TSF - About Us

THE SAILING FOUNDATION

A Brief History

During the spring of 1971, there was talk up and down the West Coast of forming an America’s Cup challenge for participation in the 1974 selection series. Why not Seattle? Two of our leading sailors, Sunny Vynne and Gary Horder, active local sailors with international credentials, took this question seriously. They involved area yacht clubs, particularly the Seattle YC and Corinthian YC in the discussion. Talk turned into action. Led by Sunny Vynne, the Seattle challenge was born.

Sunny's organizational and promotional skills, combined with the financial leadership of others, provided a strong foundation for the effort and the group didn't have to look far for sailing acumen. Bill Buchan, all-around Puget Sound sailor, boat builder , national Star champion, and Olympic medalist, was available to mount a campaign. Following San Diego's lead, Sunny and a dedicated group of supporters started a non-profit organization to provide funding for the effort. Thus, The Sailing Foundation was born.

The Sailing Foundation, chartered for educational purposes as well as to support national and international sporting efforts, became fact. The leadership was in place. Because of a compressed time frame, the group elected to buy a proven boat, the 12 meter yacht Intrepid, the America’s Cup winner in 1967 and 1970. With a boat secured, the next step was to recruit and develop an expert crew for the 1974 campaign. Intrepid made it to the finals but was not selected, due to a failed halyard fitting in the final race.

Following the Cup Challenge, the Foundation chose to sell the Intrepid and commit the resulting income to funding its primary educational mission in the Northwest.

The Sailing Foundation’s first effort in this regard was to establish a regatta venue, centrally located for Northwest sailors, both in the US and Canada. Port Townsend, with its good winds, protected harbor, and State Park was selected. The Foundation invested in an eight boat fleet of eighteen foot, race-ready Thistles. Races were staged at Fort Worden under the direction of local Foundation members. Thistle racing at Fort Worden continued into the early 80s.

Later in the 80s, the competitive environment changed – racing became more international, individuals became less associated with particular fleets and competitors traveled all over the US and internationally. There was more competition between the various regattas and new lighter, stronger materials made boats much faster and competition much stiffer. Costs also rose correspondingly, both for the increased travel and the higher gear expenses. These changes heralded the end of the more intimate, relaxed regattas of prior years.

The Sailing Foundation adapted to these changes by establishing grants-in-aid to support aspiring young area racers, particularly to help them with travel expenses; initiating and promoting sailing centers throughout the area; and initiating research and training projects for ‘Safety at Sea’. As sailing instruction began to flourish in local areas, the Foundation developed a close association with these groups to assist in promoting youth sailing. The Thistle fleet in Port Townsend was sold to provide funds for these activities.

The Foundation has enjoyed success in each of our areas of focus—youth sailing and safety at sea. Its support for youth sailing has generated a number of national, international and Olympic medalists and the Northwest continues to produce a flow of new sailors who turn into successful competitors and far ranging cruising sailors.

Working with Parks authorities, the Foundation has assisted in establishing community based sailing centers throughout the area. More recently, The Sailing Foundation’s efforts have shifted to interscholastic sailing. In addition to the major yacht club programs, fixed venues and fleets are now available throughout the area for the general use of school groups.

In the 80s, the Foundation’s Safety at Sea Committee noted the absence of appropriate rescue devices on racing keelboats. Through a period of several years of trials, this committee developed the "Life Sling”, the Coast Guard certified MOB recovery system widely used to this day aboard racing and cruising sailboats worldwide. Royalties from the production of the Life Sling continue to provide funding for the Foundation’s work. The Safety at Sea Committee is involved in on-going research and development of tools to enhance boating safety for all types of sailors and periodically hosts Safety at Sea Seminars for ocean cruisers and racers.

Today, The Sailing Foundation remains the premier sailing promoter for Northwest youth sailing and safety at sea. Working through community-based sailing organizations, local schools and universities, and various yacht clubs, The Sailing Foundation’s youth sailing mission is to enhance the health of our sport and to help continue the flow of new sailors as well as developing expertise among them as they advance competitively. And once they’re out on the water, our Safety at Sea Committee, through product development and education, works to protect our sailors in all types of sailing craft as they continue to explore the seas.

