On display are prizes given to the club to honor accomplishments; most honoring speed, some honoring endurance, some honoring accuracy and others honoring service.
Donors have been competitors, families, friends and past Commodores. Behind each trophy is a story, which we have tried to report with accuracy to the extent of all known facts. The names engraved on each trophy offer only the briefest, albeit permanent, recognition of the accomplishment of the winning captain, ship and crew. Some trophies have lengthy stories involving competition, triumph, and since this is yachting, distinction. Some were new acquisitions for the record entry in 100th Race to Mackinac in 2008, all of which were named for various elements of geography that are part of the racecourse.
Yachting has changed over the years. Boat designs and race venues continually evolve. The club has accommodated these changes by changing the assignment of various trophies within events and in some cases from one event to another.
There are some gaps in the records; some are due to no event sailed that year, some due to a reduced number of sections sailed, and some are due to lost records. The club first undertook a comprehensive record in booklet form compiled by Samuel Clarke and published in 1962. An update was undertaken by Mark Baxter in 1976. The electronic format should now allow us to update the record as events occur. The Prize and Perpetual Trophy Committee, the Trophy Committee for the sake of brevity, welcomes additions and corrections.
We look to the future when we see our trophy room, eager for new additions and amended triumphs.