For many years, a regular feature of USVMYG National Regattas has been the awarding of a Craftsmanship Award. The Award was the creation of Earl Boebert as a way of recognizing excellence in the construction of pond yachts that were sailed in the regattas. It was decided by a popular vote of attendees. Earl personally built the presentation award; a restored antique Stanley #101 hand plane, magnetically mounted on a wooden display plinth. These awards have positions of honor in many skippers display cabinets.
Earl has achieved emeritus status within the organization, and responsibility for the Craftsmanship Award has been passed to the next generation. In the past, the award has been a “one of” for all classes sailed, which, unfortunately left some beautiful boats unrecognized.
Moving forward, our plan is to expand the scope of the award to each class sailed. Voting will be limited to skippers in that class, and only boats built by the skippers themselves will be eligible. Winning boats will receive a Craftsmanship Award in the form of a sticker that can be applied to the boat. A winning boat will be ineligible for future voting.
Clubs hosting regattas in the future are encouraged to continue the Craftsmanship Award. The US VMYG Awards Coordinator will provide organizational help in running the voting, and provide awards to be given to the winning boats.
New Award Process – In 2019, the USVMYG began to provide along, with the plaque, a sticker that would enable the winner to identify his/her craftsmanship award on the boat or stand.
Procedural Guidelines – For over 150 years pond yacht sailors have been scratch building exquisite pond yachts. This award is intended to honor an individual or individuals each time a regatta is held in a given year. The following will provide guidance to the host club:
- The award is then given to the builder/sailor of a boat selected by peers.
- The boat must exemplify the most, well-crafted boat at the event.
- This award is given to an individual who has scratch built the boat being sailed.
- The individuals competing will judge the boats at the event and make the selection.
- Because the US VMYG supports numerous groups of vintage boats, the award will be made for each class to recognize quality craftsmanship. This includes but is not limited to Marbleheads, V36s, Skipjacks, schooners, ‘A’ boats and unrestricted boats. These awards will be provided by the host club. As other classes are added to the boats the US VMYG supports additional awards should be given. A special craftsmanship sticker will also be provided (by the US VMYG) to be displayed at the discretion of the skipper/owner.
- The US VMYG awards coordinator and/or a member of the host club will be in charge of the selection process.
- The same boat may not win the award more than one time. This enables others to have the honor bestowed upon him/her.
- For a boat to be eligible, the builder/sailor must have completed at least 75% of the work on the boat.
Questions or further elaboration concerning the award should be addressed to:
Rob Dutton — edwin653@aol.com
John Stoudt — jstoudt309@gmail.com
The Earl Boebert Craftsmanship Award Winners
Starting in 2019 a Craftsmanship Award has been presented in each class.
| 1999 – Detroit, MI | Harold “Pete” Peterson |
|---|---|
| 2000 – Marblehead, MA | Al Hubbard |
| 2001 – Tampa, FL | Alan Suydam |
| 2002 – Spring Lake, NJ | Harold “Pete” Peterson |
| 2003 – Detroit, MI | Harold “Pete” Peterson |
| 2004 – Newport News, VA | Harry Mote |
| 2005 – Spring Lake, NJ | Harry Mote |
| 2006 – Spring Lake, NJ | Thom McLaughlin |
| 2007 – Marblehead, MA | Harry Mote |
| 2008 – Spring Lake, NJ | Bruce Richter |
| 2009 – Solomons, MD | Harry Mote |
| 2010 – Mystic, CT | Harry Mote |
| 2011 – Spring Lake, NJ | Thom McLaughlin |
| 2012 – Marblehead, MA | Harry Mote |
| 2013 – Spring Lake, NJ | Bruce Richter |
| 2014 – Downingtown, PA | Bruce Richter |
| 2015 – Marblehead, MA | |
| 2016 – Spring Lake, NJ | Ivor Walton |
| 2016 – Downingtown, PA | John Henderson |
| 2017 – Marblehead, MA | |
| 2017 – Spring Lake, NJ | Thom McLaughlin |
| 2018 – Marblehead, MA | |
| 2019 – Honey Brook, PA | Vintage Marblehead – John Henderson Schooner – Ivor Walton Skipjack – John Stoudt V36 – John Stoudt |
| 2020 – No event (Covid) | |
| 2021 – Honey Brook, PA | Vintage Marblehead – Stanton Smith Schooner – Tom Alessi Skipjack – Stanton Smith Unrestricted – Martin Besant V36 – Stanton Smith |
| 2022 – Honey Brook, PA | Schooner – John Henderson Skipjack – Jeff Walshe Unrestricted – Gudmund Thompson V36 – John Henderson Vintage Marblehead – Jeff Walshe |
| 2023 – Honey Brook, PA | International A Boat – Tom Kiley Schooner – John Henderson Skipjack – Joe Richmond V36 – Rob Dutton Vintage Marblehead – Rob Dutton Unrestricted – Jeff Beck |
| 2024 – Vernon Hills, IL | Schooner – Statton Smith Skipjack – Stanton Smith V36 – Clark Fermgen Vintage Marblehead – Jeff Gros |