HALL OF FAME
Newport, RI - Sailing World magazine has announced three new inductees to
its Hall of Fame. In its July/ August issue Sailing World will formally add
Jochen Schuemann, John Bertrand, and Randy Smyth to the prestigious roster
of the all-time best racing sailors, designers, and innovators.
Jochen Schuemann held the high-profile position of Sailing Team Director
and strategist for the Swiss Alinghi syndicate in its successful quest for
the America's Cup last winter. The 48-year-old from Berlin, Germany, also
won four Olympic sailing medals, three gold and one silver, between 1976
and 2000. He will continue his role with Alinghi in preparing for the Cup
defense in 2007.
John Bertrand of Melbourne, Australia, won an Olympic bronze medal in 1976
sailing in the Finn class, but the 54-year-old etched his name in sailing's
record books forever in the 1983 America's Cup race. That was the year he
skippered Australia II to victory against Dennis Conner's Liberty, ending
the New York Yacht Club's 132-year winning streak. Although he is retired
from grand-prix level racing, Bertrand recently won the Etchells class
national championship of Australia.
Randy Smyth won two Olympic silver medals in 1984 and 1992 in the Tornado
catamaran class, but he has made an equal impression on the sailing world
with five victories in the Worrell 1000, a 1,000-mile stage race from
Florida to Virginia. Born in Pasadena, Calif., and now living in Fort
Walton Beach, Fla., Smyth has succeeded at nearly every multihull
discipline in North America, winning a slew of national championships. His
sailmaking business, The Smyth Team, focuses on multihull sails only,
including assisting on designs for Team Adventure, the 110-foot catamaran
Smyth helped race around the world two years ago.
The 40 current Sailing World Hall of Fame members are: Ben Lexcen, Bill
Lee, Bob Bavier, Bruce Farr, Bruce Kirby, Buddy Melges, Bus Mosbacher,
Charlie Barr, Dave Perry, Dave Ullman, Dennis Conner, Doug Peterson, Eric
Tabarly, Sir Francis Chichester, Gary Jobson, George O'Day, German Frers,
Halsey Herreshoff, Harold Vanderbilt, Hobie Alter, John Bertrand (U.S.),
Lowell North, Manfred Curry, Mark Reynolds, Nathanael Herreshoff, Olaf
Harken, Olin Stephens, Paul Cayard, Paul Elvström, Peter Barrett, Sir Peter
Blake, Peter Harken, Rod Johnstone, Rod Stephens, Russell Coutts, Stuart
Walker, Ted Hood, Ted Turner, Tom Blackaller and Uffa Fox.
A panel of 10 journalists and past honorees in the Hall of Fame made the
selections. For more information on the three new inductees and upcoming
interviews with them, visit the Sailing World Hall of Fame online at
www.sailingworld.com 
