Severn Sailing Association
A Rich History of One-Design Sailing in Annapolis
Club History
1954
Incorporated
On October 28, 1954 a small group of sailors from the Round Bay Community on the Severn River incorporated a new sailing club - the Severn Sailing Association (SSA).
Founding Members: John J. Hopkins, Richard C Bartlett, and Robert F. Podlich
1956
SSA Burgee Created
John Donald sketched the first iteration of the SSA burgee; navy blue shapes representing Severn River and Round Bay over a white background.
1958
Sycamore Point Clubhouse
Volunteers and members built a clubhouse and raised the SSA burgee for the first time on Sycamore Point - up the main halyard of Stuart Walker’s International 14.
1959
SSA Created
Volunteers met every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30AM until the pilings were set, bulkheads completed and the lot was filled, creating what we now know as the Severn Sailing Association property.
Opening day was in April, 1959.
1960
First Year of Junior Program
Stovy Brown utilized SSA’s fleet of Cadets to start the club’s first Junior Program. He also integrated the Snipe (Fleet #532) and the Mobjack into the program.
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2024 - Present | Bill Krafft
2023 - 2024 | Bruce Empey
2021 - 2022 | Eric Johnson
2019 - 2020 | Jonathan Phillips
2017 - 2018 | Kim Couranz
2015 - 2016 | Peter Rich
2013 - 2014 | David Koepper
2011 - 2012 | Hal Whitacre
2009 - 2010 | Luke Shingledecker
2007 - 2008 | Joe Van Gieson
2005 - 2006 | Ted Morgan
2003 - 2004 | Alex Stout
2001 - 2002 | John Quay
1999 - 2000 | Tim Cusack
1997 - 1998 | Peter Hale
1995 - 1996 | Dina Kowalyshyn
1993 - 1994 | Griff Hall
1991 - 1992 | Steve Palmer
1989 - 1990 | Paul Weiss
1987 - 1988 | Chuck Millican
1985 - 1986 | Tom Davies
1983 - 1984 | Mark Hasslinger
1981 - 1982 | Larry White
1979 - 1980 | Jim Laudeman
1977 - 1978 | Jack Colwell
1975 - 1976 | Eric Arens
1973 - 1974 | Sam Merrick
1971 - 1972 | Richard C. Bartlett Jr.
1968 - 1970 | Robert Reeves
1966 - 1967 | Crombie Garrett
1964 - 1965 | Robert Tate
1963 | Stuart H. Walker
1962 | Pharo Gagge
1957 - 1961 | Stuart H. Walker
1955 - 1956 | John J. Hopkins
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FLEET / FLEET # / (P)resent
470
29er / (P)
5o5
Byte
C420 / (P)
Cadet
Chesapeake 16
Comet
Day Sailer / Fleet #1 / (P)
Flying Dutchman
Flying Junior (FJ) / (P)
Gannet
Hampton One-Design
Harbor 20 / Fleet #5 / (P)
i420
ILCA (Laser) / Fleet #10 / (P)
Interclub
International 14
J22 / Fleet #19 / (P)
J24 / Fleet #8 / (P)
J70 / Fleet #1 / (P)
Jet 14 / Fleet #61
Johnson 18
Lightning / Fleet #329 / (P)
Melges 15 / (P)
Mobjack
National One-Design
Optimist / (P)
Penguin
Severn One-Design
Snipe / Fleet #532 / (P)
Soling / (P)
Star
Tempest
Thames Turtle
Thistle / Fleet #34 / (P)
Vanguard 15
Viper
VX One
Waszp (P)
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Alphabetically
Acors Thompson Regatta / Soling / 1980-2011, 2013-2016
Blue Crab Roast / Thistle
Chesapeake Open / Day Sailer
Colonial Cup / Snipe / 1st Annual Regatta - 1966
Crab Claw / Laser / 1st Annual Regatta - 1972
Crab Pot / Day Sailer
DickC Cup / Snipe / 1st Annual Regatta - 2023
Frigid Digit / Lightning / 1st Annual Regatta at SSA - 1971 (1st Annual Non-SSA Regatta - 1954)
Ice Bowl / 1st Annual Regatta - 1955
J70 Invitational / 1st Annual Regatta - 2012
Kent Island Circumnavigation Regatta / International 14 / 1979, 1980, 1984, 1987
