
STORY
14 new Inductees to the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame
15 Oct 2021
On the afternoon of Sunday, October 3rd, fourteen exceptional sailors were inducted into the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame (CSHOF). These individuals collectively accumulated 11 Olympic Medals and won 15 World Championships in an Olympic class. It was a memorable reunion of remarkable sailing talent. The induction had been delayed a year due to COVID-19, and even then, COVID restrictions reduced the audience to 60 people, mostly family and friends. For the first time, the Inductions were broadcast live on YouTube.
Prior to the actual inductions, CSHOF Management Committee member John Kerr recognized the three Hall of Fame members – George Cuthbertson, Don Green, and Bruce Kirby - who have passed away since their inductions. The Master of Ceremonies for the event was Rob Mazza, Chair of the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame Management Committee, and member of the Board of Directors of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston
Even though the majority of the Inductees won their Olympic Medals and World Championships while sailing with others, each received a separate induction to recognize their individual contribution to the sport of sailing in Canada. Pictured below: 8 of the 14 Hall of Fame inductees with MC Rob Mazza. L to R Terry McLaughlin, Thomas and Kirsten Fogh representing Hans Fogh, David Miller, John Ekels, Rob Mazza (MC), Bill Cote, Karen Morch, Andreas Josenhans, Terry Neilson.


Glen Dexter, Andreas Josenhans, and Sandy MacMillan were inducted by fellow Nova Scotian Dana Archibald, a past member of the Canadian National Sailing Team who sailed with Dexter’s daughter and against MacMillian’s son. All three inductees had been a mentor to her. Dana noted that although each was being inducted separately, it was hard not to think of them as a team, since each brought different and complementary strengths to the program. They were each inducted for their two World Championships in the Soling Class in 1977 and 1980. Dana described how in 1976 these three were the first Nova Scotians to compete in the Olympics and
the youngest competitors in the games. Glen Dexter, unfortunately, was unable to attend due to a last minute family commitment. In his remarks read by Archibald, and again reinforced by Josenhans, Dexter emphasized the importance of the Hall of Fame as an inspiration to younger sailors pursuing similar goals. Their boat was named Delusion, as in “Delusions of Grandeur” with each of them recognizing the importance of other Canadian competitors like Miller, Cote, and Ekels, as well as Paul Henderson, against whom they could develop their skills. Dexter also acknowledged the support they received from Buddy Melges with whom Josenhans would later win two Star World Championships. MacMillan described sailing as a life sport, in which you can take part at any age, as well as the importance of the many friends you make along the way. Pictured right: Sandy MacMillan, Dana Archibald and Andreas Josenhans

Terry McLaughlin was inducted for his Silver Medal in the 1984 Olympic Games by his old friend Karen McRae, pulling double duty. Karen also mentioned that Terry’s other sailing accomplishments included being an All American Intercollegiate sailor and captain of the Queens University sailing team, skipper of the 12-Metre Canada I for a 1983 challenge for the
America’s Cup, two time winner of the NYYC Rolex Invitational Regatta, Silver medalist in 2015 Pan Am Games, winning the 1980 FD Word Championship, and winning that Silver Medal in the 1984 Olympics, and recently winning the Canada’s Cup for a 3rd time. Karen suggested that the Gods had presented Terry with three gifts; Sexiness, Superstition, and Super Smarts. She then described each in detail, culminating with the presentation to Terry of a dunce cap, in memory of their victorious 1995 Int’l 14’ Dinghy Team Racing experience in England when all the other team members wore these caps at the awards in recognition of Terry’s superior sailing intellect! Pictured left: Terry McLaughlin

Terry in his acceptance remarks remembered that after a Pre-Olympic Junior Regatta in Europe in 1972 his assigned task was to wash the bottom of David Miller’s soling at the Olympics. Terry credited his father Paul and mother Mary, both top notch Int’l 14’ dinghy sailors, as great influences in life, but neither forced him into sailing. That came naturally growing up on Toronto Island. He acknowledged his reputation for being hard on crews, but pointed out that his crews have been with him for many years. He thought that Evert Bastet was the best crew that Canada had produced. He finished by saying that sailing had been very good to him, even meeting his wife Nicki at a Regatta in Spain.

Terry Neilson was inducted by his good friend and fellow Finn sailor Larry Lemieux for his Bronze Medal in Fins in the 1984 Olympics. Larry described the good times they had together competing against each other in Lasers and Finns, focusing on an
experience at a German regatta near Kiel that involved a broken car key, a friendly cab driver, a visit to a nightclub in Kiel, and a place to stay for the night. As Larry recalled, everything seemed to work out for Terry! In addition to the Bronze Medal, Terry won the European Laser Championship in 1979 and the World Laser Championship in 1982. Fellow Canadian Andy Roy was 2nd. These same sailors would transition to the Finn, which started the Canadian dominance in the Finn Class, culminating with Terry’s 2nd in the Finn Gold Cup and Bronze at Olympics in 1984. Larry went on to explain that all things being equal, the most important factor is toughness. Sailing a Finn or a Laser is painful. Terry, in turn, credited his success to having excellent competition that started in Junior sailing at the National Yacht Club and continued on at Water Rats. Single handed sailors need training partners, and he had the best. It was no secret why he and Andy Roy finished first and second at the 1982 Worlds. They had been training together in Australia for 5 months previous to that! However, as important as training is, having fun is equally as important. Terry wondered whether modern Olympic sailors are able to go to a bar at night after the racing.


John Kerr started sailing with Hans in 1973, after first sailing with Paul Henderson. They won the 1973 Canadian Championships, followed by a North American Championship in 1977, and three European Championships in 1978, 1982 and 1983, and continued to 2005 when they finished 2nd in the North American Championships. John later sat on the Board of Sail Canada and represented sailing on the Canadian Olympic Committee. John thanked Kirsten Fogh for all the support she gave during those many years of sailing. Sailing with Hans, Steve Calder won the 1983 North Americans, the Canadian Olympic trials, and a bronze medal in the 1984 Olympics. Calder acknowledged Hans as a great teacher and that the three of them made a great team.

The Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame Management Committee will soon be preparing for the next series of inductions in 2022.

Rob Mazza
Chair of the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame