporting this effort are active one-design councils within the club. This insures that the competitors have constant input into the racing program. Corinthian Yacht Club continues to supply the finest in one-design sailing and lives up to its motto of "Sailing at its best." Leslie Keller, CYC treasurer and scorekeeper, accepted the award on the club's behalf.

The one-design awards are given annually by US Sailing. More information about these awards can be found on the US Sailing website at www.ussailing.org/odcc/awards.htm.

US Sailing is the national governing body for the sport of sailing, whose mission is to encourage participation and excellence in sailing and racing in the United States. The organization achieves its goals through member organizations and volunteers, located throughout the United States, who are supported by an administrative staff located at the organization's headquarters in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Membership and other information are available at www.ussailing.org or by calling (401) 683-0800.