Breakwater Yacht Club Awards Announced

Breakwater Yacht Club and Sailing Center followed its last race of the season on October 12 with an awards ceremony. Awards were given to the winners of the spring, summer, and fall series of races in different divisions, as well as for the Sag Harbor Cup, WOOD regatta, and the Oz Race with female drivers.

At the ceremony a few special awards were presented.

Joan Butler was presented with the Sportsmanship Award, which is given to the member who displays outstanding sportsmanship on and off the water. It involves both interactions with competitors and others (sailors or not) off the water. Butler has been an active participant in all Breakwater racing, both big and little boats for a number of years. Always respectful, even when she protests or otherwise disagrees with another sailor’s conduct, she believes that every experience on the water should be a learning experience, according to BYC members. Active in building the dinghy fleets, Butler was also instrumental in launching the Women’s Sailing Initiative this year, which had more than 130 participants.

The Wheel Award went to Luke Babcock. This award goes to the member who has stood out in their contributions to the club over time. Babcock has been an active sailor at the club with his family for a number of years. He also has been instrumental in launching and promoting key programs, including the Sag Harbor Cup and the Youth Sailing programs. He has served both as treasurer and commodore with distinction, guiding Breakwater through the COVID pandemic with an eye on keeping people sailing safely. He was instrumental in the removal of the old Mobil dock.

Tristan Sabbeth was presented with the BYC Scholarship Award, which is given to a younger member of Breakwater who has evolved and grown during their time at the club, and includes $1,500 in financial support. Sabbeth is both an instructor in the BYC Summer Sailing Program and a member of the high school sailing team.