From a stellar college sailing career followed by an America’s Cup win in 1977, Gary Jobson has gone on to become the voice of sailing in the United States, President of US Sailing, World Sailing board member and the pre-eminent global ambassador for the sport.

He started in his father’s cat boat on Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, and later sailed Penguins, E-Scows and Lasers. Jobson had a knack, and he applied himself, keeping notebooks from the outset on race conditions and tactics that worked. At age 16, he was voted Barnegat Bay’s Outstanding Junior Sailor. At New York Maritime College, during a slump, Jobson took the words of his coach, Graham Hall, to heart: “You’re forgetting to have fun out there.” He went on to be a three-time All-American and two-time College Sailor of the Year.

The fun factor served Jobson well in 1977, when Ted Turner signed him on Courageous as tactician. Jobson’s calming influence in the cockpit was as important as his good calls in the course of winning America’s Cup XXIII. In 1978, he started Jobson Sailing, to promote the sport of sailing at all levels.

Jobson’s stint at ESPN in 1987 as the on-air analyst for Dennis Conner’s comeback, America’s Cup win in Perth, won him a Cable Ace Award and launched his career in broadcasting earning two Emmys and four Telly Awards. Jobson has written 21 books on sailing and produced 1200 television programs and films. In the last 50 years, the ubiquitous Jobson has given over 2800 lectures on the sport.

Jobson was National Chairman of the Leukemia Cup Regattas (1994-2017), events that he conceived. During his tenure, the regattas raised $62 million. He continues to race, cruise and daysail whenever he can find the time.

– Roger Vaughan