US Sailing recognizes that the cancellation of sailing events and courses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult or impossible for some officials to meet the requirements for reappointment.
The Race Administration Committee has adopted a temporary policy to accommodate officials whose renewals are due in 2020 and who may not be able to meet the requirements for reappointment.
Main points:
- If you can meet the requirements this year, please apply for renewal as usual. If necessary, you may count events and education from the past five years (2016-2020).
- If you cannot meet the events and training requirements this year, on request you will receive an automatic extension until December 31, 2021, during which time you will remain certified and insured.
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 Mary-Lawrence Bickford
According to Essex Yacht Club Vice Commodore Bill Gunther, “Mary-Lawrence has always been a willing volunteer, and her endless energy is an inspiration to us all. In 2019, she received the James Orne Willets Trophy for her many contributions to Essex Yacht Club. It is awarded for the purpose of promoting the true Corinthian spirit, and recognized Mary-Lawrence’s continuous exemplary display of the highest ideals of amateur yachting.”
Read more about Mary-Lawrence
Meet Donna Sue Marks
“Donna Sue is exactly the sort of person we are looking for in a Regional Race Official,” said Mary Ellen DeFrias, member of the US Sailing Race Management Committee and a principal race officer at the Buzzards Bay Regatta in Massachusetts, where Donna Sue has run the kite circle for several years. “Her positivity and patience working with other volunteers motivates her team to excel, and she is the kind of race official who can come in and work with a new club and leave behind more confident volunteers.”
Read more about Donna Sue
Newly Appointed or Upgraded Race Officials
Name |
Certification |
Date of Certification |
Area |
ARO/RAJ |
| Eileen Baird | Club Race Officer | May 2021 | A | Susan Schneider |
| Robert Farnum | Club Race Officer | May 2021 | B | Cynthia Parthemos |
| Jack Rillema | Club Race Officer | May 2021 | K | Russ Sobotta |
| Jack Slawter | Club Race Officer | May 2021 | L | Eric Rimkus |
| Scott Tuma | Club Race Officer | May 2021 | F | Jack Yoes |
| Charles Smythe | Club Race Officer | May 2021 | F | Jack Yoes |
| Michael Levesque | Judge in Training | May 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| Chuck Fogel | Judge in Training | May 2021 | K | Mike Kaspar |
| John Butler | Judge in Training | May 2021 | F | Chris Luppens |
| Henry Morse | Club Judge | May 2021 | D | Edith Collins |
| Marc Rosenthal | Judge in Training | June 2021 | E | Nancy Zangerle |
| Michelle Bland | Club Race Officer | June 2021 | C | Sharon Hadsell |
| Michael Balay | Judge in Training | June 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| Matt Wiley | Club Race Officer | June 2021 | J | Steve Kuritz |
| Bill Cook | Club Race Officer | June 2021 | C | Sharon Hadsell |
| Ann Rennie | Club Judge | June 2021 | J | Steve Schupak |
| Jason Adams | Club Race Officer | June 2021 | F | Jack Yoes |
| Deidre Fountain | Judge in Training | June 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| Robert Austin-LaFrance | Regional Judge | June 2021 | B | Bruce Cook |
| Dan Kulkoski | Regional Judge | June 2021 | D | Edith Collins |
| Nicholas Cromwell | Judge in Training | June 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| Ralph Kinder | Judge in Training | June 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| David Schwartz | Judge in Training | June 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| William Campbell | Judge in Training | June 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| Timothy Andrews | Club Race Officer | June 2021 | H | Bruce Ladeira |
| Cara Sanderson Brown | Club Race Officer | June 2021 | E | Jamie Jones |
| Amy Ferreira | Umpire in Training | June 2021 | A | T. David Pyron |
| David Bush-Brown | Club Judge | June 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| John Mooney | Club Race Officer | July 2021 | A | Susan Schneider |
| Charlotte Hicks | Club Race Officer | July 2021 | D | JD Rosser |
| Tom Keegan | Club Race Officer | July 2021 | D | JD Rosser |
| John O'Brien | Club Race Officer | July 2021 | D | JD Rosser |
What Do Race Officials Do?
Race Officials support you, the racing sailor, in their roles as Race Officers, Judges, Umpires, Classifiers and Measurers & Equipment Inspectors. They 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.
Athlete Safety, SafeSport and Background Checks
US Sailing is committed to the safety of all participants in sailing and has taken steps to protect them against misconduct and abuse. Certified race officials have been required to maintain annual SafeSport athlete protection training since 2018, as mandated by federal law. In November 2019, US Sailing adopted the background check policy for race officials required by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee for all Olympic sport NBGs.
Learn more about US Sailing's Athlete Protection Measures
Insurance for Race Officials
Certified Race Officials are covered by US Sailing's liability insurance policy while they are acting as volunteers for US Sailing. Learn more.
