Dora to Receive US Sailing
John H. Gardiner Jr One-Design Service Award
Congratulation to Dora McGee, Secretary/Treasurer of the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association, who is the winner of the 2021 US Sailing John H. Gardiner Jr One-Design Service Award in recognition of distinguished service and leadership in the promotion of one-design sailing and class organization.
Chris Snow, Chairperson of the US Sailing One Design Committee wrote:
Dear Dora, On behalf of US Sailing and the US Sailing One Design Committee I am honored to inform you that you have been selected to receive the 2021 John D. Gardiner One Design Service Award. It is clear from reviewing your nomination that your service to the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association and many other one design groups and events in the Southeast over many years is simply exceptional. From Catalina 22 events (both racing and cruising) to supporting a whole host of events and classes you set the example for others to follow. Without dedicated folks like you and your selfless dedication to supporting our sport, sailing would not be the same.
On behalf of our committee at US Sailing and the many one design sailors you have touched over the years, thank you for all you have done! The presentation of your award and other notable US Sailing awards, including the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, will take place on March 24th at St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. I really hope you can be there in person to receive your award.
Best Regards, Chris Snow
Chair, US Sailing One Design Committee
Nominee for US Sailing’s John H. Gardiner Jr. One Design Service Award
Dora McGee
As the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association celebrates its fifty-year golden anniversary in 2022, one very special lady stands out for her 25 years of dedicated service to the Association and to one design sailing - Dora McGee of Cumming, Georgia.
Beginning with the 1998 Catalina 22 National Championship Regatta, Dora has supported over 45 Catalina 22 one design regattas at the local, regional, and national levels and in various capacities from event organizer to race committee support. Competitors know that when Dora is involved in a one design regatta, that the event will be the very best possible because Dora will expect nothing less than perfection in race management and competitor support. Dora’s support of one design racing goes far beyond the Catalina 22 class. For over twenty years, Dora has worked on race committee for more than sixty-eight regattas for a lengthy list of one design classes including: 420, A-Cat, Buccaneer, Flying Scot, Force Five, Highlander, IRC, J-22, J-24, J-80, Laser, Lightning, Melges 24, Optimist, ORC, Snipe, Sunfish, Thistle, Viper 640, VX One, and Kona Class Windsurfing. Throughout the southeast one design racing circuits, competitors and fellow sailors hold Dora in very high regard because she puts so much energy into ensure a fun and positive racing experience.
Dan Fink, Rear Commodore of the MC Sailing Association, says “One of the earliest formed regional MC regattas is the Rebel Rouser held at LLSC annually for which Dora helped with RC functions. The MC Sailing Association held its Master's National Championship this year at LLSC. Dora was a part of the race committee team for this event which attracted world class sailors, past Olympians, and professionals such as Henry Sprague, Andy Burdick, Mike Considine, Bill Draheim, Ron Baerwitz, Ted Keller, Mark Beaton, Jeremy Pape, Dan Fink, and Glen Walborn. Dora was present on the signal boat and performed at an exemplary level. The same level of professionalism I see regularly at the Inland Lake Yachting Association's events. As part of the organizing team for our MCSA events, we were confident in the abilities of the local RC team to run our event. I thank Dora McGee for her contributions and service to our class. She is well deserving of an award for her services.”
Reid Collins, South Atlantic Governor of the Thistle Class, says “Dora has been involved with helping race committee for multiple district-level events that regularly attract 30 to 40 boats from the district and region and regularly includes top level talent including the most recent national champions Greg Griffin, Sam Ingham, and Brad Russell. Dora understands what racers want from race committee and has become part of the standard of what racers want in race committee. Her elevated level of communication is very highly regarded in the class and her approach is often provided as the ideal example for other race committees. The Thistle class highly recommends Dora receive the John H. Gardiner One Design Service Award.”
