1999 - Dr. Tadeusz Grygier (Tad)

First Recipient of the George Hinterhoeller Award. Tad was nominated by the Shark Fleet of Britannia Yacht Club in Ottawa, where as you will see, he has had a significant influence in Shark sailing.

Tad was instrumental in the founding of the International Shark Class Association; he's been a pillar of the BYC Shark fleet, one of the world's largest and most active; and for 32 years, he's given much of his time and energy to developing the Shark as an international class. At 84 years old, Tad continues to introduce new sailors to the Shark and the sport of sailing, and can still be found out on the race course in local, national and international Shark events.

It was at Ashbridges Bay that Tad saw his first Shark, hull #1; and, as he says,  "It was love at first sight!"  He bought Shark #37, "Calypso" in 1967 and sailed her from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto. Later in the summer, he took a job in Ottawa to start the world's first centre of applied criminology. He arrived, to awaiting TV and newspaper reporters, in his Shark! He'd sailed from Toronto to Ottawa, and in doing so not only completed one of the Shark's earliest passages, but saved on moving expenses.

While in Sweden for the Shark World Cup in 1975, Tad, together with several European sailors, organized the first meeting of the International Shark Class Association and was nominated as its first president. He declined, arguing that Sharks were well organized in North America and the Class would benefit from having a European president. Switzerland's Werner Busenhart was duly elected, but Tad remained involved by drafting the ISCA' constitution and Championship Rules.

In 1977 Tad returned to Europe for the Shark World Cup in Travemonde, Germany. Again he was nominated as ISCA president. This time he accepted and was elected unanimously.

Back in Ottawa he formed an international executive composed of representatives of the national Shark class associations of Austria, Canada and the US, Germany, Holland, Sweden and Switzerland. He also designed a Shark logo for ties and scarves. But certainly his biggest contribution to the well-being of the class was his successful negotiations with Shark designer and builder George Hinterhoeller for the purchase of the Shark plug and molds, and of the rights for the ISCA to license builders. This initiative has served to protect the one-design character of the Shark and encouraged production to the present day.

Tad also lobbied to have the Shark admitted as the first racer-cruiser class in the Olympics. These negotiations (in Genoa in 1979), with chairman of the Olympic sailing section were friendly but inconclusive: the Olympic Committee was not in favour of admitting any racer-cruiser to world competition. The failure of the negotiations was, Tad now believes, a blessing in disguise.

Apart from his efforts internationally, Tad has continued to have a significant impact promoting and building his local Fleet. He arranged a short film for French-language television on crew training in a Shark; he has, on more than one occasion, served as Shark Fleet commander at Britannia Yacht Club, and he continues to write a Shark column for the Club newsletter. Testament to his efforts can be found in BYC's Shark Pen, where many of the almost 30 skippers admit to being first bitten by the Shark bug while crewing for Tad.

As a racer, Tad has won numerous local class championships, and has been Quebec Provincial Champion four times. He has also earned an amazing 16 top-ten finishes at the Shark Worlds.

Tad has taken home many a Shark trophy over the years; but clearly, he's given far more than he has received. Every one-design fleet needs its champion, and, since that day at Ashbridges Bay 34 years ago, Tad has been ours. It's doubtful the Shark would have enjoyed the success it has without his dedication, enthusiasm, and service. For that, Shark sailors around the world owe him our thanks.

Eric Calvert, commander, the Shark Fleet at Britannia Yacht Club on behalf of the Fleet, 275 Atlantis Ave., Ottawa, ON K2A 1X7