Most yacht clubs present their annual awards once a year, at the annual meeting, the change of watch or a winter awards dinner. It is the night the club recognizes the outgoing commodore, the sailors who won the season, the cruisers who went furthest and the volunteers who kept everything running.
This guide lists the awards most clubs give, what goes on each one and how to keep the set consistent from year to year. Every club has its own traditions. Use this as a starting list and keep what fits.
Commodore and past commodore
The outgoing commodore is usually recognized at the change of watch. A past commodore plaque, with the club burgee, the commodore’s name and the years served, is the most common choice. Many clubs keep a matching design for every past commodore, so the plaques line up on the clubhouse wall.
With Gratitude
Commodore
2025 – 2026
Clubs also often keep a board listing every past commodore, with a new plate added each year. Plan the board with room for many years of plates, and send a photo of the existing board when you order a new plate so it matches.
Flag officers and board members who are stepping down can be thanked the same way, with a smaller plaque in the same design. See plaque awards for wood plaque options.
Sailor of the year and junior sailor of the year
Sailor of the year, sometimes called yachtsperson of the year, is usually the top individual award. It may go to the best racer of the season, or to the member who did the most for sailing at the club. Decide which, and say so on the award, so members know what it means.
Junior sailor of the year recognizes a sailor in the junior program. Many clubs present it with the junior program’s other awards, most improved and sportsmanship, at the end of summer, and again at the annual dinner.
Both are often perpetual trophies, with a keeper award for the winner to take home. Perpetual trophies covers how to plan the plates.
Race series and season championships
Racing clubs usually award each series by fleet: summer, evening, spring, fall and frostbite. The annual dinner is where the season champions are presented.
| Award | How many | What goes on it |
|---|---|---|
| Series champions | 1 to 3 per fleet per series | Club, series, year, fleet, place, boat and skipper |
| Season champion | 1 per fleet | Club, year, fleet, “Season Champion,” boat and skipper |
| Perpetual race trophies | 1 plate and 1 keeper each | Trophy name, year, boat and skipper |
| Crew awards | 1 per crew member on winning boats | As above with the crew member’s name |
For awards presented at regattas through the season, see sailing and regatta trophies.
Cruising awards
Not every member races. Cruising awards give recognition to members who spend the season exploring. Common choices:
- Cruiser of the year. For the member or boat with the most notable season of cruising.
- Longest passage. For the furthest single trip by a club boat.
- Most nights aboard. For the boat that spent the most nights away from the dock.
- Rendezvous award. For the boat that attended the most club cruises or rendezvous.
A few clubs add fun awards here too: the boat with the most memorable mishap of the year, or the best story told at the bar. One or two keep the dinner light.
Volunteer of the year and service awards
Yacht clubs run on volunteers: the race committee, the junior program helpers, the house committee and the people who launch and haul boats. Volunteer of the year is often one of the most valued awards of the night.
Service awards for long membership, or for many years on the race committee, fit here too. See volunteer awards for options, and years of service awards for milestone recognition.
Design: build every award around the burgee
The club burgee is the design element members recognize, and it ties every award together. Printed in full color on acrylic, or layered on a wood plaque, it makes the set look like it belongs to one club.
Many older clubs have traditional silver perpetual trophies. We do not make silver cups or bowls. What we make sits alongside them: keeper awards in acrylic and wood, perpetual bases with plates, plaques and boards. Keep the old silver in the trophy case and give the winner a keeper award to take home.
Keep the same design every year with only the name and year changing. When this year’s design is approved, you can reorder it next year with new names.
Running the awards dinner
Most clubs present awards in a set order: junior awards first, then racing, then cruising, then volunteers, then the commodore and sailor of the year last. Set the awards on the table in presentation order, with a list for the presenter.
For the running order and presenter script, see award ceremony program. For counting how many awards you need, how many awards for a banquet walks through the method.
Frequently Asked Questions
What awards does a yacht club give at its annual dinner?
Common ones are past commodore, sailor of the year, junior sailor of the year, series and season champions by fleet, cruising awards and volunteer of the year.
What goes on a past commodore plaque?
The club burgee, the commodore’s name, the title and the years served, often with a line of thanks. Keep the same design for every past commodore so the plaques match.
Do you make silver trophies?
No. We make acrylic, wood and metal awards, plaques, perpetual bases and plates. Many clubs keep their silver perpetuals and give the winner one of our keeper awards to take home.
Can the awards use our club burgee?
Yes. Send the burgee artwork and we use it as the main design element on every award in the set.
How do we keep the awards consistent year to year?
Keep one design and change only the names and year. Reorder the approved design each year, and send a photo of existing plates when you order a new one.
Club awards to order this year?
Send the club burgee, the annual award list and the names once the year is settled. We design every award around the burgee and send a proof for you to approve before anything is produced.
See sailing and regatta trophies
