Deceased , Modern

Harold

Brown

Hatch

1930 - 2018

From Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame:

Harold “Hatch” Brown distinguished himself as a member of the Boston University Sailing team in the late 1950s. Both lists of Brown’s individual accomplishments and the sailing team’s accomplishments under his three-year captaincy are long and impressive. A skipper in A division, Brown won the division title at the New England championships his junior year, 1958. His senior year, Brown dominated collegiate sailing by successfully defending his New England division title, winning the New England Singlehanded Championship, and winning the A Division at the national championships. Brown became the team captain his sophomore year. The Terriers won the New England Team Racing title that season, finished second at the New Englands, and third at the national championships. His junior year, the Terriers were third in New England and his senior year, Boston University took second at both the New England and national championships. Following graduation in 1959 from the College of Business Administration, Brown continued to sail competitively and won numerous titles. As a coach, he led the U.S. team to the Women’s World Sailing Championships in Holland in 1978. He served as head sailing coach and sailing master at MIT. In 1978, he received the Harry Cleverly Memorial Award. Brown is the second sailor in Boston University history to gain election to the Intercollegiate Sailing Hall of Fame. Brown’s classmate, Wally Everest, is the other.

Honors and Accomplishments:

  • At Boston University, Hatch was a champion sailor winning A Division at

College Nationals and continued to compete competitively after college winning North American Championships in Etchells, Fireflies, and Thistle classes.

  • Joined MIT Athletics as Head Varsity Sailing Coach in 1967.
  • He took over as the third Sailing Master in 1975 and for the next twenty years

devoted his life to the advancement of college sailing until his retirement in 1995.

  • Many sailing regattas and service awards now bare his name.
  • Judge in the 1988 Olympic Trials
  • Inductee into BU Athletics Hall of Fame and the Intercollegiate Sailing Hall of Fame
  • Director of NE Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA) for over 14 years
  • Commodore and Champion at Community Boating, and Marblehead Frostbite Sailing Club
  • President of Mass Bay Sailing Association
  • In retirement Hatch remained very active at his local Cottage Park Yacht Club in Winthrop serving on the race committee and acting as mentor to sailors in the youth sailing program and frostbite racing series.

Hatch Brown’s obituary

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