Ensure safety, integrity and quality for all participants in the sport of sailboat racing
Give back to the sport of sailing by volunteering and becoming a race official. You’ll run races, make umpire calls on the water, hear protests and redress requests in the jury room, and classify sailors to compete in disabled sailing events.
What are Race Officials?
Race Officials represent US Sailing on and off the race course. They are trained, certified and supported by US Sailing, and they have the resources of the organization at their disposal.
The primary responsibility of race officials is to ensure the safety, integrity and quality of racing.
Race Officials are sailors like you who volunteer their time because they enjoy the work and because they believe in the importance of giving back to the sport.
Race Officials In The Spotlight
Meet Ellen Pesch
Ellen Pesch is exactly the kind of person you want on the committee boat when you compete. She’s well trained, understands the rules, is thoughtful and fair, has competed as a sailor herself, has earned several race official certifications, and is driven to continually learn more. Ellen has gone from being an occasional one-day volunteer, to a Club Race Officer and PRO, to a Regional Race Officer and now a Judge-In-Training. She has officiated at regattas across the country, and she recently served on the race committee for the ORC World Championship in Newport, RI. Read more about Ellen.
Meet Diana Emmanuelli
If you participated in, volunteered for, or watched a US Sailing Championship, you have most likely met (or emailed with) Diana Emmanuelli, US Sailing’s Competition Manager. But more than just a regatta-organizing extraordinaire, Emmanuelli is an accomplished race organizer, Race Officer and Judge-in-Training, having helped with some of the biggest regattas in the Caribbean and around her adopted home of Bristol, RI. Read more about Diana.
Meet Edith Collins
Edith Collins is one of those people who is the first to jump in and help where needed. For all she does for the sailing world she was honored as the recipient of the H. Willard Davis Service Award from the South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association (SAYRA) this past winter. In January of 1986, SAYRA established this award and dedicated it to Dr. H. Willard Davis to honor individuals who make significant and outstanding contributions in service to the South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association and their fellow yachtsmen. Edith, humble as ever, said, “needless to say I have no idea why I got it.” Read more about Edith
Meet Team Iowa
What’s better than an experienced Race Official? A TEAM of experienced award-winning Race Officials!
“Team Iowa,” as they are known, consists of Dean Drevlow, Dick Leaders, Craig Johnson, and Fields Gunsett. These guys are not only very active in their own club, Saylorville Yacht Club near Des Moines, IA, but are regularly called on to run regattas far out of their venue. Read more about Team Iowa
Do you know a race official whose work is exemplary and should be celebrated?
Please contact your Area Race Officer or Regional Administrative Judge to nominate one or more officials.
Newly Appointed or Upgraded Race Officials
Name |
Certification |
Date of Certification |
Area |
ARO/RAJ |
| James Reichel | Club Race Officer | December 2024 | B | Sue Reilly |
| Joseph Fava | Regional Race Officer | December 2024 | A | Susie Schneider |
| Jennifer Steffler Dorsch | Regional Race Officer | December 2024 | K | Russ Sobotta |
| Brian Buzzell | Regional Race Officer | December 2024 | K | Russ Sobotta |
| AJ Schweda | Regional Race Officer | December 2024 | K | Russ Sobotta |
| Dean Drevlow | Regional Judge | December 2024 | K | John Porter |
| Steve Dolan | Regional Judge | December 2024 | K | John Porter |
| Leif Sigmond | Club Judge | January 2025 | K | John Porter |
| Harlan Fredericksen | Club Judge | January 2025 | B | Giff Constable |
| Franz Edson | Club Race Officer | January 2025 | B | Sue Reilly |
| Jennifer Steffler Dorsch | Club Judge | January 2025 | K | John Porter |
| Paul DiMarco | Club Race Officer | January 2025 | D | Donna Sue Marks |
| Sam Hahn | Regional Umpire | February 2025 | B | Steve Schupak |
| Giff Constable | Regional Judge | February 2025 | B | Wayne Balsiger |
| Douglas McKnight | Regional Judge | February 2025 | F | Chris Luppens |
| Julie Rist | Club Judge | February 2025 | F | Chris Luppens |
| Jay VanderWall | Club Race Officer | March 2025 | K | Russ Sobotta |
| Nick Dees | Club Race Officer | March 2026 | D | Donna Sue Marks |
| William Zehner | Regional Race Officer | March 2025 | D | Donna Sue Marks |
