SAYRA Grady Foster Race Committee Service Award
The SAYRA Race Management Chair consults closely with the Selection Committee and is extremely proud to present the Annual SAYRA GRADY FOSTER RACE COMMITTEE SERVICE AWARD in conjunction with the Brotherhood of International Mark Boat Operators Award for excellence in volunteering for Race Committee. This award was first presented to Grady Foster in 2010 and is being presented again to some very well deserving recipients.
Interestingly, the Brotherhood was formed at one of our Sister Cities - Savannah, GA in preparation for the 1996 Sailing Olympic Games. According to official documents, after a very difficult day in very big seas, a group of mark boat operators banded together and issued a set of demands to the Olympic Race Officials. It is unclear whether their demands were met but in any event this banding together formed the nidus for the Brotherhood.
Our first recipient referred to himself as the "flag snapper" and was always involved with any racing at Savannah Yacht Club. He had his own bundle of flags that he kept up to date and kept the rest of the committee in shape. You may have never seen someone so eager and excited to participate in race committee. It was truly astounding. He worked with the 1996 Olympic campaign as well as alongside some of the region's great PROs and to his committee was one of the "best of the best."
Currently there are members and chapters all over the world making sure PROs look good. The organization is complete with a website that’s headquartered in the Netherlands and even has a Facebook page. After nominations are made, the Selection Committee sends the year’s award winner’s name by carrier pigeon prior to SAYRA Annual General Meeting.
