In 2011, the Helen Hanely Trophy was awarded in honor of Helen Wills Hanley for the winner of the women’s division of the U.S. Singlehanded Championship.
Helen was an active sailor both in the Connecticut and South Carolina areas. She competed in many U.S. Women’s Championships for the Adams Cup in both regions.
After moving to South Carolina in the mid-forties, she started the Wateree Sailing Club and became its first Commodore in 1962. During her time as Commodore, she became active in the South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association (SAYRA) and was an active racer throughout the South Atlantic.
Since her passing in 1978, a donation by her estate in her honor was left to SAYRA that enabled it to begin building a treasure that has grown through the years and enables sailors from SAYRA to compete in the US Sailing national events and training programs sponsored by US Sailing.
To maintain the integrity of the trophy, it will remain on display at the National Governing Body of the sport – U.S. Sailing Association
Previous Award Recipients
Women’s Division – Helen Hanley Trophy
- 2024 – Melissa Hale – New York, NY
- 2023 – Elaine Parshall – Hartsville, NC
- 2022 Katherine Doble – Pacific Palisades, CA
- 2021 Hallie Schiffman – Sarasota, FL
- 2018 Hanne Weaver – Seattle, WA
- 2017 Hanne Weaver – Seattle, WA
- 2016 Anna Weis – Fort Lauderdale, FL
- 2015 Christine Neville – Middletown, RI
- 2014 Paige Railey – Clearwater, FL
- 2013 Simone Staff – Los Angeles, CA
- 2012 Allie Blecher – Santa Monica, CA
- 2011 Christine Neville – Oakland, CA
- 2010 Leonie Schuurmans – Houston, TX
U.S. Women’s Open Championship – Singlehanded (Mertz Trophy)
- 2000 Corrie Clement
- 1999 Laura Sterns – Plymouth, MA
- 1998 Megan Kellyy-Sweeney – San Francisco, CA
- 1997 Event not held
- 1996 Giselle Camet – San Diego, CA
- 1995 Danielle Brennan – New York, NY
- 1994 Danielle Brennan – New York, NY
- 1993 Julia Trotman – Syosset, NY
- 1992 Julia Trotman – Syosset, NY
- 1991 Courtney Becker – Rye, NY
- 1990 Nancy Haberland – Westerly, RI & Pam Pennell – Coconut Groe, FL (Tie)
- 1989 Giselle Camet – San Diego, CA
- 1988 Courtney Becker – St Petersburg, FL
- 1987 Diane Burton – Annapolis, MD
- 1986 Sue Lawser – Holmdel, NJ
- 1985 Allison Jolly – Los Angeles, CA
- 1984 Amy Wardell – Newport, RI
- 1983 Lynne Jewel – Plymouth, MA
- 1982 Betsy Gelenitis – Brick, NJ
- 1981 Betsy Gelenitis – Brick, NJ
- 1980 Lynne Jewel – Plymouth, MA
- 1979 Betsy Gelenitis – Brick, NJ
- 1978 Meredth O’Dowd – Riverside, RI
- 1977 Poppy Truman – Berkeley, CA
- 1976 Kristina Saltmarsh – S. Dartmouth, MA
- 1975 Not sailed
- 1974 Jane Pegel – William Bay, WI