Walter Erben Memorial Award

"From the time I was a small child my father and I spent hours on his boats. He taught me to love the water and experience the joy of being on the water. When my Dad passed away in 2001 I wanted to find ways to honor him and his spirit, his kindness and his constant reminder to be grateful. My husband, Bill and I decided to create the Walter Erben Memorial Award as a way to say thank you to the people in Brevard County who help make sailing the wonderful event it, whether they are on the water or behind the scenes."
Mary Anne Ward

Nominations
This person may not necessarily be a racer... it should be someone who has done or continually does something to help promote sailing, but may never really be thanked. Maybe someone who does race committee all the time willingly--maybe the person who has blown up every buoy for years--maybe someone who always makes the events a success, so more people turn out--or maybe it is a racer who goes 'above and beyond' to foster a spirit of camaraderie on the water.

Nominations are accepted throughout the year. To nominate someone, email the information to Jim Lacy, lacy7377@bellsouth.net You should include the person's full name, and a discussion of why you think they should receive the award (be specific). The award will be given out at this year's MYC Fall Big Boat Regatta on October 25th, 2008 so the deadline for accepting nominations will be October 18, 2008.

This year’s recipient of the Walter Erben Award is Rachele Ross. This Award is given to the sailor who has shown service and dedication to the sailing community. Walter Erben would be honored to know that Rachele has shown tireless dedication to the sailing community and is so well deserving of this prestigious award.

Thirty years ago, after many requests for a women’s race, Rachele was asked to plan and host a dinner at Melbourne Yacht Club. She agreed, under the condition that the men of the club run a race for women only... and that after the race they cook and serve the dinner and do the clean-up afterwards. They agreed! And so the Mermaid Regatta was born!

Little did those men realize that Rachele was and is the ultimate Party Planner, with her formidable organizational and motivational skills; she has guided the Mermaid Regatta through all thirty years of races, seminars, dinners and entertainment. To her, planning a regatta is no more difficult than collecting seashells at the shore! From T-shirt and flyer design to event and entertainment planning to party theme design to recruiting for dinner and entertainment committees to racing her own boat Sleighride, Rachele does it all. For all MYC’s parties and racing venues, she IS the Chairman of the Board when it comes to shore-support. And when Shore Captain duties allow, she and husband Jerry also volunteer Sleighride for race committee, youth sailing and other on-the-water regatta needs. Today The Mermaid Regatta is one of the longest running All Women’s Regattas in the country, thanks to Rachele’s hard work and dedication.

For over thirty years Rachele and Jerry have raced somewhere in Brevard County almost every weekend of the year! And Rachele has always made sure that ladies were part of Sleighride’s crew. She was born to the water and all the joys that being on the water provide. Her lady recruitment schemes have been the envy of many a gentlemen’s yacht. To her it’s not foremost the challenge of getting to the finish first, but rather the sharing of joy and friendships that being on the water gives her. What greater purpose that a race provides then the utmost excuse for all to enjoy when “Going on a Sleighride”!

Congratulations Rachele! For over thirty years now you have given us the best party, the best regatta entertainment, the best tee-shirts designs, the best organized and notable good-time we have ever enjoyed! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the best friend you are and for giving us all the ultimate experience! “You’re Number One”!

Jan Crawford, Sleighride crew since 1981