National Sailing Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Induction Weekend a success
by The Sailing Museum 12 Oct 13:36 PDT
October 4-5, 2024
The Sailing Museum and The National Sailing Hall of Fame celebrate a successful year © Julia Stinneford
The Induction Weekend for the Class of 2024 began at the Chicago Yacht Club’s waterfront clubhouse on Friday, October 4. A welcome reception allowed current and new inductees, along with friends, families, and fans, to gather during the cocktail hour hosted by CYC Commodore Charles Anderson.
The Induction Ceremony was held on Saturday morning in a full room, set against the backdrop of gusty yet clear sailing weather as sailors of all ages departed from the harbor. Host Gary Jobson, a Hall of Fame inductee and Co-Chair of The Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame, presented the induction perspective of this year’s class. “Sailing is a complex sport, and this year’s class embodies that complexity. Today’s inductees have demonstrated varied lifelong commitments that continue to inspire; they have the remarkable ability to connect generations both on and off the water and share a vision of excellence in both sport and life. This is an extraordinary class of legends whose stories illustrate ingenuity in facing challenges and show that sailing can be thrilling, slow, intricate, tactical… but most importantly, immensely enjoyable.”
In their acceptance speeches, inductees Benjamin and Eric Hall, James “Pete” Melvin, Jan Chance O’Malley, and Charles “Butch” Ulmer reflected on how sailing has influenced their lives. They emphasized that the sailing community is as much about lifelong friendships as it is about the sport itself.
While some inductees were recognized posthumously, the tributes shared by family members made the ceremony even more inspirational as attendees heard cherished memories and family traditions related to yacht designer Carl Alberg, Olympic medalists Kevin Burnham and Conn Findlay, inspirational champion Allegra Knapp Mertz, pioneering yachtsmen Gary Mull and Richard Tillman, and problem-solver Franklin “Jerry” Wood. A captivated audience gathered later on Saturday afternoon for a discussion with Gary regarding the 37th America’s Cup and the results of sailing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
During Saturday evening, newly appointed Selection Committee Chair Spike Lobdell energized the audience with his remarks at the dinner celebration. “I am thrilled about our joint opportunity to continue honoring the sport’s legends through the Sailing Hall of Fame, as represented by the Class of 2024. However, we all understand that sailing is more than just a sport. The skills learned on and off the water become life lessons that inspire future generations. It’s a fitting theme this evening as we honor the Class of 2024 and welcome them into the National Sailing Hall of Fame.”
Complete profiles of the Class of 2024 National Sailing Hall of Fame can be found online at thesailingmuseum.org.