No Gas Regatta / Lightning / 1st Annual Regatta - 1974
No Ice Bowl
Olivia’s Team Racing Invitational Regatta - 1st Annual Regatta - 2013
Oyster Roast / Thistle
Sandy MacVickar / 1st Annual Regatta 1967
Soling Bowl / 1st Annual Regatta - 1975
Sunshine Open / Laser / 1st Annual Regatta - 1971
TESOD (Tuesday Evening Sailing One-Designs) / 1st Year - 1998
Turkey Tack / FJ / 1st Annual - 2023
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2024 - Soling
2022 - Soling & J24
2016 - Snipe
2015 - 5o5
2007 - Lightning
2000 - Soling & Lightning
1994 - Snipe
1989 - Soling
1985 - Snipe
1978 - Snipe
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2021 - Snipe
2019 - Jet 14, Soling, Snipe US Masters
2018 - Soling
2017 - Soling
2015 - Soling
2014 - Soling
2013 - Soling
2012 - Soling
2010 - Snipe, Soling
2008 - Soling
2006 - Jet 14
2005 - Laser Masters
1995 - Laser
1993 - Soling
1990 - Snipe
1981 - Snipe
1971 - Snipe
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2017 - 5o5
2006 - Soling
2000 - Snipe Women's Worlds
1992 - J24
1991 - Lightning
1984 - International 420
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US Team Racing Championship for the Hinman Trophy - 2024
ICSA College Nationals - 2020
J24 East Coast Championship - 1981 Annually to Present
USODA Optimist Team Trials - 1996, 2005
Adam’s Cup - 1960
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Sailing Hall of Fame Inductees
Gary Jobson (inducted 2011)
Stuart Walker, MD (ind. 2013)
Samuel Merrick (ind. 2015)
Bruce Farr (ind. 2022)
Rolex Yachtsman/Yachtswoman of the Year
Susan Dierdorff Taylor (1987)
Cory Sertl (1995, 2001)
Terry Hutchinson (2008, 2014)
Olympic Medalists
Scott Steele / Windglider / Silver / 1984
Championship of Champions for the Jack Brown Trophy
2024
Arthur Blodgett / Caroline Atwood (2nd)
Lisa Pline / (Amanda Kremer) (11th)
Photographs
SSA Entrance Sign on First Street in the 70's/80's. Members in the background are seen putting up the fence along the street-side of the property.
Interclubs sailing on the Severn in the 80's
Tempest sailing
Lasers rounding a mark
Tempest regatta
Snipe on the Severn
SSA Clubhouse in the late 70's/early 80's
SSA Clubhouse deck from the late 70's/early 80's
The old Junior Program building (late 70's/early 80's)
SSA clubhouse in the late 80's after the first remodel
SSA Clubhouse in 2024
Photo from 1982 Yacht Racing & Cruising Magazine/ Timberland Shoes Hall of Fame Regatta in Newport, RI (Ida Lewis YC). Back Row L>R: George O'Day, Bruce Kirby, Paul Elvstrom, Lowell North, Buddy Melges, Stuart Walker, Hobie Alter. Front Row L>R: Dave Ullman, Steve Benjamin, Gary Jobson, Bob Bavier. Not Pictured: Eric Tabarly, Dennis Connor, Artie Knapp, Ted Hood.
Original SSA Burgee design, sketched in November 1956 by John Donald. This design was copyrighted in 2023.
Favored End from the 1995 Snipe North American Championship at SSA. Photo by Dick C Bartlett.
SSA Race Committee towing the fleet out for the start at the 1995 Snipe North American Championship. Photo by Dick C Bartlett.
A course diagram for the First Annual SSA Regatta held on June 16-17, 1956. Classes included the National One Designs (East Coast Championship), International 14's, Hampton One Designs, Comets, Chesapeake 16's, and Penguins.
Junior Sailors enjoying a breezy day out on a Thames Turtle in the 1970's. Photo by Jen Lawson Sturmer.
