Lake Champlain Yacht Club

CRUISING AWARD
• COMMODORE'S CUP •

The trophy is a three-handled sterling silver loving cup. The history of the cup 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 European 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.

Engraved on the cup:

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 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.