Jack Ward
JACK WARD was an AMYA member since 2005, until his passing in 2023. He was involved in our sport at all levels and an officer or leader in most. Locally, Jack was the Commodore of the Sun Coast Model Sailing Club (SCMSC) in Punta Gorda, Florida when I moved to Port Charlotte, Florida in 2009. At that time, it was the largest club in the AMYA and Jack had worked his way up through the progression of club officers over the years. The club had a gold, silver, and bronze fleet for Soling 1 Meter skippers and Jack, a gold fleet sailor, was very active in supervising and training the newer sailors in the bronze fleet. I specifically remember one of his training techniques where he would randomly tap a beginning skipper on the shoulder and the skipper was to immediately identify, correctly, whether he was on a port or starboard tack. A wrong answer earned you a 360-degree penalty turn. He also monitored the skippers for rule infringements. He used an infraction as a teachable moment and he would inform both skippers of the offense and would explain the appropriate rule so future occurrences would be avoided. Many sailors sail at their pond and go home giving back little to their club. This was not the case with Jack; he gave back much more than he took from his home club. As mentioned above SCMSC was one of the largest clubs in the AMYA. This was in part a result of their efforts to develop and retain new skippers. Jack was very active in this program when he was not on-the-road attending away regattas. Jack was always promoting club regattas to give the members regatta experience at their home course and then encouraged them to attend away regattas. Jack also was instrumental in SCMSC hosting many RCR's and NCR's at Sun Coast. Jack set the bar for every member of the AMYA to aspire to. He was actively involved in his local club and held some offices for more than one term. He supported and helped train new club members. He organized and promoted regattas at his club for regional, state, and national events.
Jack was also active in the US12 class association. He was the Class Secretary from 2008-2023. As typical, as a Class Secretary, he registered new class members, kept a national membership roster, promoted the class, and scheduled Regional (RCR's) and National Regattas (RCR's) for the Class. This position was Jack's entry into a national level position.
In 2016 Jack was elected as AMYA Region 7 Director and represented all of Florida for our great organization. Region 7 has more members and more clubs than any other Region. In 2019 Jack volunteered to fill in as Vice President of the AMYA when a vacancy suddenly arose. Jack, with his experience in club, regional, national, class activities, and a career in law, was a perfect candidate to be involved in a major re-write of the AMYA constitution and by-laws.
Jack believed in his local community and giving back. Charlotte County Florida holds an annal senior games week each year. Jack worked with the local officials to ensure that radio-controlled races were a part of the county's event. The SCMSC hosts an annual Race for the Cure which is a fundraiser regatta to help fight cancer.
Jack was very active on the racing circuit and holds national titles in three classes. Winning the Micro Magic NCR earned him a slot in the first ever Champions of Champions regatta.
The Hall of Fame Policy page on the AMYA website starts with I. Purpose. The first sentence of the purpose states The purpose of the American Model Yachting Association's Hall of Fame award is to recognize individuals who have provided unusual, identifiable contributions on a nationwide basis to our sport/hobby. This statement describes Jack Ward perfectly. While many clubs have an outstanding member who deserves an award for all that they do for their local club, and Jack is one of these. The AMYA Hall of Fame is purposed to recognize individuals who contribute on a national level. Again, Jack personifies such an individual. He was the US12 Class Secretary for fifteen years, Region 7 Class Secretary for 4 years, Vice President of the AMYA for nearly two years, Associate Director of Region 7 for three years, and a member of the committee to update the By-Laws and the AMYA Policies and Principals. Radio-controlled sailing and the AMYA are a better place because of Jack Ward.
JACK WARD was an AMYA member since 2005, until his passing in 2023. He was involved in our sport at all levels and an officer or leader in most. Locally, Jack was the Commodore of the Sun Coast Model Sailing Club (SCMSC) in Punta Gorda, Florida when I moved to Port Charlotte, Florida in 2009. At that time, it was the largest club in the AMYA and Jack had worked his way up through the progression of club officers over the years. The club had a gold, silver, and bronze fleet for Soling 1 Meter skippers and Jack, a gold fleet sailor, was very active in supervising and training the newer sailors in the bronze fleet. I specifically remember one of his training techniques where he would randomly tap a beginning skipper on the shoulder and the skipper was to immediately identify, correctly, whether he was on a port or starboard tack. A wrong answer earned you a 360-degree penalty turn. He also monitored the skippers for rule infringements. He used an infraction as a teachable moment and he would inform both skippers of the offense and would explain the appropriate rule so future occurrences would be avoided. Many sailors sail at their pond and go home giving back little to their club. This was not the case with Jack; he gave back much more than he took from his home club. As mentioned above SCMSC was one of the largest clubs in the AMYA. This was in part a result of their efforts to develop and retain new skippers. Jack was very active in this program when he was not on-the-road attending away regattas. Jack was always promoting club regattas to give the members regatta experience at their home course and then encouraged them to attend away regattas. Jack also was instrumental in SCMSC hosting many RCR's and NCR's at Sun Coast. Jack set the bar for every member of the AMYA to aspire to. He was actively involved in his local club and held some offices for more than one term. He supported and helped train new club members. He organized and promoted regattas at his club for regional, state, and national events.
Jack was also active in the US12 class association. He was the Class Secretary from 2008-2023. As typical, as a Class Secretary, he registered new class members, kept a national membership roster, promoted the class, and scheduled Regional (RCR's) and National Regattas (RCR's) for the Class. This position was Jack's entry into a national level position.
In 2016 Jack was elected as AMYA Region 7 Director and represented all of Florida for our great organization. Region 7 has more members and more clubs than any other Region. In 2019 Jack volunteered to fill in as Vice President of the AMYA when a vacancy suddenly arose. Jack, with his experience in club, regional, national, class activities, and a career in law, was a perfect candidate to be involved in a major re-write of the AMYA constitution and by-laws.
Jack believed in his local community and giving back. Charlotte County Florida holds an annal senior games week each year. Jack worked with the local officials to ensure that radio-controlled races were a part of the county's event. The SCMSC hosts an annual Race for the Cure which is a fundraiser regatta to help fight cancer.
Jack was very active on the racing circuit and holds national titles in three classes. Winning the Micro Magic NCR earned him a slot in the first ever Champions of Champions regatta.
The Hall of Fame Policy page on the AMYA website starts with I. Purpose. The first sentence of the purpose states The purpose of the American Model Yachting Association's Hall of Fame award is to recognize individuals who have provided unusual, identifiable contributions on a nationwide basis to our sport/hobby. This statement describes Jack Ward perfectly. While many clubs have an outstanding member who deserves an award for all that they do for their local club, and Jack is one of these. The AMYA Hall of Fame is purposed to recognize individuals who contribute on a national level. Again, Jack personifies such an individual. He was the US12 Class Secretary for fifteen years, Region 7 Class Secretary for 4 years, Vice President of the AMYA for nearly two years, Associate Director of Region 7 for three years, and a member of the committee to update the By-Laws and the AMYA Policies and Principals. Radio-controlled sailing and the AMYA are a better place because of Jack Ward.