About the Award

The Paul Risseeuw Sportsmanship Award is given annually if a deserving recipient is nominated and selected by the ECSA Board of directors. It is awarded to a junior sailor who best exemplifies the spirit of sportsmanship in the ECSA by demonstrating not only sportsmanship, but also fair play and concern for his or her fellow sailors.

Paul’s namesake award is open to any ECSA junior sailor who reaches his or her 13th but not 19th birthday in the calendar year. The sailor must be nominated by their club, fellow sailors, or a sailing organization. Nominations must be submitted in writing by mail or email to the ECSA junior chairman at any time and must include a paragraph detailing how the nominee exhibited sportsmanship, either from a single significant event or sustained exemplary performance.

Submissions are reviewed by the ECSA board of directors, who select a final recipient or recipients. The award is announced and presented at the ECSA Junior Award Event. Please note there is a perpetual trophy and a “keeper award.” The perpetual trophy is held by the recipient’s club for the ensuing year and must be returned. The “keeper award” is presented to the recipient, who keeps the award as the name suggests. The keeper is to be an “item of use” rather than a traditional award.

About Paul

Paul W Risseeuw was the ECSA Junior Chairman from 1992 until 2015. During and prior to that time, Paul was continuously involved at the club, local, regional, and national levels working to improve junior sailing programs. An accomplished racer himself, Paul wanted junior sailors to learn to “sail fast.” More than that he wanted them to learn to sail fair and to develop into good people while having fun. Paul worked tirelessly toward these goals and his efforts were appreciated by all.

Editors note: Paul’s middle name was “W” — there is not a missing period.