Introduction:

The Ensign Hall of Fame serves to recognize and perpetuate in its archives a one of a kind contribution or an exceptionally noteworthy piece of Ensign Class folklore. Each inductee will be announced at the Annual Winter Meeting and inducted into the ECA Hall of Fame. A brief write up will be included in the Yearbook and History Page of the ECA Website supporting each induction. There are four categories of selection:

Selection Process:

Hall of Fame candidates will be submitted by individual members or by local fleets. A written description of each candidate (for purpose of consideration) will be submitted in a timely manner for review to the Hall of Fame Selection Committee as appointed by the ECA Commodore.

 

Selection Guidelines:

An ECA member can recommend any ECA member, Ensign, Fleet or ECA Event with a written explanation of why the candidate should be inducted. Selection will be based on, but not limited to, the legitimacy and presentation of the noteworthy candidate. Candidates’ recommendations can be retroactive as far back as 1960 to the present. The level of importance to the ECA, the rarity of the candidate, and how the recommendation is presented shall constitute the validity of the potential inductee. Candidates submitted by a Fleet will have preferred status for induction into the Hall of Fame over an individually submitted candidate. The Selection Committee will review and submit their recommendations to the ECA Governing Board for approval. Up to 5 inductees can be inducted annually.

 

 

2008 Hall of Fame Inductees

 

Carl Alberg

The Swedish-born naval architect who designed the Ensign for Pearson Yachts in the early 1960ʼs. He sought to modify his earlier Pearson Electra cruiser to make it a daysailer. “We determined that a large cockpit would be essential for both racing and daysailing,” he wrote, “as would a small cuddy for locking up sails and gear.”  Some 10,000 boats have been built to the 56 designs credited to Alberg.

 

Everett Pearson

In the early 1960ʼs, he sponsored the design of the Ensign, originally calling it the Electra Day Sailer. His Rhode Island based firm, Pearson Yachts, was the only builder of the boat from 1962 through 1983, constructing 1,775 ensigns before ceasing production and making it the largest class, by far, of full-keeled, one-design sailboats in the United States. (Production was resumed in 2001 by Ensign Spars Inc. of Dunedin, Florida.)

 

John M. O’Connell

He was one of the half dozen people who, in 1962 at Rye, New York, chose the name “Ensign”, founded the Ensign Class Association, drafted class rules and established Fleet 1 in nearby Larchmont. He became that year the first Ensign National Champion. In 1973, he founded Ensign Fleet 64 in on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, and in 1990 he was the prime mover and leader in that fleetʼs hosting of the 29th annual Ensign National Championship Regatta.

 

Dean Snider

Dean has been Class Commodore, National Champion a record four times, and has been active in class affairs for the better part of four decades.  He has served as Committee Chairman and has been involved in all major changes in class sails designs, standards, and rules.  Dean was active in the work to begin construction of new Ensigns.

 

Charlie Sligh

“Mr. Ensign” himself, Charlie has been Class Commodore, has skippered SEA III for more than 40 years, and has sailed in over 30 National championships.  Charlie has been the winner of numerous Regional Championships, placed third in a National Championship, and was the first recipient of the Sea III Trophy – named in his honor, and awarded for outstanding service to the Ensign Class.  He was very active in Class leadership, participated in all major decisions and changes in class rules and has served on the committee for the building of new Ensigns.  At age 80, Charlie raced in a Regional Championship Regatta with four generations of Slighs on SEA III.

 

Nina Yuyosovich

In 1966, she was the first woman to skipper in an Ensign Nationals.

 

Jim Kelly

Jim led the fight with the Internal Revenue Service to obtain our 501-(C)(3) status, which allows donations to the class on a tax-free basis.   He and Dick Torpey carried the load for the project, which gave the Class the money to move and repair the Ensign molds and begin building new boats.   Jim was one of the leaders of the new boat project, and also served as a sparkplug in the growth of Fleet #7 to become one of the largest and most active fleets in the Class.

