Club History

     The Grand River Sailing Association was formed in 1972. The founding members came from the Grand River Yacht Club, Fairport Harbor Yacht Club and marinas along the Grand River just east of Cleveland. It later became The Grand River Sailing Club.
 

     The Sailing Center, located on Water Street in Fairport Harbor, was the first gathering place for the small group of sailors who started what later became Grand River Sailing Club. The marina, an inlet off the main channel of the Grand River, was known locally as “the coal dock.” It was owned by a railroad company. In the beginning, there were no docks, just moorings. Sailors used dinghys to get to and from their boats. The grounds were not improved, either. No parking lot, just a roadway with potholes.

      A local real estate developer Nick Frankovich leased the parcel from the railroad and was the one who installed the first docks. Later in the 1980s, J.T. Osborne Company bought the property and improved it with construction of a picnic pavilion, bathrooms and a barn. The amenities drew more sailboats and racing enthusiasts, which also helped attract more club members.

The left most inlet off the Grand River is the old coal dock. It later became the Sailing Center. This photo is dated 1951. Taken by Robert Ryan. Courtesy of John Ollila.

 

 

Past Commodores

1974 Bill Bornemann 1988 Kurt Kachler 2002 Doug Schmidt 2016 Paul Mathews
1975 Bob Himes 1989 Dennis Johnson 2003 Jim Lynch 2017 Chris Chapman
1976 John Cox 1990 Michael Gaydos 2004 Phil Dolsen 2018 Leigh Garam
1977 Mark Mastrangelo 1991 Skip Malm 2005 Robbie Mock 2019 Michelle Kachler
1978 Gerald Johnson 1992 John Schultz III 2006 Pete Fluhr 2020 Tim Snell
1979 Bob Alessio 1993 Dave Hoops 2007 Ray Dillon 2021 Scott Filson
1980 Paul Huntley 1994 Paul Canfield 2008 Louise Mills 2022 Erik Koviniemi
1981 Jim Hogan 1995 Dave Michos 2009 Brad Knapp 2023 Todd Rogers
1982 Dave Steger 1996 John Allin 2010 Bob Valentine 2024 Greg Shay
1983 John Allin 1997 Tom Snodgrass 2011 Mike Nolan  
1984 Jim McGraw 1998 Colin Mills 2012 Todd Rogers  
1985 Todd Imbler 1999 Paul Mathews 2013 Sandy Woodthorpe  
1986 Dennis Steffy 2000 Grant Edwards 2014 Harold Miller  
1987 John Gaag 2001 Joanne Rose 2015 Brad Knapp  
     
     
     
     The Eschelman Tropy was donated by GRSC in memory of Keith Eschelman.  As a 1981-82 club member, Keith actively raced his Pearson 30, Jeremiah II.  Keither passed away in the fall of 1982, losing a battle with cancer at the young age of 39. The Eschelman Trophy is presented to the spinnacker yacht with the best record for the combined Spring and Fall Sunday races.        The Steger Memorial Trophy was donated by GRSC member, David Steger, as a memorial to his father, Frederick Elmer Steger.  Fred owned and skippered his 32-foot wood yacht, Sinbad, out of Mentor Harbor Yacht Club for over 20 years.  In 1984, Fred became the Wednesday night hellmsman aboard the newest member of the family fleet, Raven (the former yacht of Dave and Jane Steger).  At the helm, Fred proved he could drive an “ultra light” vessel to victory as easily as his seven-ton Sinbad!  Fred passed away on July 9, 1986, after completing a Wednesday night GRSC club race.  The Steger Memorial Trophy is presented to the spinnaker yacht with the best record for the combined Spring and Fall Wednesday races.
     

