BRISTOL, RI (October 7, 2025) – The US Sailing Safety at Sea Committee awarded the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to the skippers and crew of two yacht racing sailboats for their rescue of the skipper and crew of a competitor’s sailboat which sank during a regatta on Long Island Sound.
The awards were held at a ceremony on Saturday, September 20, 2025, as part of the awards for the 2025 Cross Sound Regatta hosted by the Essex Corinthian Yacht Club. The medals were presented to Elio Betty, owner/skipper of S/V Gumdrop and his crew, and Tim Brewer, owner/skipper of S/V Fathom, and his crew.
The medals were presented by Bill Gladstone of the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal Committee on behalf of the US Sailing Safety at Sea Committee and the officers, directors, and members of US Sailing.
The incident happened on Saturday September 21st, 2024, during the annual Cross Sound Challenge. Chris Morano’s classic Pearson 39 Yawl Dorian began taking on water as they approached a mark of the racecourse. After a complete and thorough inspection, her crew could not locate the source of water intrusion, and considering the extreme rate of ingress, they immediately went into Mayday protocols and began preparing to abandon ship. While the Coast Guard was quick to respond, they were too far away, so the crew instead switched VHF frequencies to alert their nearby competitors.
Within minutes, several boats were on scene, including S/V Gumdrop and S/V Fathom. In extremely challenging conditions, with rough seas and winds gusting into the high 30s, all 6 of Dorian’s crew were rescued onto Gumdrop and Fathom, with only moments to spare before Dorian sank.
The entire frightening episode, from the time of the mayday call to the time Dorian went down, was estimated to be less than 15 minutes. The loss of Dorian was a truly traumatic experience for those involved, but a human tragedy was avoided due to the heroic efforts of Fathom & Gumdrop, along with the admirable seamanship displayed by Dorian’s crew, who displayed real courage under fire.
Chris Marano, the owner and skipper of the boat Dorian that sank, made the nomination for the award. He and many of his crew were on hand for the awards ceremony. The critical role of the rescued crew in their own salvation was noted as part of the awards ceremony.
Jane Reilly, a crewmember on board Dorian, recounted her experience on that day:
“First, Elio [skipper of S/V Gumdrop] came in close enough to get a feel for the sea state and asked us to prepare to get in the water, if needed. We were all aware that this was a possibility but hearing it from him was needed in the moment – a real reality check,” said Reilly. “I was the first one off and able to just step right onboard. As we motored back to NCYC, Elio and his crew made sure we were well hydrated, fed us, and more importantly made sure we were not in shock.
Someone in my position could have easily walked away more fearful of the water, of sailing in heavy air, or of finding myself in this position again in the future. That is not the case at all – my biggest takeaway is that it has made me a more confident sailor, and maybe a more compassionate one as well. I cannot thank them all enough for what they did, and I certainly can’t think of a more deserving group of sailors for US Sailing’s Arthur B Hansen Rescue Medal.”
Letters of commendation were also awarded to two other vessels which assisted in the rescue. Mark Salerno’s and his crew on S/V Fusion stood by, aiding communications and ready to assist as needed. Joe Carroll and his crew on S/V Madaket also stood by, documenting the incident and ready to assist as needed.
For S/V Gumdrop’s and S/V Fathom’s situational awareness, watch keeping, superior seamanship and outstanding support of fellow racers in need, which resulted in the rescue of six sailors on a sinking sailboat during a regatta, US Sailing is pleased to award the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to Elio Betty and his crew on S/V Gumdrop and Tim Brewer and his crew on S/V Fathom.
The Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal is awarded to any person who rescues or endeavors to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other perils at sea within the territorial waters of the United States, or as part of a sailboat race or voyage that originated or stopped in the U.S. The medal was established in 1990 by friends of the late Mr. Hanson, an ocean-racing sailor from the Chesapeake Bay, with the purpose of recognizing significant accomplishments in seamanship and collecting case studies of rescues for analysis by the Safety at Sea Committee of US Sailing for use in educational and training programs. Any individual or organization may submit a nomination for a Hanson Rescue Medal. Visit the US Sailing Hanson Rescue Medal website for more information about these awards, including nomination form instructions and guidelines.
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About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), certified by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing in the United States, is dedicated to leading, advancing, supporting, and ensuring integrity in sailing at every level. Founded in 1897, US Sailing, now serving over 40,000 members as well as over 1,500 yacht clubs and sailing centers, offers training and certifications for sailors, instructors, and race officials, oversees national championships, manages offshore ratings, conducts regional and national events, and spearheads initiatives to increase accessibility. US Sailing also leads the training and development of the US Sailing Team for the Olympic Games and high-performance international competitions, providing comprehensive financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing, and communications support, as well as managing the Team USA athlete selection procedures for the Olympic Games. More at www.ussailing.org.