 

Clark Thompson

First back to back National Champion 1975 -1976 of Houston Yacht Club Fleet 2. Clark was the first to take 4 first places in a National Championship Regatta. He later went onto win the Champion of Champions Regatta.

 

Dick Torpey

First Person to make a trifecta in Ensign Awards.  Won the 2002 Nationals, 1989 the first Most Beautiful Ensign Award and was the recipient of the Sligh III Award.  Dick was Commodore of the ECA from 1991-1992, served on the Governing Board for two terms and provided expert advice on the establishment of our 501-(C)(3) classification. Through the years Dick has been the ECA's official and unofficial legal department.

 

Zeke Durica

Builder of the New Ensign Classics. Zeke has made many contributions to the ECA but most well-known is starting Ensign Spars Inc and the rebirth of the Ensign Daysailer.  Other accomplishments are 12 years on the Governing Board and Commodore 1997-1998. He was dubbed the idea man and credited for bringing the Class from the 60's to the 90's. He started the Most Beautiful Ensign Award, founded Feet 69 of Dunedin (main host of the Mid-Winter Championship), the Sailpatch program, the Boat Brokerage, promoted the first ECA web site and played an important role in securing the Pearson molds. One other fact Zeke is very proud of is he has personally owned and sold over 53 Ensign sailboats.

 

Boats

 

Sea III #3

The oldest Ensign still actively racing in National Regattas. Owned by Charlie Sligh III, of Holland, Michigan.  Sea III has sailed in more National Championship Regattas than any other Ensign.

 

Irish Mist #710

First boat to win “The Most Beautiful Ensign” Award, and still one of the most beautiful boats in the Ensign Class. Owned by Dick Torpey this lovely boat has won the National Championship Regatta twice.

 

Lady L #2000

Owned by Ken Horsburgh, it is the first of the new Ensign Classics.

 

Dawn #2012

Most distant Ensign. Owned by Takehiko Tsutsumi, home port Kamacura, Japan.  Ensign that survived the March 11, 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident in Japan.

 

Yardsale #635

Owned by Phil Robinson of Lake Dillon, Colorado. In 1994, while skippered by Ralph Stevenson at the leeward mark the main failed to release and the boat swamped and sank with full sails never to be seen again.

 

Fleets

 

Fleet 1

The first fleet of the newly founded Ensign Class Association.  Larchmont, New York

 

Fleet 61

The highest elevation Ensign Fleet at 9,200 feet.  Dillon, Colorado

 

Fleet 23

Hosted the largest National Championship Regatta ever in August, 2000.  Canandaigua, New York

 

Events

 

1979 Nationals Holland, Michigan

These Nationals were sailed in the most adverse weather conditions of any Nationals or any Ensign race. The Fastnet Storm of ‘79 that created the worst sailing tragedy, originated in the Mid West U.S. This created wind speeds of 35 kts and gusts up to 48 kts. The seas were measured from 12 ft. to 15 ft. with an occasional 20 footer.  Water temperature was in the 40's with bottom water of Lake Michigan being churned up to the surface. Four boats were swamped, four masts were lost by shear wind strength, gear damage was prevalent, but there were no fatalities.  Races were sailed with most boats using full sails.  David McClintock won the series with 5 bullets and sat out the last race as a throw out in light air.

 

2009 Hall of Fame Inductees

 

William (Bill) Faget

Winner of three straight National Championships, after suffering a stroke, he won his fourth National Championship with the help of his son, Benz.  Bill skippered the first three races, and when his strength gave out, he turned the tiller over to Benz to finish the regatta.  Bill was noted for being generous with his knowledge about preparing an Ensign to sail FAST. He always was willing to share information with new sailors and did so with a dry wit and rare sense of humor.  For many years he held Fleet 18 together and actively supported and participated in the Southwest Region.

 

Ken Horsburgh

The first to purchase a New Ensign Classic 2000.  Ken had many firsts and many contributions to his local Fleet 31 of Cedarville, Michigan, God's Country as Ken would say. He organized the founding and building of Fleet 31 which is the largest Ensign Fleet by far with over 73 boats. He was truly the ultimate shaker and mover and Ensign enthusiast. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for the Ensign. He would commonly own 3 Ensigns at any one time.

