Corinthian Spirit Award winners give back to local community programs
by New York Yacht Club 13 Dec 2024 15:47 PST
Corinthian Spirit Award © Paul Todd / OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM
Kindness on the racecourse, especially in the heat of battle, is a good indication of overall character. Nonetheless, it was a surprise when the team composed of Heidi Backus Riddle and her three sisters, which won the Corinthian Spirit award at the New York Yacht Club Women's Championship last June, announced they would donate the accompanying prize—$3,000 worth of Helly Hansen gear—to a worthy community sailing program. A few months later, the team from Little Traverse Yacht Club followed suit after winning the Corinthian Spirit Award at the 2024 Resolute Cup.
The Corinthian Spirit Award made its debut at the 2016 Resolute Cup and has since become a staple of that regatta and its bigger sibling, the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. The award, which honors good sportsmanship and positive racecourse demeanor, has always been decided by a vote of the competitors. This year, with the generous support of longtime partner Helly Hansen, the Club decided to award it at two events: the second edition of the Women's Championship in late June and the seventh edition of the Resolute Cup in September.
"We feel so honored," said Heidi Backus Riddle, who skippered the Your Mom team to 10th of 19 in the regatta and a resounding win in the Corinthian Spirit Award voting. "We've sailed a long time together and what we think about is family and giving back and whatever we can do for this sailing group. And so when people asked us a couple questions, we said, 'Yes, we'll do it, we'll give you some advice.' For us, it's all about having fun, and it's an honor to win this truly. It's better than winning the regatta. Well, maybe not better, but close."
Previous winners passed the award along to the junior sailing program at their respective clubs, but Backus Riddle and her sisters decided, with the junior program at their home club on solid financial ground, to look toward a worthy community sailing program. They settled on The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 2024, The Foundry introduced more than 1,600 students to sailing and rowing in addition to hundreds of youths taking higher-level lessons.
"This gift is a very real need for us at every level; gear becomes a true barrier as students desire to advance," said Gina Trebilcock, Executive Director of The Foundry. "We are very grateful to team Your Mom for winning the gear donation from Helly Hansen. Thank you for your insight in keeping the Foundry on your sailing compass."
For the Little Traverse Yacht Club team, which finished 14th of 28 at the Resolute Cup, it was an easy decision when it came to selecting a worthy program to receive the $3,000-worth of Helly Hansen gear. Former America's Cup sailor Merritt Keffer competed as part of the LTYC team. She's also the president of Little Traverse Sailors, which has for more than 60 years provided community sailing access for residents of Harbor Springs, Mich, and the surrounding area. Keffer says the gear will be used to support the program's J/70 training program.
"Sailing is a great equalizer when it comes to gender and it should be with regard to socio-economic barriers as well," said Keffer. "We are proud of the difference LTS has made for all who have sailed with us. Our mission is Building Lifelong Sailors, and we take that very seriously!"
"Being able to recognize those competing with the highest character during the event with the Corinthian Spirit Award is a natural intersection with the Women's Championship and the Resolute Cup," said Brady Barry, Senior Director of Marketing for Helly Hansen. "But to extend this award even further, allowing those individuals to fuel their local community sailing programs as part of winning the award is at the heart of what sailing is all about. We couldn't be more excited to help out both Little Traverse Sailors and The Foundry outfit their programs."