Jody epitomizes the very essence of what it means to be involved in our sport and trying to make it better. He has given much more to all of us and the sport of sailing than he could ever take out in return.

He is a contributing member of the Nahant Dory Club as well as the Lynn Yacht Club.

He is the Governor and handicapper in Nahant for PHRF New England.

His involvement with Mass Bay goes way back and the sheer amount of time effort and energy he has devoted to this organization is incredible. He is a past VP of Offshore and is currently on the Executive Committee.

I'm going to take a shot at guessing that his most enduring legacy will be the time a few years back when he recognized that there needed to be another way for boats to compete at a more relaxed and fun level. To that end he started the Pursuit Series of events that has grown into an amazingly popular and successful phenomena.

He has raced for many, many years. This past season he competed in his new Sabre 36 Summerin. This is of course after he took some time to heal after hurting his leg on one of the first times he was on the boat! He just wasn't used to the new boat since he had spent too many hours to count on his old Cal 2-29 Akeepah. It was with this boat that he was second in Class G in 2000. He won Class G in 2001. Was third in 2003 and 2004. Was second in 2005. Third in 2008. And in the new boat he was second in Class F this year. He won the Pursuit Series in 2007. And was tied for second in 2008. All this success while racing many of the races single handed!

I could go on and on but I told you I would be brief so would you please help me in honoring the winner of this years Distinguished Service to Sailing Award winner JODY GRAUL.