 

Boats

 

Warlock #308

This Ensign is a much decorated yacht with three National Championship titles in succession.  Warlock was owned by William Faget and now is owned by his son Benz.  It has won countless local and regional events and was always recognizable with its victory flag flown at night to keep evil away. 

 

2010 Hall of Fame Inductees

 

Charlie Shoemaker

Charlie has an outstanding record of participation and performance in Ensign Nationals.  Since 1972, he has raced in 33 Nationals in 16 locations, and has won the regatta three times, placed 2nd five times, 3rd four times, 4th once and 5th three times.  He still races in his home fleet in Newport, Rhode Island and has participated very successfully in many Region II Regattas. He has been Treasurer and Commodore of the ECA, has attended many Annual Meetings, and was on the committee that developed the upper shroud above the spreader to deal with the "noodle mast" problem.  Although both Dean Snider (24 Nationals), and Charlie Sligh III (26 Nationals) are almost in Charlie's class, they are both already in the HOF.

 

Elizabeth Brincklow

Elizabeth Brincklow is the first woman Commodore of the Ensign Class Association and is the first second-half of a couple to achieve the office of Commodore. She served as Commodore in 2005-2006, and also served as Secretary and Vice Commodore of Regional Affairs.  Elizabeth proposed and implemented the ECA Youth Sponsorship Program, strengthening the 501-(C)(3) status of the Class, and oversaw the implementation of minimum boat weights and the inclusion of the roller-furling sail. Since joining the ECA in 1983, she has attended numerous annual meetings, and has raced foredeck with husband Zeke Durica in a plethora of ECA regional and national events, crewing on the winning boat in the 2010 Nationals. Elizabeth races in her home fleet in Dunedin, Fl, where she annually assists in the Midwinter Regatta organization. She was the muse for beginning Ensign Spars, Inc.

 

2011 Hall of Fame Inductees

 

Benz Faget - Most Nationals won either Crewed or Skippered.

Benz has crewed on the winning boat or skippered the winning boat twelve times. He has sailed Ensigns all his life after he was taught how to sail on the family Ensign #308 Warlock.  Benz has been associated with many tales and stories revolving around the Ensign through the years.

 

Bill O’hara - Father of the Sustained Giving Program for “Ensigns Forever”

Bill began the program for annual donations through the Class tax-free status as a 501-(C)(3) organization.  His goal was that the funds from this program be used to promote the class and provide assistance to the building of new Ensigns.  He worked with Zeke Durica, Jim Kelly, and Dick Torpey to bring about the building of new Ensigns by Ensign Spars, Inc.  He served as Commodore in 1999-2000, and Vice Commodore of Publicity, prior to that.  His mandate was that all class officers consider their office as a “working position” rather than just an “honorary” one.  With this in mind, he worked with many others to revitalize national membership, and as a member of Fleet 23, achieved the largest National Championship Regatta in Class history.

 

Boats

 

Money Penny #2007

The first Ensign Classic to win Nationals.

 

2012 Hall of Fame Inductees

 

Linda Petrat - The longest known distance traveled in an Ensign.

Sailed from Kittery, Maine to Sarasota, Florida, unofficially over 1600 miles. Departed Oct. 1, 2011 and reached Sarasota on Jan. 18, 2012 in #544 SUMMER WIND.

 

Fleets

 

Fleet 63 - Hosting the most National Championship Regattas.

Hosted in 1983, 1987, 1995, 2002, 2007, and 2013. It also has contributed two National Commodores and two National Champions.

2017 Hall of Fame Inductee

 

Ed Bluestein - Most important ecological contributions by an Ensign sailor.

Ed was an active force in keeping the upper Galveston Bay a good place to race and sail.  When an oil company was making plans to drill oil wells in this racing area, he brought together the Corps of Engineers the oil company and the environmental groups to allow “slant” drilling from Atkinson Island.  Fleet 2 owes its current wonderful cruising and racing area to Ed.  He was also very active in defeating the Port’s recent “mud island” plan for disposal of “dredge material.”

