A Celebration of Excellence. A Legacy of Inspiration.
National Sailing Hall of Fame welcomes the Class of 2026 during two days of celebration in Newport.
October 8, Newport R.I – Stories of achievement, perseverance and the people behind greatness brought the sailing community together October 6–7 in Newport, Rhode Island, as The Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame celebrated its Class of 2026.
Festivities began Tuesday with more than 150 inductees, family representatives, loved ones and fans enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in Schoonmaker Hall and on the Elwell Deck. Many were visiting the museum for the first time, exploring its interactive exhibits and connecting with fellow guests.
Clear autumn skies and sparkling Newport Harbor greeted nearly 170 guests Wednesday at New York Yacht Club Harbour Court. Emcee Gary Jobson led the induction celebrating six individuals whose contributions span navigation, design, championship racing, mentorship and service.
“The acceptance speeches are heartwarming, colorful and fun. You get the sense that the recipients appreciate the honor and recognition,” Jobson said.
The Class of 2026 includes pioneering navigator Eleanor Prentiss Creesy; five-time Adams Cup winner Lorna Whittelsey Hibberd; innovative multihull designer Gino Joseph Morrelli; distinguished international sailing judge Mary Male Savage; world champion sailor and sailmaker Judson “Jud” Andrew Smith; and two-time Olympic gold medalist Herman Frasch Whiton.
Morrelli and Smith proved consummate storytellers, reflecting on their journeys and the people who shaped their lives on and off the water. Family representatives for Hibberd, Savage and Creesy brought their loved ones’ legacies to life. Guests also welcomed 2025 inductee Chuck Hawley, whose illness prevented him from attending last year.
Selection Committee Chair Spike Lobdell closed the ceremony by connecting these legacies to the organization’s mission. “The Hall of Fame identifies the stories worth remembering. The Sailing Museum makes sure they are never forgotten and, even more importantly, that they continue to inspire,” Lobdell said.
As the organization’s major annual fundraiser, the celebration sustains exhibitions, educational programs and storytelling that preserve sailing’s history and inspire future generations.
Following a brief intermission, guests gathered in the clubhouse for a celebratory luncheon. Host and New York Yacht Club Commodore Clare Harrington offered warm remarks honoring sailing’s legacy and luminaries.
The two days paired pride in sailing’s past with a commitment to its future. Lobdell captured that purpose in his hope that young people would move beyond “Look what they did” to “Imagine what I could do.”
Nominations are now open for the Class of 2027 exclusively via The Sailing Museum website.