As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, we welcome your support and promise to direct it to the key areas of our mission—youth sailing and safety at sea.

Board of Directors (as of January, 2012 - term ending in parentheses):

Joe Burcar (2013) Joe has been active racing a variety of one-design and small keelboat class over the last 20+ years. Joe attended Old Dominion University as a freshman, but then transferred to Western Washington University (WWU) where he was an active member of the sailing team. He taught sailing during the summers at Tacoma, Seattle and San Diego Yacht Clubs. Today, Joe sails Thistles and Lasers ,competing in national and international events. Joe and his wife Becky live in Bellevue and enjoy any opportunity to get on the water. Joe is a shoreline planner with the State Department of Ecology.

Jeff Davis (2013) Jeff grew up in scow country, moved west and got on the salt water to race big and small, near and far. Bellingham is home and Etchells and windsurfers the choice for fun. He has worked for Western Washington University at Lakewood long enough to be teaching former students’ children - scary!

Kyle Eaton (2013) Kyle began sailing as a child in the San Juan Islands, where he grew up. As a member of the Friday Harbor High School sailing team, Kyle developed a passion for small boat sailing. Kyle sailed for four years in college, two years each at Eckerd College and Lewis & Clark College. Currently, Kyle serves on the board of College Sailing where he represents the NW conference. He coaches the Portland area high school program at Willamette Sailing Club and is a board member and active volunteer for the Columbia Gorge Racing Association.

Ben Glass (2014) Ben has been sailing and racing for over 25 years, mostly in the NW. He grew up sailing at Community Boating in Boston, continued sailing at Seattle Yacht Club in high school. Ben was a captain of the Sailing Team at St. Mary's College of Maryland where he studied philosophy. Currently Ben manages and coaches the Racing Team at SYC and is the organizer of the Northwest Youth Racing Circuit. He races his 5O5 with his wife Jen and enjoys cruising the waters in and around Puget Sound in his free time.

Ryan Helling (2015) Ryan has been boating and sailing on Pacific Northwest waters since before he could walk. He enjoys racing dinghies and keelboats, exploring new cruising grounds with family and friends and fly fishing on Puget Sound for salmon and sea run cutthroat. He has coached youth sailing and loves to see new sailors on the water. Ryan is a partner and broker at Swiftsure Yachts, a yacht brokerage in Seattle specializing in high quality racing and cruising sailboats.

Doug Fryer, Founding Member (2012) A founding director and past president of the Foundation. A co-inventor of the Lifesling, Doug has raced cruising boats on Puget Sound and has extensive offshore racing experience: Transpac, Single Handed Transpac, Tahiti Race, eleven Victoria Maui Races 1968-2006. Doug has also cruised to the South Pacific, Alaska, and circumnavigated South America by way of Cape Horn and the Panama Canal. Doug currently races his 42 foot custom Perry design cutter Night Runner. Doug is an attorney with Mikkelborg, Broz, Wells and Fryer.

Tad Lhamon, President (2014) Tad has sailed for more than 50 years, from dinghies to keelboats. Tad and Joyce initiated the current PMYC sailing school on Bainbridge, and raced and sailed cruising boats, culminating with a 52,000 mile, 6-year circumnavigation. Youth sailing and safety at sea have been constant interests for many years. Now retired, Tad worked as a consulting actuary and partner with Seattle-based Milliman and Robertson (now Milliman).

Joyce Lhamon, Secretary (2014) Joyce began her sailing on the shore of New Jersey as a child. Later racing in the Pacific Northwest on boats from El Toros to larger racer/cruisers. She has cruised extensively in the PNW and around the world with her husband Tad on an Alden 44’. Recent sailing includes adventures in Scotland, the Pacific and her first crossing of the Gulf Stream.

Craig Rone (2013) Craig has sailed throughout the Northwest inland waters for 45 years from one design dinghies to cruising keelboats. A Seattle native, Craig has lived in Tacoma since 1983 with his wife Belinda. They have two adult children. Craig has been a director of both the Tacoma Yacht Club Junior Program and TYC Junior Race Team since 1994. Outside of sailing and family, his other interests including running. Craig is an ENT surgeon in Tacoma, in private practice for the past 27 years.