Two Junior Sailors working to right their turtled 420 in the Severn River on a windy day in the 1970s. No lifejackets! Photo by Jen Lawson Sturmer.
Teaching a lesson in the club room (late 70's/early 80's)
Launching a Soling at Basin 3 in the late 70's/early 80's
Laudeman Award
The Laudeman Award is presented annually for outstanding service to Severn Sailing Association.
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2024 - Steve Podlich
2023 - Bill Lawson
2022 - Rick Struse
2021 - LeAnn Myhre
2020 - Lisa Pline
2019 - Mike Beer
2018 - Sandy Westphal
2017 - Luke Shingledecker
2016 - Henry Filter
2015 - Ramsey Alexander
2014 - John Gebhardt
2013 - Barbara Vosbury
2012 - Hal Whitacre
2011 - Sean Smith
2010 - Alex Stout
2009 - Robert Reeves
2008 - Ted Morgan
2007 - Mike Waters
2006 - John Potter
2005 - Lori Stout
2004 - John Quay
2003 - Don Moore
2002 - Tim Cusack
2001 - Jim Urban
2000 - Peter Hale
1999 - Tom Davies
1998 - Kathy O’Brennan
1997 - Dina Kowalyshyn
1996 - Dick “C” Bartlett
1995 - H Palmer
1994 - Phil Richmond
1993 - Stuart Walker
1992 - Ed Hoyt
1991 - Mark Hasslinger
1990 - Crombie Garrett
Alden Bugly Trophy
In memory of John Potter who made Dinghy Racing fun.
John was an innovative promoter of small boat racing in Annapolis. He developed the TESOD (Tuesday Evening Sailing One-Design) concept of unscored, short-course dinghy racing run by SSA for all comers. Under his leadership, TESOD became an Annapolis institution, attracting scores of sailors each summer Tuesday evening. A Member of SSA for over 20 years, he also was a valued PRO, a mentor to new race officers, and a great IT resource for the club.
This award is made annually to a Member whose actions have promoted one-design small boat racing at SSA with an emphasis on making racing fun.
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2023 - Lisa Pline
2022 - Devon & Lauren Feusahrens
2021 - Ben, Amelia, & Hannah Jarashow and Nell Codner-Jarashow
2020 - Scott Williamson
2019 - Ian Burman
2018 - Jesse Falsone
2017 - Juliet Thompson
Perpetual Awards
Outstanding Contribution to Race Committee
Awarded annually to an SSA Member who went above and beyond with their volunteerism in Race Committee.
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2022 - Robin Richards
2021 - Greg Cukor
2020 - Nell Codner-Jarashow, Ben, Amelia, & Hannah Jarashow
2019 - Jim Urban
2018 - Mark Hasslinger
2017 - Sandy Grosvenor
2016 - Steve Podlich
2015 - Joe Friebele
2014 - Peter & Susan Hale
2013 - Ian Burman
2012 - Juliet Thompson
2011 - Mike Waters
2010 - Peter Hale
2009 - Mark Hasslinger
2008 - Mark Hasslinger
2007 - Mark Hasslinger
2006 - John Potter
2005 - Steve Podlich
2004 - Mark Hasslinger & John Potter
2003 - Sandy Grosvenor & Mark Hasslinger
2002 - Jack Colwell
2001 - Sandy Grosvenor
2000 -
1999 - Stuart Walker
1998 - Don Moore
1997 - Sandy Grosvenor
1996 - Alden Bugly aka John Potter
1995 - Kathy Coxe
1994 - Bob Scharf
1993 - Bob Mewhinney
1992 - Steve Podlich
1991 - Ridge Gardnew
1990 - Mark Hasslinger
1989 - Jim Laudeman
1988 - Hugh Elliot
1987 - Mark Hasslinger
1986 - Snipe Fleet: Phil Richmond, RC Chairman
1985 - I14 Fleet: Tome Price, RC Chairman
1984 - Snipe Fleet: John Danneberger, RC Chairman
1983 - Thistle Fleet: Done Moore, RC Chairman
1982 - Comet Fleet: Ed McLean, Jean Gruhler