Gary Jobson
Encyclopedia
Gary Jobson is a decorated sailor
, television commentator, sailing lecturer, and author based in Annapolis, Maryland
. He has recorded many achievements in his sailing career, having won multiple championships in one-design classes, the America's Cup
with Ted Turner
in 1977, the Fastnet Race
, and many of the world's ocean races. Jobson is also an active cruising sailor, having led expeditions to the Arctic
, Antarctica, and Cape Horn
.
In October 2003, Jobson was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame
by the Herreshoff Marine Museum
. In 1999, Jobson won the Nathanael Herreshoff
Trophy, US Sailing
's most prestigious award, and as of 2010 is the current president of US Sailing. Jobson is also the National Regatta Chairman of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's sailing program.
Jobson has authored 15 books on sailing, and is Editor at Large of Sailing World and Cruising World magazines. In addition to his print work he has been ESPN
's sailing commentator since 1985. He won an Ace Award for Cable Excellence for his coverage of the 1987 America's Cup
. In 1988, Jobson won an Emmy for his production of sailing at the Olympic Games in South Korea
and also won an Emmy for the 2006 Volvo Ocean Race
on PBS.
In college, Jobson was named an All-American sailor three times and was twice named College Sailor of the Year (1972, 1973). He graduated with his bachelor's degree
and Third Mate's License (Unlimited Tonnage) from the State University of New York Maritime College
in 1973. He began his career as a sailing coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Jobson currently races an Etchells
, owns a Sabre 402, Whirlwind and has a partnership in a NYYC Swan
42, Mustang.
. He was awarded an Emmy in 1988 for his coverage of 1988 Olympic Games - Yachting
.
Jobson's next award came in 1999, the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Award from US Sailing. This was followed by the Best Sports Book Award of 2002, awarded him in 2003 by the Independent Publisher Book Awards in America for his book Fighting Finish. In the same year, Jobson was inducted into the Herreshoff Museum America's Cup Hall of Fame
. In 2004, he received the Spiral of Life Award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
and in 2011 Jobson received the Charles M. Leighton Award for Outstanding Service.
, International Yacht Restoration School
, Annapolis Yacht Club, and the National Sailing Hall of Fame
.
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
, television commentator, sailing lecturer, and author based in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. He has recorded many achievements in his sailing career, having won multiple championships in one-design classes, the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
with Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
in 1977, the Fastnet Race
Fastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
, and many of the world's ocean races. Jobson is also an active cruising sailor, having led expeditions to the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
, Antarctica, and Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
.
In October 2003, Jobson was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame
America's Cup Hall of Fame
The America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition...
by the Herreshoff Marine Museum
Herreshoff Marine Museum
The Herreshoff Marine Museum, located in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, is a maritime museum dedicated to the history of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, yachting, and the America's Cup...
. In 1999, Jobson won the Nathanael Herreshoff
Nathanael Herreshoff
Nathanael Greene Herreshoff I , was an American naval architect-mechanical engineer. "Captain Nat," as he was known, revolutionized yacht design, and produced a succession of undefeated America's Cup defenders between 1893–1920....
Trophy, US Sailing
US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association, better known as US Sailing, is the governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States, particularly yacht, dinghy, windsurfing, and radio sailing racing...
's most prestigious award, and as of 2010 is the current president of US Sailing. Jobson is also the National Regatta Chairman of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's sailing program.
Jobson has authored 15 books on sailing, and is Editor at Large of Sailing World and Cruising World magazines. In addition to his print work he has been ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's sailing commentator since 1985. He won an Ace Award for Cable Excellence for his coverage of the 1987 America's Cup
1987 America's Cup
The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-seventh challenge for the America's Cup and the first time for 132 years that it had not been defended by the New York Yacht Club....
. In 1988, Jobson won an Emmy for his production of sailing at the Olympic Games in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and also won an Emmy for the 2006 Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three years. It is named after its current owner, Volvo...
on PBS.
In college, Jobson was named an All-American sailor three times and was twice named College Sailor of the Year (1972, 1973). He graduated with his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and Third Mate's License (Unlimited Tonnage) from the State University of New York Maritime College
State University of New York Maritime College
SUNY Maritime College is a maritime college located in the Bronx, New York City in historic Fort Schuyler on the Throggs Neck peninsula where the East River meets Long Island Sound...
in 1973. He began his career as a sailing coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Jobson currently races an Etchells
Etchells
The International Etchells Class is a racing class of one-design sailing boats.-History:In 1965, Yachting Magazine launched a competition to select a new three man Olympic keelboat. E. W. "Skip" Etchells, a boat designer, builder and sailor, was interested in the competition, but refrained from...
, owns a Sabre 402, Whirlwind and has a partnership in a NYYC Swan
Nautor's Swan
Oy Nautor AB is a Finnish producer of luxury sailing yachts, based in Jakobstad. It is known for its Swan line of fiberglass yacht. The company was founded in 1966 by Pekka Koskenkylä...
42, Mustang.
Awards
Jobson won the All America Intercollegiate Sailing Team from 1971 to 1973. In 1972 and 1973, he was awarded Intercollegiate Sailor of the Year. He was the America's Cup Winning Tactician in 1977 sailing on Courageous. He was elected to the Sailing World Hall of Fame in 1982 and won the Cable Ace Awards for the 1987 America's Cup1987 America's Cup
The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-seventh challenge for the America's Cup and the first time for 132 years that it had not been defended by the New York Yacht Club....
. He was awarded an Emmy in 1988 for his coverage of 1988 Olympic Games - Yachting
Sailing at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
.
Jobson's next award came in 1999, the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Award from US Sailing. This was followed by the Best Sports Book Award of 2002, awarded him in 2003 by the Independent Publisher Book Awards in America for his book Fighting Finish. In the same year, Jobson was inducted into the Herreshoff Museum America's Cup Hall of Fame
America's Cup Hall of Fame
The America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition...
. In 2004, he received the Spiral of Life Award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society , founded in 1949, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of...
and in 2011 Jobson received the Charles M. Leighton Award for Outstanding Service.
Board of directors
Jobson either serves on or has served on the boards of US Sailing, Olympic Sailing Committee, Leukemia Cup Regatta Series, Fales Committee (US Naval Academy), New York Yacht ClubNew York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
, International Yacht Restoration School
International Yacht Restoration School
The International Yacht Restoration School is a private school on Thames Street in Newport, Rhode Island, that teaches boat and yacht restoration. The school also has a campus in Bristol, Rhode Island, that offers marine technology courses...
, Annapolis Yacht Club, and the National Sailing Hall of Fame
National Sailing Hall of Fame
The National Sailing Center & Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving the history of sailing and its impact on our culture, honoring those have made outstanding contributions to American sailing, teaching math, science and American history, inspiring and...
.