NOMINATE A SAILING LEGEND
BY THE SAILING COMMUNITY, FOR THE SAILING COMMUNITY
NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023 CYCLE ARE CLOSED!
Nominations for consideration in the 2023 cycle closed January 31st. You are welcome to submit nominations for future consideration any time during the year.
HOW IT WORKS
Before commencing the nomination process, please verify that your candidate has made a significant and sustained impact on United States sailing at a national and/or international level. All nominations are subject to review and acceptance by key members of the Selection Committee. Not all nominees will be accepted.
1: CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR CANDIDATE HAS ALREADY BEEN INDUCTED
Since 2011, 1`14 individuals have been inducted to the National Sailing Hall of Fame. Please confirm your candidate is not among them before submitting a nomination.
2: VERIFY THAT YOUR CANDIDATE HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN NOMINATED
Only one nomination is required to be considered for the Hall of Fame, and nominees are carried over each year. Therefore, voting or multiple nominations are not necessary.
3: COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CANDIDATE, AND NOMINATE ONLINE
Please collect candidate contact information (or info for a surviving relative if deceased), merit details such as a sailing resume, news clippings, etc., and photos to include with your nomination statement.
If your sailing hero has already been nominated,
but you have new information for the Selection Committee to consider, please email nominate@nshof.org
Nomination Categories
Nominees fall into the three categories. Please select ONE category when nominating your candidate.
Nominees also fall into two eras, Modern and Historic. Historic nominees are those born 100 years or more before the year in which they are being considered (i.e. born in 1923 or earlier for consideration in 2023).
Sailing
Recognizes achievements made on the water by a skipper or crew as a Sailboat Racer, Cruiser or Offshore Sailor.
Technical
Recognizes those who have significantly contributed to the technical aspects of sailing. Examples include Designers, Boat Builders, Sail-makers, etc.
Contributor
Recognizes those who have made other significant contributions to the American sailing experience. Examples include Teachers, Coaches, Administrators, Media (including authored works, TV, film, etc.), Artists, Musicians, Promoters and Organizers.
The Hall of Fame Process
Election to the National Sailing Hall of Fame is determined by a Selection Committee, in a process outlined in the Hall of Fame By-Laws & Rules for Election.
1) A candidate is nominated through this site.
The Hall of Fame is neither a popularity contest nor a lottery, so a single nomination by one person will put that candidate up for consideration. All nominations are subject to review and acceptance, and not all nominations will be accepted.
2) NSHOF Staff & Selection Committee review candidate for eligibility requirements.
Candidates must be at least 55 years old (or in the case of passing before 55, 5 years posthumously), and have made a significant and sustained impact on sailing at a national level. While the majority of nominees are US Citizens, foreign nationals may be nominated if their work has contributed significantly to the development of the sport in the USA. Candidates may be Modern (living or deceased) or Historic (born 100 years or earlier from year of consideration). Nominees will have demonstrated sportsmanship both on and off the water and will have conducted themselves and their business dealings with integrity, their character being above reproach.
3) Verification and research by NSHOF staff to create a public profile for candidate.
Qualified candidates will appear on the list of Nominees. Please note, new nominees may not appear on the site until after nominations close for that cycle.
4) In April, the Selection Committee convenes to review the merits of
the nominees and vote.
From among all eligible nominees (all years), each Sub-Committee (Sailing, Technical & Contributor) presents their category recommendations to the full Committee for review and discussion. Committee members then vote on all nominees, and candidates are determined in accordance with the scoring system outlined in the By-Laws. The Selection Committee presents their list of candidates to the Board of Directors for ratification.
5) Early Summer, the next class of inductees to the Hall of Fame
are announced.
The Inductees to the National Sailing Hall of Fame are announced! All nominees not selected are carried over for consideration in the next year's selection process for a period of 5 years.
6) Hall of Fame Induction
Inductees are honored at a Fall ceremony and reception.
2023
Hall of Fame
Induction Calendar
January 31, 2023
February 1-March 1, 2023
March 31-April 30, 2023
May 2-4, 2023
May 11, 2023
May 26, 2023
2nd Week of June 2023
2nd Week of July 2023
Fall 2023
Nominations for the 2023 Cycle Close
Hall of Fame Nominating Committee Review Nominees
Sub-Committee Discussions
Full Committee Discussions
Committee Votes on 2023 Nominees
Committee Presents List of Candidates to the NSHOF Board of Directors
NSHOF Board of Directors Vote to Ratify the List of Candidates
National Sailing Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Announced
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reception (Location & date TBD)
Who is on the Selection Committee?
The Selection Committee is comprised of men and women who are national representatives from the National Sailing Hall of Fame Board of Directors, U.S. Sailing, Hall of Fame Inductees, NSHOF Founding Member Yacht Clubs, the media, the sailing industry, sailing museums, community sailing and exploration/cruising. These representatives are highly knowledgeable about the sport, it's history, and personalities. The Selection Committee is carefully vetted annually and ratified by the Board of Directors. Members of the Selection Committee may serve up to (2) three-year term, and all members are required to adhere to established criteria outlined in the By-Laws & Rules for Election.
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