Sailing “Adjourn” he won many local and regional regattas.  Most remembered was the 2002 Region IV Championships in which he not only won all the races with a clean sweep, but also lead at all the marks.

2019 Hall of Fame Inductee

Vince Morvillo - First and only blind sailor to ever win the ECA National Championship.

In 2004 Vince won his first Ensign National Championship in Newport, RI with 41 boats attending and 8 total races. Vince’s overall score was 15 points with 2nd place at 25 points and 3rd place at 37 points. Vince has a long list of accomplishments including winning the 1999 and 2000 ECA Region IV Regionals. In 2001 he won the Gold at the World Blind Sailing Championship to go with the bronze and silver medals he won in prior world Blind Sailing events. Vince’s motto is “What you believe is what you achieve.” He notes that with blindness you have to see with vision, not with sight.

2020 Hall of Fame Inductee

 

Kay Snider - Longest serving Governing Committee member.

Kay has served as our ECA Treasurer for over 14 years. She has not only kept the ECA on an even keel financially but also has been the guiding force in the Youth Sponsorship Program, Boat Brokerage, Historian, and much more. The 2010 recipient of the Sea III Award, Kay is an expert sailor who has crewed for husband Dean in each of their successful racing achievements including First Place in four ECA National Championships -1987, 1988, 1998, 2003.

2023 Hall of Fame Inductee

 

Richard Crisler - The most documented instructor of sailing students on the Ensign

Richard, a 37-year member of Miami's Fleet 8 has the spectacular recognition of teaching more students on Ensigns than any other instructor of whom we are aware. He began teaching in the 1990s and was still teaching in 2022. The number of adult students he taught is over 4,000. He has also helped arrange for the sale of several Ensigns to new sailors. We wish Richard continued teaching success for many years to come.

2024 Hall of Fame Inductees

Members 

Franklin and Tom LaBelle - Most Successful Collaboration of a Father and Son 
The father-son collaboration of Franklin and Tom LaBelle of Cedarville, Michigan in the field of Ensign sailing stands out as a remarkable success story. They have been racing together for 60 years. Tom was 2 years old when he started sailing with his father, Franklin. During their Ensign collaborations, Tom has mostly skippered, while Franklin has been the senior crew member. He is responsible for preparing their boat, Foxy Lady, keeping it in perfect shape, and being a pivotal crew member. Together, they have won 4 National Championships, numerous Regional Championships, and countless regattas. Franklin and Tom have been the backbone of these collaborations over the years. Franklin entered his first Nationals at the age of 59, and notably at the 2023 Nationals in Pentwater, was 86 years old with Foxy Lady finishing 2nd. Tom still has some catching up to do, but he has two children who are picking up the tradition, ensuring that Foxy Lady will continue its racing legacy. In recent years in Les Cheneaux Yacht Club (LCYC) Regattas, it was not uncommon to see 8 members and 4 generations onboard.

Franklin and Tom achieved a goal with the launch of the LCYC Youth Sailing Camp to foster the love of the sport and to ensure sustainability for Fleet 31. It is one of the most successful youth sailing programs to date.
 

Boat

HULL #4, The Only Ensign Ever Struck By Lightning at a Nationals 
Norman Dodds and Bill Dodds acquired Ensign #4, originally named Summer Squall, in June of 2022 from Walter Powers who owned the boat for almost 40 years. When they purchased it, the boat had been damaged in a thunderstorm and had not been sailed for many years. With some 400+ man-hours of the restoration effort, the original hull was beautifully restored. The boat was re-named eyjafjallajokull (after a volcano in Iceland.) It was loaned to and was skippered in the 2023 Pentwater National Championship by 30-year-old Allison Price, with her father Pete Price, Chad Hough, and Frank Reeg. On the early morning of the scheduled/canceled final day of the regatta, the boat was struck by lightning, caught fire, and burned virtually to the waterline.