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National Sailing Hall of Fame Names 11 Inductees to Class of 2021

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National Sailing Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2021 Inductees

The National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) has named eleven sailors to its Class of 2021. The new inductees represent a range of achievements in competitive sailing, boat design, education and service to the sport. The announcement also highlights a significant Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and three notable women whose careers span Olympic competition, America’s Cup leadership and long records of championship success.

This class will be formally celebrated on Saturday, October 16, 2021, during an induction ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island. The ceremony will take place in the newly renovated Armory Building, a historic venue that served as the international press center during Newport’s 12 Metre America’s Cup era and is slated to become the home of The Sailing Museum.

The Class of 2021 joins 90 existing Hall of Famers. All Hall of Famers will be featured in the Legends of Sailing exhibition at The Sailing Museum, scheduled to open in May 2022. The new class follows a period of scrutiny and public discussion about diversity in the Hall’s selections. Critics pointed to past demographics and called attention to the prevalence of white male inductees; that critique noted that 84 of the 90 existing inductees at the time were white men. The inclusion of Captain William D. “Bill” Pinkney and three accomplished female sailors in this class may reflect the Hall’s effort to recognize a broader and more diverse range of contributions to sailing.

Overview of the Inductees

  • Alexander “Red” Bryan and Cortlandt “Bud” Heyniger — Founders of Alcort, Inc., Bryan and Heyniger designed and produced the iconic Sunfish, a small sailboat that became one of the most popular recreational sailing craft in the world. Their work in boat design and mass production brought sailing to a wide audience and left a lasting mark on the sport.
  • William “Carl” Buchan — A championship sailor who earned an Olympic gold medal and served as a defender in the 1988 America’s Cup. Buchan’s competitive record and leadership in high-level racing have made him a prominent figure in American sailing.
  • Agustin “Augie” Diaz — Recognized as Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, Diaz is a World Champion in multiple classes including Star, Snipe and Laser, and he also holds a 505 North American Championship. His achievements across different classes and events underscore a versatile and sustained competitive excellence.
  • Gilbert T. Gray — An Olympic gold medalist from the debut Olympiad of the Star class, Gray also served as a race official and chief measurer. His contributions combined elite-level competition with essential roles in race governance and equipment standards.
  • Lynne Jewell Shore — One of the early women to win an Olympic gold medal in sailing, Lynne Jewell Shore was named Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and later served as Executive Director of Sail Newport. Her accomplishments as an athlete and administrator have had lasting impact on opportunities for sailors, especially women.
  • Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce — Founder of the U.S. Naval War College in 1884, Luce is recognized for his leadership in seamanship education and naval training. His legacy as an educator helped shape professional approaches to seamanship and naval instruction.
  • Jane Wiswell Pegel — A three-time Martini & Rossi (now Rolex) Yachtswoman of the Year, Pegel won numerous national and North American championships in both sailing and iceboating. Her career demonstrates exceptional versatility and sustained competitive success in multiple disciplines.
  • Dawn Riley — A pioneering leader in high-profile ocean and match racing, Riley was the first woman to manage an America’s Cup syndicate and the first American to sail in three America’s Cups and two Whitbread Round the World races (now The Ocean Race). Her career broke barriers in offshore and international yacht racing.
  • Richard “Dick” Rose — With three decades of service on World Sailing’s Racing Rules of Sailing Committee, Rose is widely regarded as the international authority on the Racing Rules of Sailing. His influence on rules interpretation and development has guided fair competition worldwide.
  • Captain William D. “Bill” Pinkney — Named the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Captain Pinkney is the first African American to solo-circumnavigate the globe via the Capes. His voyage and lifelong commitment to sailing have inspired many and represent a historic achievement in solo ocean voyaging.

The Class of 2021 reflects a mixture of competitive champions, innovators in boat design, influential educators and pioneering leaders. Their inclusion strengthens the Hall’s narrative of sailing history by recognizing contributions across racing, design, governance and outreach. A recent feature story also highlighted Captain Bill Pinkney’s life and career, underscoring the personal and cultural significance of his circumnavigation.

The Legends of Sailing exhibition at The Sailing Museum will present these Hall of Famers alongside earlier inductees, offering visitors a comprehensive look at notable figures who have shaped the sport. The exhibition’s planned opening in May 2022 will provide a public forum for celebrating the history, diversity and achievements of American sailing.