Eschelman Trophy

Steger Memorial Trophy

Sunday Spring & Fall Overall

Wednesday Spring & Fall Overall

1983 Sybaris, Dave Kipp   1986 Breakaway, Bob & Steve Karns
1984 Sybaris, Dave Kipp   1987 Lake Effect, Kurt Kachler
1985 Sybaris, Dave Kipp   1988 Schnap's Revenge, Colin Mills
1986 Little Feat, Todd Imbler   1989 Breakaway, Bob & Steve Karns
1987 Moonshadow, John & Karen Gaag   1990 Breakaway, Bob & Steve Karns
1988 Thriller, Jim Hogan   1991 Raven, Dave & Jane Steger
1989 Moonshadow, John & Karen Gaag   1992 Thriller, Jim Hogan
1990 Albino Swine, Dave Kipp   1993 Raven, Dave & Jane Steger
1991 Thriller, Jim Hogan   1994 Moonshadow, John & Karen Gaag
1992 Moonshadow, John & Karen Gaag   1995 Albino Swine, Dave Kipp
1993 Albino Swine, Dave Kipp   1996 Cartel, Grant Edwards & Dave Steger
1994 Moonshadow, John & Karen Gaag   1997 Turbulance, Dave Michos
1995 Moonshadow, John & Karen Gaag   1998 Cartel, Grant Edwards & Dave Steger
1996 Cartel, Grant Edwards & Dave Steger   1999 Cartel, Grant Edwards & Dave Steger
1997 Cartel, Grant Edwards & Dave Steger   2000 High Voltage, Dave Kipp
1998 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews   2001 High Voltage, Dave Kipp
1999 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews   2002 Adrenalin, Pete And Sherri Fluhr
2000 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews   2003 Thriller, Jim Hogan
2001 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews   2004 Bird of Prey, Dennis & Brenda Steffy
2002 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews   2005 Bird of Prey, Dennis & Brenda Steffy
2003 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews   2006 Wish, Colin & Louise Mills
2004 Quickdraw, Jim McGraw   2007 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler
2005 Wish, Colin & Louise Mills   2008 Wish, Colin & Louise Mills
2006 Wish, Colin & Louise Mills   2009 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler
2007 Wish, Colin & Louise Mills   2010 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews
2008 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler   2011 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler
2009 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler   2012 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler
2010 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler   2013 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler
2011 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler   2014 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews
2012 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler   2015 Wish, Colin & Louise Mills
2013 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler   2016 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews
2014 Adrenalin, Kurt Kachler   2017
2015  not given out   2018
2016  not given out   2019
2017 not given out   2020
2018 not given out   2021 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews
2019 not given out   2022 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews
2020 not given out   2023 Lionheart, Steven Sears
2021 not given out   2024 Lionheart, Steven Sears
2022 not given out    
2023 Lionheart, Steven Sears    
2024 Whitehawk, Paul & Kathy Mathews    
     
     
     

 

JAM Fleet Overall

1983 Valkyie, Bob Johnson   2019 Bird of Prey, Dennis & Brenda Steffy
1984 Drumbeat, Robert Kalman   2020 Bird of Prey, Dennis & Brenda Steffy
1985 Scot Free, D. Ferguson   2021 Bird of Prey, Dennis & Brenda Steffy
1986 Mainstay, A. Schiesswohl   2022 Bird of Prey, Dennis & Brenda Steffy
1987 Valkyie, Bob Johnson   2023 Adrenalin, Kurt Katchler
1988 Lindy, Phil McKeel   2024 Bird of Prey, Dennis & Brenda Steffy
1989 Fantasia, Hollis & Nancy Schuler    
1990 Fantasia, Hollis & Nancy Schuler    
1991 Fantasia, Hollis & Nancy Schuler    
1992 Delirious, Jim & Denise Brock    
1993 Fantasia, Hollis & Nancy Schuler    
1994 Intuition, Gary Sweetapple    
1995 Jagon, Tim Brauneck    
1996 Tachyon, Paul Canfield    
1997 Tachyon, Paul Canfield    
1998 Blue Streak, Dan & Sheryl Stanley    
1999 Nature's Way, Carl Hurford    
2000 Tachyon, Paul Canfield    
2001 White Dragon, Dave Majni    
2002 Tachyon, Paul Canfield    
2003 Tachyon, Paul Canfield    
2004 Lotte Rose, Robert & Coletta Savinell    
2005 Providence, Bud Reinhard    
2006 Notorious, Brad & Cindy Knapp    
2007 Changes, Phil & Lorraine Dolsen    
2008 Providence, Bud Reinhard    
2009 Notorious, Brad & Cindy Knapp    
2010 Notorious, Brad & Cindy Knapp    
2011 Notorious, Brad & Cindy Knapp    
2012 Providence, Bud Reinhard    
2013 Notorious, Brad & Cindy Knapp    
2014 Notorious, Brad & Cindy Knapp    
2015 Notorious, Brad & Cindy Knapp    
2016 Notorious, Brad & Cindy Knapp    
2017 Ragtop, Roland Walrath    
2018 Ragtop, Roland Walrath    
 
 
 
     Sam Adelstein and his wife, Harriet, were active cruising members of GRSC for many years. They spent numerous summers cruising upon their Cape Dory 28, Chicken Sloop.  Sam passed away in 1991 while sailing aboard his yacht. This memorial award is presented to the GRSC cruising yacht with the most logged nautical miles within the GRSC sailing season.
 

