It was recently announced that the recipient of the first Mystic Seaport America and the Sea Award is our very own Olin J. Stephens II.

The presentation will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. Gary Jobson will be Master of Ceremonies, the Alex Donner Orchestra will provide music for dancing, and other special guests will join us in honoring Olin Stephens.

Olin will be honored for his influence on a generation of sailors and boat designers. His small boat designs broadened the audience for sailing, allowing people from all walks of life to get out on the water and experience the sea. At the same time, he contributed to the highest level of competition in the sport, the America’s Cup. The variety of his designs and the aesthetics he brought to them make him a 20th century legend in his field.