Greetings from the Helm,

It is an honor to take the helm of SAYRA; I have been involved since I started racing at my club in our junior program and I hope that during my shift I can do as well as my predecessors.  I want to thank not only Robert but Bryce for their continued leadership within SAYRA!  I want to thank the entire SAYRA board for their leadership and commitment to help during this difficult year of 2020.  I want to thank you and the families who support sailors both young and old to be able to get on the water, weather you are a shore team or on the race committee you are making our sport possible.  Talking to leaders of various clubs I am impressed with what you have done this year and will ask if you will share your best practices and lessons learned this year at the SAYRA Annual Meeting; we are asking Club Leadership to help others within our organization; I will be distributing a google doc for best practice and biggest question, please take a moment to get back to me. Email

Our Annual Meeting this year will be virtual due to COVID; we will spread it out over multiple evenings so you can attend all sessions if you desire and not get zoom fatigue.  On Saturday, we will do the Annual Meeting, with Reports, Awards both Old and New Business capped off with a virtual Bloody Mary Party; the dates are Jan 27- Jan 30. Please save the date and plan to participate in this annual event. 

We are taking nominations for the following awards:

• Willard Davis Service Award; to honor individuals who over the years make significant and outstanding contributions in service to the South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association. Named for and dedicated to Dr. H. Willard Davis, who for many years was Executive Secretary and Treasurer of SAYRA, representing SAYRA on the YRA Council of the United States Yacht Racing Union, was the Regional Administrative Judge for US SAILING, and is an International Judge Emeritus for US SAILING.
• John B Bonds Service Award to honor individuals who over the years make significant and outstanding contributions in service to the sport of sailing in the areas of race management and/or judging and/or boating safety. This award was named for and dedicated to John B. Bonds, Captain USN (Retired), Ph.D, who for many years was Executive Director of US Sailing and Chairman of the Safety at Sea committee at USS. John was an International Race Officer and Senior Judge. He was most noted as an instructor of race management to many others and was the instructor of many “Safety at Sea” seminars around the US. He was the mentor to many who are working today in support of the sport so that the level of race management produces quality racing for the competitors. Most recently, John was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame, Class of 2019
• The SAYRA Sportmanship Award presented from time to time to a SAYRA sailor or sailors who exemplifies the traditional Corinthian values of fair play and concern for fellow competitors. Winners will be nominated for US Sailing’s W.Van Allen Clark, Jr. Sportsmanship trophy. 

Lastly I appeal to you to continue to support SAYRA as an organization; through membership and potential year end 501(c)3 gifts to the Helen Hanley Fund not just at the club level but as an individual. CLICK HERE to donate. 

Let me know if I can do anything for you,

Sail Fast, Pete Marriott, SAYRA Commodore