Dick Rose, VP/Youth Sailing (2015) Dick has raced sailboats since the age of nine. For most of his life he sailed dinghies – in college, frostbiting on Long Island Sound, and then International 14s and Lasers in Seattle. More recently he has enjoyed PHRF racing and cruising on Puget Sound in his Laser 28. After many years on the faculty of the University of Washington, Dick turned his attention to the racing rules for sailing. Since 1984 he has written a monthly column on the rules in Sailing World. He served as chairman of the US SAILING Racing Rules Committee and now is chairman of the International Sailing Federation’s committee responsible for publishing the 2013 edition of the racing rules. He is a US SAILING Senior Judge who regularly judges high school sailing championships in the Pacific Northwest.

Dave Rutherford (2015) Dave was brought up sailing in Northwest waters, starting out in El Toros and Penguins and then graduating to large boat racing around the Sound. He continues to sail the waters of the Pacific Northwest, cruising the east and west coasts of Vancouver Island. He has sailed in Maine, Scandinavia, the Caribbean, New Zealand and Australia. As a Seattle native and retired architect, he keeps himself busy designing and sewing bags from recycled sails when he is not saiing with his family on their Valiant 40.

Bob Schoonmaker, VP/Safety at Sea (2014) Currently owner of The Chandlery at Winslow Wharf on Bainbridge Island and Capt. Bob’s Sailing School & Pirate Academy, Bob has been involved in boating education for over 20 years. He has sailed extensively on both coasts of the US, the Caribbean and Mexico and does deliveries through the Pacific. He holds a 100 ton USCG Master License and lives aboard his 40 ft cruising boat which he built.

Burke Thomas (2014) Burke started racing El Toros on Green Lake at age 8 and has enjoyed sailing ever since. He enjoys coaching the Orcas High School Sailing Team and is the director of NWISA. Burke is president of Woodsong Inc, a custom home building firm serving the San Juan Islands.

Karen Thorndike (2014) Karen has sailed extensively for the last thirty years in racing and cruising. In 1998 she was honored with a Guinness World Record for becoming the first American woman to sail solo around the world, via the five great capes. The Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History in Washington DC also put on display her sextant and log books for the opening of Ocean Hall in 2008. After a 30 year career in film and video production, focusing on editing and continuity, she now works part time for The Electric Boat Company in Seattle.

John Vynne, VP/Treasurer (2013) John has raced and cruised one-design and cruising boats for over 60 years. In addition to sailing extensively throughout the NW, he has sailed in Australia, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. His family has been involved in sailing in the Seattle area for over 100 years. He currently owns a Valiant 40 which he cruises with his wife Barb and family. He is still actively engaged in his business which manufactures electronic instrumentation and software for the mining industry.

Wright Wataoka (2015) Wright learned to sail in the late 70's at the UW WAC behind Husky Stadium. Shortly after that, began volunteer teaching, and racing both dinghies and keelboats. Since the mid 80's taught sailing & windsurfing for Mt Baker Rowing & Sailing Center. Cruising from Tacoma to Gulf Islands. Delivery of boats throughout Puget Sound. Assisted delivery of boats from California & Hawaii. Working in the accounting industry since the early 80's.

Key Staff Supporters

Barb Ruiz, Administrative Assistant - Barb has worked as administrative assistant, bookkeeper and office manager within the electronics manufacturing industry for most of her business career. She has known and worked with John Vynne for over 30 years, and in 2009, agreed to take on the bookkeeping and administrative work for The Sailing Foundation. Barb has enjoyed her association with the sailing community and is proud of the support they provide to youth sailing and safety at sea.

Paula Weir, Webmaster - Paula learned to sail upon moving to Seattle in 1988. She did a little racing and owned her own Yankee 30 for 7 years. After retiring from a career in employee benefits management, she crewed on a Yamaha 36 in southern Chile and French Polynesia for a combined 8 months. Upon her return home, she became interested in web design and maintenance, and has worked on several websites on a volunteer basis.