Samuel J. Adelstein Cruising Fleet Award

1994 Strider, R. Prentice

1995 Journey, Jack & Sue Pavesich

1996 Changes, Philip & Laura Dolsen

1997 Changes, Philip & Laura Dolsen 

1998 Journey, Jack & Sue Pavesich

1999 Avalon, Dave & Deanna Hoops

2000 Journey, Jack & Sue Pavesich

2001 Journey, Jack & Sue Pavesich

2002 Kasha, Ken & Sandy Strauffer

2003 Outlaw, George & Pat Schlauch

2004 Changes, Philip Dolsen

2005 Crews Control, Ron & Arlene Toivonen

2006 Crew's Control, Ron & Arlene Toivonen

2007 Outlaw, George & Pat Schlauch

2008 Journey, Jack Pavesich & Sue Brannan

2009 Crews Control, Ron & Arlene Toivonen

2010 Outlaw, G. & P. Schlauch 2011 Crews Control, Ron & Arlene Toivonen 2012 Painkiller, D. Scarnati 2023 Pyxis, Dan Pheiffer (1227 MN)
       
       

 

Foredeck Cleat Award

Sportsmanship Award

1986 Kevin Nugent (High Hopes), Mike Gaydos (Dagger), Karen Gaag (Moonshadow), Jane Steger (Raven)

  1987 Robert Irvine
1987 Shawn Kipp (Sybaris)   1988 Jack Smith & Pete Wise
1988 Jeff "Motley" Haase (Schnaps' Revenge)   1989 Dave Korce & Del Gladrow
1989 Jeff Johnson (Slippery When Wet)   1990 Paul Mathews
1990 Ron Rychel (Lake Effect)   1991 Jane Steger
1991 Mike Sears (Pack a Lunch)   1992 Sue (Brannan) Pavesich
1992 Dave Katcher (Blind Squirrel)   1993 Deanna (Anderson) Hoops
1993 Fred Moeslein (Albino Swine)   1994 Becky Gladrow
1994 Gordon Grigor (Whitehawk)   1995 Brett Auer
1995 Tom Furlong (Moonshadow)   1996 Craig & Linda Scheiblauer
1996 Dave Hoops Jr. (Avalon)   1997 Paul Canfield
1997 Greg Lentz (Quickdraw)   1998 Charlie Higgins
1998 Jim Peoples (Thriller)   1999 Dan & Sheryl Stanley
1999 Tracy Chapin (Wildthing)   2000 Jane Steger
2000 Sheryl Stanley (Blue Streak)   2001 Dianne Melbone & Jack Rose
2001 Lisa Sears (Scorpion)   2002 Karen McLeod & Val Peoples
2002 Jim Marino (Bird of Prey)   2003 Skip Malm
2003 Terry Pogozelski (Changes)   2004 Tom Snodgrass
2004 ( Not Awarded)   2005 Dennis Steffy
2005 John McLeod (Wish)   2006 Paul & Kathy Mathews
2006 Mike Nolan (Adrenalin)   2007 Gary Nelson
2007 Bob Berthold  (Notorious)   2008 Ray & Dianne Dillon
2008 Andy Podevels  (Whitewawk)   2009 Todd Rogers
2009 Terri Waddle   2010 Bob Valentine
2010 Tim Knott (Pegasus)   2011 Mike Nolan
2011 Trevor Cormack (Adrenalin)   2012 Colin Mills
2012 Scott Furman (Adrenalin)   2013 Rescinded
2013 Chris Brady   2014
2014 Bob Sevald (Adagio)   2015
2015 Louise Mills   2016
2016 Steve Novotny   2017
2017 Matt O'Donnell   2018Scott Filson
2018 Kathy Connell (Whitehawk)   2019
2019 Sierra Bode   2020 Brenda Steffy
2020 Butch Miller (Summer Tune)   2021 Lynette Filson
2021 Steve Juchnowski (Bird of Prey)   2022 Eric Toivonen
2022 Jeff Koski (Pegasus)   2023 Kurt Kachler
2023 Ryan Durda    
     
     
     
     

 

Turning Block Award

Junior Sailor Award

2023 Greg Shey

  @023 Evan Filson
     
     
     
     
     

 

 

Click Here for New Member Information

 

 


Home | Events | Racing Info | Cruising Info | Club History | Newsletters | Board Info | Directions

Racing Results | Classifieds | Links | New Member Information  | Membership Application | Photos | Contact Us