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David Miller, Paul Cote, and John Ekels were inducted by John Kerr. Each had won a Bronze Medal in the 1972 Olympics sailing their Soling Terrestrial New World Cuckoo, a name Miller credited to the sense of humour of the late Paul Cote.  Miller and Ekels even wore their Team Canada blazers from 1972. The late Paul Cote’s plaque was accepted by his brother Bill. Miller was further recognized for his Sears Cup win, his two other Olympic campaigns in Stars and Dragons, as well as his involvement in offshore racing and America’s Cup challenges. Bill Cote also mentioned his brother having been one of the original founders of Greenpeace and described his active sailing life in Stars and ULD Offshore racers after relocating to San Diego. Pictured right: John Eckels, David Miller, Bill Cote representing his late brother Paul.

 

Glen Dexter, Andreas Josenhans, and Sandy MacMillan were inducted by fellow Nova Scotian Dana Archibald, a past member of the Canadian National Sailing Team who sailed with Dexter’s daughter and against MacMillian’s son. All three inductees had been a mentor to her. Dana noted that although each was being inducted separately, it was hard not to think of them as a team, since each brought different and complementary strengths to the program. They were each inducted for their two World Championships in the Soling Class in 1977 and 1980. Dana described how in 1976 these three were the first Nova Scotians to compete in the Olympics and the youngest competitors in the games. Glen Dexter, unfortunately, was unable to attend due to a last minute family commitment. In his remarks read by Archibald, and again reinforced by Josenhans, Dexter emphasized the importance of the Hall of Fame as an inspiration to younger sailors pursuing similar goals. Their boat was named Delusion, as in “Delusions of Grandeur” with each of them recognizing the importance of other Canadian competitors like Miller, Cote, and Ekels, as well as Paul Henderson, against whom they could develop their skills. Dexter also acknowledged the support they received from Buddy Melges with whom Josenhans would later win two Star World Championships. MacMillan described sailing as a life sport, in which you can take part at any age, as well as the importance of the many friends you make along the way. Pictured right: Sandy MacMillan, Dana Archibald and Andreas Josenhans

 

Karen Morch was inducted by her close friend Karen McRae, who described the combination of dance and sailing that led to Morch’s 1983 Windsurfer World Championship and her Gold Medal at the 1984 Olympics in the demonstration sport of windsurfing. McRae explained that Morch had previously finished second in the 420 Canadian Championships, qualifying for the Women’s Worlds in Denmark, but it was in 1980 when she was introduced to windsurfing and loved it immediately since it allowed the dancer to come to the fore. Her greatest sailing experience was port tacking the entire 86 boat fleet at the start of the 1983 Windsurfer Worlds in Kingston, based on her previous knowledge of Kingston wind shifts. At the Olympics she would win both the Triangle Race, the Long Distance Race, finish 2^nd in the Freestyle, and 5^th in the Slalom, enough to clench the Gold Medal. She would later tie for first in the Windsurfer Team Racing Championships. Pictured left: Karen McRae and Karen Morch

 

Terry McLaughlin was inducted for his Silver Medal in the 1984 Olympic Games by his old friend Karen McRae, pulling double duty. Karen also mentioned that Terry’s other sailing accomplishments included being an All American Intercollegiate sailor and captain of the Queens University sailing team, skipper of the 12-Metre Canada I for a 1983 challenge for the America’s Cup, two time winner of the NYYC Rolex Invitational Regatta, Silver medalist in 2015 Pan Am Games, winning the 1980 FD Word Championship, and winning that Silver Medal in the 1984 Olympics, and recently winning the Canada’s Cup for a 3^rd time. Karen suggested that the Gods had presented Terry with three gifts; Sexiness, Superstition, and Super Smarts. She then described each in detail, culminating with the presentation to Terry of a dunce cap, in memory of their victorious 1995 Int’l 14’ Dinghy Team Racing experience in England when all the other team members wore these caps at the awards in recognition of Terry’s superior sailing intellect!  Pictured left: Terry McLaughlin

 

Terry in his acceptance remarks remembered that after a Pre-Olympic Junior Regatta in Europe in 1972 his assigned task was to wash the bottom of David Miller’s soling at the Olympics. Terry credited his father Paul and mother Mary, both top notch Int’l 14’ dinghy sailors, as great influences in life, but neither forced him into sailing. That came naturally growing up on Toronto Island. He acknowledged his reputation for being hard on crews, but pointed out that his crews have been with him for many years. He thought that Evert Bastet was the best crew that Canada had produced. He finished by saying that sailing had been very good to him, even meeting his wife Nicki at a Regatta in Spain.

