On Thursday, January 31, Sonar Class Administrator Ed “Buttons” Padin of Larchmont Yacht Club, along with Siobhan Reilly and Bill Sandberg of AYC, received the Gay Lynn Award, US Sailing’s highest award for Adaptive Sailing. The award recognizes ten years of the Robie Pierce Regatta hosted and run by Larchmont YC and American YC. Buttons received the award at US Sailing’s National Sailing Programs Symposium in Jacksonville.
Buttons, Bill and Siobhan put together the Robie Pierce after the adaptive championship in 2008. Betsy Allison of US Sailing notes, “The premise was to create and to grow the biggest event in a single one design class in the USA. Buttons, along with Siobhan Reilly and Bill Sandberg, took the ball and ran with it. Larchmont and American YCs have collaborated and shared assets over the years … as they alternate hosting this event from year to year. It obviously has been a great success with the sailors as it rolls into its 11th year!” She also says, “Over the years, “The Robie” has become one of the country’s foremost events for sailors with a broad array of disabilities including physical, neurological and visual impairments.”
Bill Sandberg credits Buttons for initially championing the concept through at Larchmont, and spearheading the effort here since then. He also notes that Buttons was key in creating the “adaptations”, the customizable seats temporarily affixed in the Ideal 18s (the Sonar’s smaller sibling) to allow all the sailors to compete.
One addition to the Robie in which Buttons takes special interest is the Robie Pierce Women’s Invitational. Run the day before the full Robie, it is the world’s only, all-women’s adaptive regatta. While many of the women sail in the full regatta, the women-only event allows many novices to try adaptive sailing.
I am sure Buttons would note that the triumphs of the Robie Pierce Regatta are only achieved by the great effort of his co-chairs and the many LYC and AYC members who pitch in to set up and run the regatta. For those who have been lucky enough to contribute to the Robie, there is a feeling of inspiration watching the grit and determination of the contestants both to race and to win. All are glad to be a part of the continued success of the Robie. We are delighted that Buttons is carrying away the Lynn Trophy this week.
US Sailing describes, “The Gay S. Lynn Memorial Trophy is awarded to a person, volunteer or professional, or to an organization, that is selected by the Para Sailing Committee, as having made an outstanding contribution to disabled sailors and the sport of adaptive sailing over a sustained period of time.”
