HISTORY OF THE AWARD
The trophy is a 3 1/2 pint three-handled sterling silver loving cup. The original history of the trophy is not known. However, it bears the date 1909, and we do know that in 1909 LCYC sponsored the main events of Burlington’s observance of the 300th anniversary of the discovery of the lake by Samuel de Champlain. As part of that celebration LCYC held a regatta on July 8, observed from a waterfront viewing stand by President William H. Taft, Governor Winston Prouty, Ambassador Jusserand of France, and Ambassador Bryce of Great Britain. It is probable that as part of that celebratory year the club gave this trophy as special recognition to a member for exemplary extensive cruising on Champlain’s lake.
At some time the trophy came into the possession of William S. Preston, Jr., Commodore in 1958, who kept it in the vault of his jewelry store. In 1973, when Robert W. Henshaw was Commodore, Preston gave the cup to the club to restore it to its intended use. In 1977 the board, under Thomas Sproston, Commodore, established the modern cruising award with this cup as the trophy.
The cup is engraved :
COMMODORE’S CUP
L.C.Y.C.
1909
CRUISING AWARD
For the first ten years, from 1977-86, the criteria for winning the trophy was totally objective and simple – recognition went to the member/boat with the most nautical miles that year as documented by the boat’s log.
In 1987 Glenn Findholt and Dale Hyerstay, Rendezvous co-chairs, proposed to the Board of Governors that there was more to cruising than just logging miles, and that the criteria for awarding the Cup should be more broad-based. The Board agreed and voted that henceforth the trophy would be awarded to the member judged by the board, based in part on the recommendation of the Rendezvous chair, to be most worthy of club recognition for their noteworthy cruising-related endeavors, either in a given year or cumulatively, whether on the lake or in other waters. Criteria may include anything the Board believes to be pertinent, including the candidate's own cruising undertakings or experiences, their beneficent or safety efforts on behalf of other cruisers, or their efforts on behalf of cruising in general.
RECIPIENTS
Based on Most Recorded Miles:
1977 Keepsake — Alan & Sunny Olsson — Tartan 34
1978 Odyssey — James & Diane MacDougall — C&C 24
1979 Windancer — James & Diane MacDougall — O’Day 27
1980 Windancer — James & Diane MacDougall — O’Day 27
1981 Summer Wind — Bob & Susan Bergman — Irwin Citation 30
1982 Summer Wind — Bob & Susan Bergman — Irwin Citation 30
1983 Summer Wind — Bob & Susan Bergman — Irwin Citation 30
1984 Aunt Meg — Ken & Ruth Frost — Nicholson 32
1985 Pass Auff — Chuck & Gerlinda Bowen — Tartan 33
1986 Aunt Meg — Ken & Ruth Frost — Nicholson 32
Based on Broad Criteria:
1987 Unicorn — Bill & Pat Brown II — Mainship II 34
1988 Aunt Meg — Ken & Ruth Frost — Nicholson 32
1989 True Love — Rudy & Dolores Reinecke — Hunter 25
1990 Falcon — Arthur & Pat Hill — Sabre 28
1991 Summer Snow — Mike & Page Caldwell — Mainship 36
1992 Sundance — Tom & Arlene Glynn — Pearson 37
1993 September Song — Dick & Ginny Walters — Nimble Kodiak
1994 Dionis — Larry & Roberta Coffin — Hans Christian 33
1995 Vanguard — Peter Brownell — Catalina 34
1996 Tumbleweed — Dale & Alice Hyerstay — C&C 32
1997 Winsome — Steve & Laurie Landau — Tartan 30
1998 Windspirit — Glen & Marie Findholt — Cal 35
1999 Secrets — Lou Chiriatti/Randee Bloomberg — C&C 35
2000 Dream Weaver — David Schaefer — Endeavour 35
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006