Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame welcomes 12 new inductees

Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame welcomes 12 new inductees © Geoff Webster

The Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame welcomed 12 new inductees on Saturday, October 15, during a ceremony that was held at the Kingston Yacht Club.

The Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame is a collaboration between the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame, the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston and Sail Canada, and recognizes illustrious individuals who have made notable contributions to sailing in Canada and worldwide in any of the three following categories: sailor, technical or contributor. Including the 2022 inductees, a total of 43 sailors have been inducted so far into the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame with inductions being held in 2005, 2014, 2018 and 2020 (postponed to 2021). The full list of inductees is available at www.sailing.ca/canadian-sailing-hall-of-fame.

The 2022 Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame class includes:

Karen Johnson (RCYC, WVYC) and Gail Johnson (RCYC), Ontario

Sisters Karen and Gail Johnson won the first Women's World 470 Championships in 1985 in a mixed fleet. They were fourth at the 1983 IYRU World Women's Sailing Championships, third in 1984 and second in 1985. Karen and Gail won the Canadian Women's Sailing Championships in Laser II in 1983 and 1984, and were second (and the top Canadians) in 1985. In 1982, they won the Laser II North Americans in a mixed fleet. In 1988, they represented Canada at the Seoul Olympics in the 470. With another teammate, Karen also won the Canadian Women's Match Racing Championships in 1992 and 1993. Back together for the 1994 edition of that competition, Karen and Gail finished second (and were the top Canadians).

Judy Lugar (RNSYS, SMSC) and Morag McLean (RNSYS, BBYC), Nova Scotia

Judy Lugar and Morag McLean won the 1986 470 Women's World Championship and finished first in the National Qualifying Regattas in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990. In 1987, they won the Canadian Championship, followed by the US National Championship in 1989, and the North American Championship in 1990. In 1987, they were named the Sport Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Yachting Association Team of the Year, as well as the Canadian Yachting Association Women Sailors of the Year, and they both have been inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.

Frank McLaughlin and John Millen (RCYC), Ontario

Frank McLaughlin and John Millen won a bronze medal in the Flying Dutchman class at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, after they had previously won the International 14 World Championship in 1981. Frank and John placed third at the 1986 Flying Dutchman World Championships and second at the 1986 European Championships. They also represented Canada at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Frank McLaughlin had also represented Canada at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles in the 470 with Martin ten Hove crewing and, together, they won a bronze medal in the 470 class at the 1983 Pan American Games. John Millen was also part of the Canadian team at the 1983 and 1986 America's Cup, sailing first on Canada I and then on Canada II. He was also part of the Canadian crew aboard Defiant, the Canada's Cup winner in 2001, 2003 and 2021.

Perry Connolly (RCYC), Ontario

After successfully campaigning his CN-35 Carousel, in 1965, Connolly commissioned Cuthbertson & Cassian to design, and Erich Bruckmann to build the custom 40' Red Jacket. Under Perry's command, Red Jacket won the 1968 SORC, becoming the first non-American boat to do so. Red Jacket's success led directly to the creation of C&C Yachts. Connolly was co-skipper of Manitou with Gordon Fisher and won the 1969 Canada's Cup. Connolly held management positions with C&C Yachts, Boston Whaler and Hinterhoeller Yachts, and was director of operations for the 1987 America's Cup challenger Canada II.

Gordon Fisher (RCYC), Ontario

Fisher was an early champion of a Canadian designed and built sailing craft, commissioning Cuthbertson & Cassian to design and Metro Marine to build La Mouette (1960) and Thermopylae (1964). He later commissioned the building of the custom C&C One-Tonner Terrier (1976). He was also a watch captain on Red Jacket when she won the 1968 SORC, co-skipper and syndicate head of Manitou in the successful 1969 Canada's Cup defense, as well as skipper and syndicate head of Mirage in the 1972 defense. In 1977, the Commodore of RCYC in 1971-72 commissioned Mark Ellis to design, and Hinterhoeller Yachts to build, the Nonsuch 30. Several other Nonsuch models would follow.

George Cassian (TSSC and RCYC), Ontario

George Cassian joined George Cuthbertson in 1961 with the creation of the yacht design firm of Cuthbertson & Cassian. He was heavily involved in all the early Cuthbertson & Cassian designs including Vanadis, La Mouette, Thermopylae, Xanadu, Inferno I and II, the Redline 41, Manitou and True North. But the design that established the international success of Cuthbertson & Cassian was Red Jacket, when she won the 1968 SORC. After the creation of C&C Yachts in 1969, Cassian would be heavily involved in the design of Bonaventure, Mirage and Merrythought, as well as the C&C 27, 35, 39, 43, 50, and 61, and many others.

Erich Bruckmann, born in Germany but lived in Ontario

Erich immigrated to Canada in 1956, becoming shop superintendent at Metro Marine, where he built early George Cuthbertson designs such as La Mouette, Pipe Dream, Pintails and Thermopylae. After establishing his own shop, Erich built the Cuthbertson & Cassian designed Red Jacket in 1966 for Perry Connolly. Red Jacket was Erich's first fiberglass project and the first boat in North America with a fully cored hull. Erich was one of the founding members of C&C Yachts in 1969, building some of the world's best and most successful custom and semi-custom racing and cruising sailboats including Manitou, Bonaventure, Archangel, Evergreen, C&C 41s, 43s, 50s, 61s and many more.

George Hinterhoeller (NOLSC), born in Austria but lived in Ontario

After having apprenticed in Austria as a boat builder, George immigrated to Canada in 1952, accepting a position with Sheppard Boats at Niagara-on-the-Lake. After building several successful Y-Flyers, he established Hinterhoeller Limited with the production of his own boat designs, starting with the immensely successful 24' Shark. He commissioned Cuthbertson & Cassian to design the Invader 36, Redwing 30 and 35, before the design firm joined forces with Canadian boat builders Belleville Marine and Bruckmann Manufacturing to form C&C Yachts in 1969. George left C&C in 1975 to establish Hinterhoeller Yachts, building the Nonsuch and Niagara line of cruising sailboats, as well as the Limestone line of powerboats.

Ian Morch (BQYC), Ontario

Royal Canadian Navy veteran Ian Morch's long sailing career included the mid-1950s purchase of CN35 #1 Ca Va from George Cuthbertson, followed by the building of the Cuthbertson-designed 40' North Star in Belleville, ON. With the establishment of Belleville Marine in 1965, Morch commissioned Cuthbertson & Cassian to design the 31' Corvette, one of which he raced aboard in the 1968 SORC. The Frigate and Crusader would soon follow, also in fibreglass. In 1969, Belleville Marine joined with Cuthbertson & Cassian, Hinterhoeller Inc. and Bruckmann Manufacturing to form C&C Yachts, with Morch serving as the first president until 1972.