Dave Cahn Trophy

I am pleased to announce that we have created a "Dave Cahn" trophy to be awarded at the North American Championship each year. After lots of discussions on how this should work, we have the following:

Nominations for people whose sense of sportsmanship in the 505 class remind us of Dave - text will be written shortly to better explain this - (essentially someone who is always having fun, always a great guy to hang out with, and who is racing the 505 for the joy of racing the boat and the fun of hanging out with the class members, rather than for winning), will be solicited each year from North American 505 sailors. Nominations MUST consist of an explanation of why the nominated person merits the award, nominations consisting of just a name will not be considered.

A small committee consisting of people who knew Dave and people who are familiar with the North American 505 class, will review the nominations and come up with a short list of candidates (over time, it is likely that people who knew Dave and and know people in the 505 class may be harder to find, so we have to allow for the makeup of the group to change).

The short list will be presented for a vote by North American 505 sailors at the North American championship. The winner of that vote is presented with the Dave Cahn trophy for that year. The Dave Cahn trophy will be a half hull model built by Peter Alarie (similar to the famous Larry Tuttle half hull models) on a larger base, with each winner's name (one winner a year) added to it.

If you would like to make a contribution to help cover the cost of the trophy, please send a check (marked Dave Cahn trophy) to:

Nominations should be sent to the US Class Secretary (currently Jesse Falsone):

I am proposing that the committee reviewing nominations consist of:

The thought is to include people who knew Dave - and sailed with him - as well as people who know the current class membership. This committee will ensure that the short list includes people who DO represent the Dave Cahn approach to sportsmanship, and excludes those (who may well be super people) who do not. This group should remain small, as it gets harder to communicate effectively with more people. If others would like to be involved, I will step aside.

It may be necessary from time to time to alter the committee by inviting other people to participate, doing so would be the responsibility of the US Class Officers.

In correspondance with Eileen Glenn, regarding listing 6931 for sale, I mentioned that members of the 505 class were going to do this. The following was her response.

" ... I've put off getting back to you simply because I was left rather wordless by the entire concept. it is the most meaningful tribute I could have ever imagined, and for that very reason, it hurts. (I hope you can understand what I mean by that - it probably sounds negative but it's not meant to. it's just the way it is.) dave had every intention of sailing that regatta in september - I don't like to get metaphysical, but I can't escape the thought that in a way he still will. ... "

In the unlikely event that the solicitation raises considerably more money than is required for the trophy, I suggest that we consider inviting Eileen Glenn to Hyannis and back for the first presentation of the Dave Cahn trophy.

Yours sincerely,

Ali Meller

Dave Cahn 1997