2008 Paul White, Indianapolis, IN
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L to R: US SAILING Vice President Tom Hubbell, Inshore Director Lee Parks, |
US SAILING One-Design SERVICE Award
for the
John H. Gardiner, Jr. Trophy
presented to
Paul White, Indianapolis, IN
No one has EVER given more service to a one-design fleet than Paul White. The time and effort he has given is staggering and the Y-Flyer fleet could not function without him. Paul has been our fleet secretary for the last 18 years and counting. He manages our finances, sends out mailings, organizes all the meetings and makes sure the fleet stays healthy. Not satisfied with the current software to track our members and money, Paul wrote his own program. He can tell you who originally owned a boat, who bought it and when, and who is currently sailing it. All the way back to 1951! Paul maintains and stores all the measurements and certificates of authenticity as well.
To help grow the fleet Paul actively buys and sells (at no profit) many boats. Not only does he provide used boats for new sailors, he buys blank hulls from our manufacturer (to help keep him in business) and rigs and sells them. Countless miles have been driven to pick up or drop off a boat. Paul has owned 18 Y-Flyers and I can bet all 18 are still in a racers hands.
At his club, Indianapolis Sailing Association, he has held every office including Commodore. For the last 10 years, he has also been the boat and motor chairman helping to keep the racing going. Paul is a certified club race officer and has been the PRO for many Y-Flyer Nationals, volunteering to run the races instead of racing in them.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Paul is his race record. In 1975, the Mid-Americas Cup (MAC) was instituted (with Paul’s help) consisting of six regattas around the country. The format allowed for the lesser sailors to get trophies at all these regattas with a MAC champion crowned at the end of the year. In the last 33 years and 199 regattas later, Paul White has NEVER missed a regatta. He will celebrate his 200th CONSECUTIVE regatta this spring! That’s right 200 in a row, sometimes driving as many as 12 hours to some. And when he shows up he is helping run things and taking care of all the administrative details, or delivering a boat.
I am proud to say that Paul and Kay White are the 2008 Y-Flyer International Champions as well.