On the Harbor: Award winners...who do you know?

Ryan Lawler, 2017 Outstanding Angler of the Year, with his bluefin tuna catch
where did he find a pair of those shoes?

By LEN BOSE

I am a bit of a history buff and one of the subjects that have intrigued me is the different achievements that can be won by our harbor users. In this column, I will go around the harbor and give a brief description of the different awards and who has won them over the years.

Let’s start with the Commodore Albert Soiland Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the winner of the “Flight of the Snowbirds” now referred to as “The Flight in Newport Beach.”

In 1957, 163 boats signed up to place their name on the trophy; Dick Ward crossed the finish line first and placed his name on the trophy that year. Other past winners that I recognize are Barton Beek in 1940 and Dick Deaver in 1949 with 138 boats that year, Burke Sawyer won in 1958 with 151 boats competing, Pat Scruggs won in 1968 and Jon Pinckney’s name is plastered all over the trophy. In fact, Pinckney was the first to win in a Harbor 20 last year. Participation has been down from the late ‘50s, but if you can get your name on this award you will be in the history books for a long time; the first race was sailed in 1936. This year’s race is on July 15 and is open to Harbor 20s and Lasers.

Len Bose receiving the Edward F Kennedy

My next stop was at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club’s trophy cases. You’ll find two very prominent awards. The first being the Edward F. Kennedy Memorial that is awarded to the Newport Harbor Yachtsman of the Year. This is one of two awards in our harbor that can be given to a non-club member of the presenting club. First awarded in 1984, names that jumped out at me are Lloyd “Swede” Johnson 1985, David Grant 1996, Nick Scandone 2006 and Mike Pinkney 2008. The other award is the Elmer Carey Memorial (formerly Balboa Bay Club Yachtsman of the Year until 1982) Award to the BCYC Yachtsman who most contributed to the organized yachting community. This award was first presented in 1959. Past recipients included Cooper Johnson in 1966, Jim Emmi in 1975, Lorin Weiss in 1988, Carolyn Hardy in 1998 and in 2012, Peter Haynes.

J.A. Beek Perpetual

For those of you that love our harbor but don’t happen to sail, I stopped by the Balboa Angling Club and talked with Mindy Martin, the club’s secretary. So, let’s see if a sailor can tell a good fishing story? One of the highest esteemed awards at the BAC is the “Outstanding Angler of the Year Award” which is scored on a point system based on line test used. Previous winners include Jim Duncan in 2002, Vick Sommers in 2011 and Ryan Lawler in 2017.

The J.A Beek Perpetual Trophy awarded for the First Tuna of the season has been restored by the Beek family and is displayed in the BAC’s trophy case. This award was first presented in 1979, and names on this award you might know are Jeff Jones 1983, Steve Crooke 2008 and Nate Dunham 2018. 

Harbor 20 Fleet One has one particular award that has always grabbed my attention and is presented at the end of the year holiday party. The Arthur B Strock Service Award is given to members who have performed outstanding service for the Harbor 20 Fleet One organization. This award was first presented to Arthur Strock in 2001 for his service and in 2006, it became an annual award. Names of admiration are Phil Ramser 2007, Peter Haynes 2009, John Whitney 2013, Shana Conzelman 2016 and Debra Haynes 2017.

NHYC Bergie of Merit

My next stop was at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club where two awards grabbed my attention the first time I ever walked in. The first is the Don Vaughn Award, which is bestowed annually to NHYC members’ “Crew of the Year.” This crew member has shown their positive influence and importance onboard racing sailboats. The recipient is chosen only by the previous winners. This award was first presented in 1981 to Gordo Johnson and other past winners included Bill Menninger in 1997, Marshall Duffield in 1998, Brad Avery in 1999, Craig Chamberlain in 2002, Tom Corkett in 2015 and Nick Madigan in 2016.

The next award is one of the most coveted trophies in our harbor and can be presented to any distinguished yachtsman that has brought unusual distinction or notice to West Coast yachting and the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, which was first awarded in 1936. This is not an annual award and is awarded upon the action of the NHYC board of directors. Names that grabbed my attention were Don Ayres, Grant Baldwin, Tom Blackaller, Tom Corkett, Dennis Conner, Bill Ficker, John Kilroy, Justin Law, Lowell North, Michael Menninger, Phil Ramser, Chris Raab and Nick Scandone.

Over at the Sea Scout Base, starting in 2007, they have presented the “Good Sea Scout Award” that honors local mariners for their contribution to the boating industry, from innovative yacht and sail designs, and improving youth access to boating and sailing, to sportsmanship at the highest level. Above all, those honored have shown the personal character traits that scouting embodies and promotes. Recipients include Duncan McIntosh 2007, Jim Warmington 2008, Dave Ullman 2009, Marshall Duffield 2010, David Janes 2011, Bill Ficker 2012, Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin 2014, Timothy Hogan 2015, Gary Hill 2016 and Seymour Beek 2017.

My last stop was at the Balboa Yacht Club where two awards stand out above the rest in the large trophy cases you see as you enter the club. The first is the BYC Sportsman of the Year Award. It was first presented in 1939 and given to an active racing skipper who consistently displayed outstanding sportsmanship during the yachting season. Some of the names are Barton Beek 1940, Bill Ficker 1946, Bill Taylor 1966, Dave Ullman 1969, John Arens 1972, Lloyd “Swede” Johnson 1982, Paul Blank 1996, Nick Scandone 2003 and Alex Steele 2016. Another noteworthy area in the BYC is the “Wall of Recognition” that was created in 1980, and honors many of the members who have served as Distinguished Yachtsmen over a span of years in the world, yachting through excellence in racing, or have been a credit to the BYC. Names like Dave Ullman 1980, Lloyd “Swede” Johnson 1988 and Nick Scandone 2006 are just a few of the names that appear.

Unfortunately, I was not able to list every winner of these highly regarded awards and will leave that to you when you view these trophies, to decide where your name should be placed.

Sea ya