Martine Zurinskas, of the Laser Class, says “Dora has been a fixture in the Southeast sailing scene for years, always working behind the scenes in a discreet but hugely key role. You have ‘heard’ her doing the RC countdown on the signal boat… the calm steady voice never breaking form. Quietly keeping the PRO organized and the constant professional with those reminders. She has been a huge advocate for one-design sailing specifically our local Laser fleet on Lanier but on bigger stages as well for Grand Prix events and national level. She is always professional, never letting the competitors or situation rattle her. She not only knows her stuff but executes the plan flawlessly (even when a curve ball strikes). She comes prepared physically and mentally ready to deliver the best customer service one can provide. As a regatta organizer, she is part of my A team. As a PRO for a recent club level event, she was my A-Team. It is no wonder why her schedule for regatta support is booked a year ahead of time! She supports many one design fleets with this same professionalism, Charleston Race Week, ILCA events, Catalina 22, Thistle, and others. She is the secret ingredient that makes all of us look good. I fully support the nomination of Dora McGee – our one design sailing is much better because of her support both on and off the water. Thank you.”
Hal Smith, US Sailing National Race Officer, says “Dora excels at all phases of race management activities. When timing, Dora not only keeps track of the signal sequence, but also communicates seconds remaining until each signal and reminds the signal vessel crew of what a flag must do and the type of sound to be made. Then she hails the countdown to the fleet matching GPS time. She is a rare great timer. Dora often performs the other signal vessel crew’s duties to a matching level of perfection keeping the team coordinated and keeping accurate records. Dora is knowledgeable of good RC practices, organized, orderly, disciplined, and wonderfully social with the RC team. I believe Dora has been motivated to achieve this level of expertise because she wants the sailors to have the best racing experience possible. Dora is outstanding, and she makes every RC team better when she is a part.”
As the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association is a “family-oriented sailing, cruising and racing association” that also promotes the fun of cruising, Dora and her husband Ted McGee have been regular participants in the week-long Catalina 22 Northern Gulf Coast Cruise. Sailing their Catalina 22 MK-II “Rhapsody in seA”, they have attended this event every year (except one) since its founding in 1998. The one-year Dora did not sail in the cruise was due to a conflict with a Catalina 22 National Championship Regatta where she was helping to organize the event and support race committee.
C22NSA Commodore Duncan McBride says “Dora is professional in every way when it comes to helping me with the Catalina 22 Nationals. She makes sure the Sailing Instructions and the Notice of Race are prepared properly before each regatta and does her best to make sure the whole regatta goes smoothly and run on-time from start to finish. When Dora is on the race committee boat, she does everything in her power to help get the races started on time and keeps accurate timing and records. Dora is very deserving of this nomination for the John H. Gardiner Service Award because of the number of hours and the professionalism that she puts into one design regattas and racing.”
When Dora is not busy supporting one design regattas or attending week-long cruises, Dora serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association – a position she has held since 2005.
Rich Fox, Editor/Webmaster and former Commodore of Catalina 22 National Sailing Association, says “As Secretary/Treasurer, Dora is responsible for organizing and managing all of the business affairs and the administration of membership for the organization. As the longest serving officer of the organization, Dora possesses exceptional knowledge of the operation of the Association and technical knowledge of the Catalina 22. She uses this knowledge to help members of the Association as she strives to get to know members on an individual basis and to make them feel welcome. Dora is the reason our Catalina 22 National Sailing Association is still thriving today! Dora McGee is best in class!”
Dora McGee has an outstanding resume when it comes to one design service. Because of Dora’s leadership and commitment to the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association and her exceptional and continued support of one-design sailing, we are honored to submit Dora McGee for the John H. Gardiner One Design Service Award.
Dan Fink, Rear Commodore, MC Sailing Association
Martine Zurinskas, Laser Class
Reid Collins, Southeastern Governor, Thistle Class
Hal Smith, US Sailing Certified National Race Officer
Duncan McBride, Commodore, Catalina 22 National Sailing Association
Ted McGee, Vice Commodore, Catalina 22 National Sailing Association
Rich Fox, Editor / Webmaster, Catalina 22 National Sailing Association
*Note: Many thanks to friend and editor of the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association, Rich Fox, for guest writing and sharing this wonderful story about Dora winning the US Sailing One-Design Service Award with us. Rich was also instrumental in writing and submitting the nomination to US Sailing for Dora.