ESCANABA — At the recent annual banquet and awards ceremony for the Escanaba Yacht Club, Terry Reynolds was named Sailor of the Year for 2024. Another coveted title, Yachtsman of the Year, was awarded remotely to dual recipients, Marilyn Kinsey and Lori Sprague.

During the ceremony at the Island Resort and Casino’s 12th-floor convention center, Vice Commodore of Sail John Anthony spoke highly of Reynolds’s past, which included racing on Seagulls in Escanaba, serving in the Coast Guard, sailing on a Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) boat in Florida, captaining ore boats and commercial vessels on the Great Lakes and the ocean, making deliveries across the Atlantic and more.

“Terry has traversed the Great Lakes from end to end, stem to stern, top to bottom, both professionally and recreationally,” John Anthony said. “All that deserves recognition, but that’s not why he’s receiving this award tonight. My good friend has been out there year after year with a Catalina 22 racing competitively Wednesday night races and regattas.”

Continuing, he outlined some of the challenges Reynolds surmounted aboard Impulse, the Catalina that had first come to Escanaba after Reynolds’s brother and sister-in-law had purchased it downstate in the Bay City area in 1983.

“Terry, at times, was not out there with three or four or five people; he was out there even by himself doing a race. He wasn’t out there with a boat with the longest water line or the most freeboard when foul weather came. In fact, he had the shortest water line, the smallest boat and the least amount of freeboard,” said John Anthony, to chuckles.

He then shared a quote from a Practical Sailor: “‘The Catalina 22 is hardly a sprightly performing small boat,'” which earned more laughter.

But the review indicates further why Reynolds deserved to be awarded Sailor of the Year: despite not having a performance boat or a consistent crew, Reynolds performed “with excellence” in the EYC races, both on Impulse and racing with others aboard many other boats over the years.

He also had a hand in teaching newcomers how to sail; John Anthony acknowledged a few younger sailors in the room who had learned with Reynolds.

While “Sailor of the Year” tends to be bestowed upon a person for technical prowess on the water; “Yachtsman of the Year” is often awarded to those who demonstrate diplomacy, community action and furthering the club.

Kinsey, Escanaba port captain, and Sprague, who co-chaired the Great Lakes Cruising Club rendezvous that was held in Escanaba in July, earned the latter award for coordinating the event between the GLCC, the EYC, and the City of Escanaba.

The day of the banquet, but earlier in the afternoon, a delegation of EYC officers visited Kinsey’s home to present her with the award; from there, they also FaceTimed Sprague, who was downstate at the time.

Also recognized for their performance in 2024 were:

– Amber Waves, Amber Lippold’s Catalina 250, for finishing second in the June series cruising class, second in the midsummer race, and second in the August series cruising class.

– Cathexis, John Lindberg’s 44.9-foot Crowther catamaran, for fourth in the midsummer race and second in the frostbite race.

– Dolce, Bob Yin’s J/80, for taking first place in the June series spinnaker class, second in the midsummer race spinnaker class, second in the EYC anniversary regatta, second in the August series spinnaker class, and third in the frostbite race.

– Gail Force, Troy Drebenstedt’s Hunter 26.5, for first in the EYC regatta cruising class.

– Gallivant, Jim Hansen’s Catalina 38, for fourth in the June series cruising class and as an August series participant.

– Hoopla, Mark Meyer’s Olson 911, for first in the June series spinnaker class, first in the midsummer race spinnaker class, first in the EYC regatta, first in the August series spinnaker, and first in the frostbite race spinnaker class.

– Impulse, for third in the June series cruising class, third in the midsummer race cruising class, and second in the August series cruising class.

– Lickety-Split, Jim and Eva Knapp’s Corsair 31R, for third in the midsummer race and fourth in the frostbite race spinnaker class.

– Lucille, Steve Harris’s Lightning, for third in the June series spinnaker class and as an August series participant.

– Manitu, Dave and Josh Anthony’s C&C 38 Landfall, for first in the June series cruising class, first in the midsummer race, third in the EYC regatta spinnaker class, first in the August series cruising class and first in the frostbite race cruising class.

– Silly Ol Bear, Nick Nelson’s Sabre 30 — which joined the fleet midseason — for participation in the August series and the frostbite race.

– Sweet Pea, Catherine Boomus and Steven Rustigian’s J/70, for being new to Escanaba this year and for participation in the June and August series.

– Race Committee Alex Sundstrom and Cindy Anthony.

As John Anthony noted, “the Wednesday night races regularly drew spectators to watch the start of the race.”

The awards event was organized by EYC Social Director Nicole Fitch, who praised the staff of the Island Resort and Casino for the accommodations, the food, and being easy to work with.

2024 marked 90 years for the EYC, which was officially formed on Oct. 22, 1934.

In 2025, EYC’s officers and directors are as follows: Mark Meyer, Commodore; John Anthony, Vice Commodore of Sail; Jim Sprague, Vice Commodore of Power; Sue Harris, Treasurer; Michael Manning, Secretary; Nicole Fitch, Social Director; and Tyler Anthony, Alex Sundstrom, Paul Carne and Michael Growdon, Directors.