On behalf of the United States Sailing One Design Class Council, it gives me great pleasure to present Joseph Sullivan the One Design Leadership Award for recognition of individual initiative, enthusiasm, organizing ability, and leadership in creating the one-design fleet building program of the year.

Over the past several year’s Joe 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. Joe is Fordham Sailing’s guiding hand and volunteer coach. Joe started the team from scratch by using a well-articulated five-year plan. The program began at “zero” and quickly reached varsity status.  Joe 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. The program is a model for fledgling sailing programs and  “selling” a start-up program to school administrations.

As Joe 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.

First he coordinated major regattas among the regions effectively expanding the calendar for a majority of class members.

Secondly, he also initiated three new championship events within the New York region, targeting Women’s, Masters, and Junior championships.

Joe’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.

Although he is carrying on his work for the Fordham team, Joe recently stepped down from his Sunfish post in order to tend to family responsibilities. Tragically, he lost his son-in-law in the WTC attack. Joe’s activities and accomplishments over the past year are particularly impressive because they draw on a wide range of leadership talents including implementing new initiatives and day-to-day time commitments.
 

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 3 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 5 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."