FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
US Sailing Announces 2024 Association Award Winners at Sailing Leadership Forum 2025
Bristol, R.I. (February 8, 2025) — US Sailing is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 US Sailing Association Awards, which were presented during a celebratory ceremony at the Sailing Leadership Forum in Coronado, California. These awards honor individuals and organizations who have made remarkable contributions to the sport of sailing through leadership, service, and excellence.
2024 US Sailing Association Award Winners
- Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy: Gordy Bowers (Wayzata, MN)
The Herreshoff Trophy was presented to Gordy Bowers for his outstanding contributions to the sport. His dedication, leadership, and influence have made a lasting impact on the sailing community.
- The Kevin Burnham Memorial Award: Ian MacDiarmid (Miami, FL)
- Ian MacDiarmid was recognized with the Kevin Burnham Memorial Award for his achievement in the men’s Olympic skiff. The award is for a sailor who best exemplifies Kevin’s spirit and embodies the characteristics: passion, perseverance, persistence, sportsmanship on and off the water, love of the sport and love of his competitors. Ian’s name will appear on a perpetual plaque displayed beside the Olympic Torch which Kevin carried in the 1996 Games.
- Harman Hawkins Trophy: Kirk Brown (Long Beach, CA)
Kirk Brown was honored with the Harman Hawkins Trophy for his extraordinary commitment to the development of umpiring in the US and around the world. He was a member of the group that developed match race umpiring in the 1990s, and has developed and delivered countless seminars, lectures, clinics and instructional races over the past 30 years.
- St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy: San Francisco Yacht Club for the 2024 Melges 24 World Championship
The San Francisco Yacht Club received the prestigious St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy for its outstanding management of the 2024 Melges 24 World Championship. Competitors were unanimous in their praise of both the yacht club and the race management team, led by Mark Foster. One skipper wrote, “The SFYC took amazing care of their sailors, accommodated all kinds of extra requests, made sure sailors had plenty of access to health, nutrition and social resources, and provided lots of space for sailor exchange and boat prep.”
Celebrating Excellence in Sailing
The US Sailing Association Awards recognize the individuals and organizations that exemplify the very best of our sport. Each recipient has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to advancing sailing, whether through innovation, leadership, or their tireless efforts behind the scenes.
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), certified by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing in the United States, is dedicated to leading, advancing, supporting, and ensuring integrity in sailing at every level. Founded in 1897, US Sailing, now serving over 35,000 members as well as over 1,500 yacht clubs and sailing centers, offers training and certifications for sailors, instructors, and race officials, oversees national championships, manages offshore ratings, conducts regional and national events, and spearheads initiatives to increase accessibility. US Sailing also leads the training and development of the US Sailing Team for the Olympic Games and high-performance international competitions. More at www.ussailing.org.