 

Evert Bastet was inducted by fellow RSLYC member David Covo, Member of the CSHOF Management Committee, for his Silver Medal in the 1984 Olympics sailing in Flying Dutchmen with Terry McLaughlin. Evert was unfortunately unable to attend the induction. David pointed out that Evert had participated in his first Olympic games as part of the Canadian Team at the age of 18 and had been a member of 9 Olympic teams during his long sailing career. In 1973 he won the FD World Championship sailing with Hans Fogh, and that same year won the Laser North Americans in a fleet of over 300 boats. Evert won his second FD World Championship in 1980 sailing with Terry McLaughlin. Evert led two Olympic teams and led the Canadian Team at the 2003 Pan Am games and the 2004 ISAF Youth Worlds. David read a short note from Evert, who he stated was a man of few words. Evert said that he was proud to have won two World Championships with two of the finest sailors in Canada, Hans Fogh and Terry McLaughlin. Pictured right: Evert Bastet with David Covo

 

Terry Neilson was inducted by his good friend and fellow Finn sailor Larry Lemieux for his Bronze Medal in Fins in the 1984 Olympics. Larry described the good times they had together competing against each other in Lasers and Finns, focusing on an experience at a German regatta near Kiel that involved a broken car key, a friendly cab driver, a visit to a nightclub in Kiel, and a place to stay for the night. As Larry recalled, everything seemed to work out for Terry! In addition to the Bronze Medal, Terry won the European Laser Championship in 1979 and the World Laser Championship in 1982. Fellow Canadian Andy Roy was 2nd. These same sailors would transition to the Finn, which started the Canadian dominance in the Finn Class, culminating with Terry’s 2nd in the Finn Gold Cup and Bronze at Olympics in 1984. Larry went on to explain that all things being equal, the most important factor is toughness. Sailing a Finn or a Laser is painful. Terry, in turn, credited his success to having excellent competition that started in Junior sailing at the National Yacht Club and continued on at Water Rats. Single handed sailors need training partners, and he had the best. It was no secret why he and Andy Roy finished first and second at the 1982 Worlds. They had been training together in Australia for 5 months previous to that! However, as important as training is, having fun is equally as important. Terry wondered whether modern Olympic sailors are able to go to a bar at night after the racing.

 

Hans Fogh, John Kerr, and Steve Calder were inducted by Paul Henderson for their Bronze Medal in the 1984 Olympics. This was, without doubt, the most emotional induction of the afternoon. Hans’ induction was accepted by Hans’ widow Kirsten and their son Thomas. Thomas gave a heartfelt and moving tribute to his father. Paul quoted Marnie McBean saying that going to the Olympics is a life altering experience. Winning a Medal is a bonus. Paul described how Hans was brought to Canada in order to establish a world class Canadian sail loft so Canadian sailors would no longer have to smuggle their sails in from the US. Paul explained that Hans was actually allowed entry as a gardener, since sail making was not a recognized immigration category! Paul explained Hans’ involvement is developing the sail for the Laser and the development of the Radial rig. Thomas explained how important it was to his father to win an Olympic Medal for his adopted Canada. He already had an Olympic Silver Medal while sailing for Denmark in 1960. He came very close to a Canadian Medal with a 4^th place finish in 1976, but it was in 1984 when his goal was achieved with a Bronze Medal in Solings, sailing with John Kerr and Steve Calder. Thomas said it was important to Hans to give something back to Canada. Hans sailed in a total of 6 Olympic Games. He won three European Championships and nine North American Championships. Picture right: Paul Henderson, Steve Calder, John Kerr, Kirsten Fogh, Thomas Fogh.

 

John Kerr started sailing with Hans in 1973, after first sailing with Paul Henderson. They won the 1973 Canadian Championships, followed by a North American Championship in 1977, and three European Championships in 1978, 1982 and 1983, and continued to 2005 when they finished 2nd in the North American Championships. John later sat on the Board of Sail Canada and represented sailing on the Canadian Olympic Committee. John thanked Kirsten Fogh for all the support she gave during those many years of sailing. Sailing with Hans, Steve Calder won the 1983 North Americans, the Canadian Olympic trials, and a bronze medal in the 1984 Olympics. Calder acknowledged Hans as a great teacher and that the three of them made a great team.

 

The late Lynn Watters was inducted by Scott Morgan, member of the CSHOF Management Committee. The induction was accepted by Lynn’s son Alex Watters. Scott explained that his father and Lynn Watters were close friends, and that Lynn had crewed in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics, and won a Gold Medal in the 1963 Pan Am games. But, his greatest contribution was in administration of the sport, as chair of NAYRU Appeals Committee in 1973/74, a member of IYRU Rules Committee from 1971 to 1978, and chair of ISAP Rules Committee from 1979 to 1990. Lynn was also responsible for creating the International Judges System and became an International judge for the 1983 America’s Cup. He was also a founder of CORK, a past Commodore of RSLYC, and was awarded the ISAF Gold Medal for Distinguished Service.

 

The Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame Management Committee will soon be preparing for the next series of inductions in 2022.