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 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
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
Do you know a race officer whose work is exemplary and should be celebrated?
Please contact your Area Race Officer to nominate one or more officials.
Newly Appointed or Upgraded Race Officials
Name |
Certification |
Date of Certification |
Area |
ARO/RAJ |
| Liz Rettenmaier | Club Race Officer | October 2021 | A | Susan Schneider |
| Steve McGillen | Club Race Officer | October 2021 | J | Steve Kuritz |
| Samantha Andrews | Club Race Officer | October 2022 | H | Bruce Ladeira |
| Mamsie Manard | Club Race Officer | October 2021 | D | JD Rosser |
| Robert Gibbs | Club Race Officer | October 2021 | J | Steve Kuritz |
| Rodney Rieger | Club Judge | November 2021 | K | Mike Kaspar |
| Brian Neubauer | Club Judge | November 2021 | E | Nancy Zangerle |
| Jerry Moulton | Judge Emeritus | November 2021 | J | Steve Schupak |
| Suni Petersen | Club Race Officer | November 2021 | G | Jeff Zarwell |
| Peter VanColen | Club Judge | November 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| Clay Morris | Club Judge | December 2021 | D | Edith Collins |
| John Butler | Club Judge | December 2021 | F | Chris Luppens |
| Henry Killion | Club Judge | December 2021 | D | Edith Collins |
| Yolanda Cortes-Mares | Club Judge | December 2021 | F | Chris Luppens |
| Stuart Van Winkle | Club Race Officer | December 2021 | C | Sharon Hadsell |
| Joseph Fava | Club Race Officer | December 2021 | A | Susan Schneider |
| Ray Wulff | Club Race Officer | December 2021 | C | Sharon Hadsell |
| Michael Balay | Club Judge | December 2021 | A | Mary Pierce |
| Dwight Belden | Regional Race Officer | December 2021 | J | Steve Kuritz |
| Warren Collier | Regional Race Officer | December 2021 | D | Edith Collins |
| Jamie Jones | National Race Officer | December 2021 | E | Jamie Jones |
| Geoff Pedrick | National Umpire | December 2021 | K | John Porter |
| Craig Daniels | National Umpire | December 2021 | L | Craig Daniels |
| Patrick Burks | Regional Umpire | December 2021 | B | Bruce Cook |
| Stephen Meyer | Regional Umpire | December 2021 | J | Steve Kuritz |
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.
Personal Attributes of Race Officials
Because race officials play an important role in ensuring the fairness and quality of competition, racing sailors and US Sailing expect a high level of personal integrity and judicial temperament of certified race officials. To learn more about standards of personal conduct for race officials and how they are evaluated, please click on the button below.
US SAILING'S PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES STANDARDS FOR RACE OFFICIALS
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 National Governing Bodies.
LEARN MORE ABOUT US SAILING'S ATHLETE PROTECTION MEASURES
Insurance for Race Officials
Certified Instructor (CI) Insurance Coverage. US Sailing’s commercial insurance covers US Sailing Certified Instructors (CI) only in specific situations at US Sailing Championships and US Sailing Event/Courses.
Certified Race Officer (CRO) Insurance Coverage. US Sailing’s commercial insurance covers US Sailing’s Certified Race Officials (CROs) only in specific situations at US Sailing Championships and US Sailing Event/Courses.
