Felix Yaeso, Jr.

Felix Yaeso, Jr.’s entry into the sail racing world reads differently than most sailboat racers. At the age of 14 he was given a B Class iceboat that needed repair. He repaired it independently, learned to sail it,  and sailed countless hours on Lake Winnebago. Having been born just a few blocks away from Oshkosh Yacht Club, Felix became regular crew on A Scows, and in the winter, on A Class stern steerer iceboats in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This led him to a lifetime passion for sailing, sailboat racing and iceboating.

Felix, the son of an immigrant, came from a family of humble means. By 1961 he was married and he had his wife moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and purchased their first boat, a Hershoff 28 catamaran. Frustrated by the lack of organized sailing activities on the Bay, he and a handful of others began racing with the Green Bay Yachting Association. Felix, along with a few other individuals, left and formed the Windjammers Sailing Club in 1964-65.

His accomplishments with the Windjammers Sailing Club include:

• Numerous years as Race Committee Chair and Chief Race Officer
• Numerous years serving as Commodore
• In 1968 became the first Hobie Cat dealer north of Chicago
• In 1975 he was the visionary in organizing and leading the first multihull regatta at Windjammers Sailing Club which continues to this day
• By 1976 Felix had developed one of the largest Olympic Tornado class catamaran fleets in the United States. The fleet consisted of eight boats. He was extremely successful on the race course in this competitive fleet.
• Felix and Peg Stearn created a Small Boat Regatta Series. The regattas were held at Marinette & Menominee Yacht Club, Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, and Windjammers Sailing Club. Each club had unlimited entries to represent their respective club. The series offered three classes: Small Keelboats, Dinghies (like Scows, Lightnings, 505’s, etc.), and Multihulls.

Felix had great passion about developing organized sailing and racing on the lower Bay. His drive was to make sailing accessible to all. He taught his children, neighbor children, and extended family, friends and acquaintances how to sail, boat maintenance, and sportsmanship on and off the water. One thing he insisted upon was to ensure his children learn to sail out of and back into a harbor. “No motors,” a skill that you will never lose. This exemplifies boat handling at its finest.

After racing, Felix always took the time to break down a race, discussing tactics, boat setup, wind, waves, and shoreline features that led to wind shifts. He, himself, was always learning and teaching. He exemplified great sportsmanship by being a humble champion and a gracious loser. He maintained a level head no matter the situation. Felix fostered Multihull, Dinghy and Iceboating in the greater Green Bay community, as well as the Windjammers Sailing Club.

This is only half of Felix’s story. His real skill set was designing and building world class iceboats. He built countless DN iceboats which led to Green Bay having a fleet of 30+ racing DN’s. He led the Windjammer Sailing Club into joining the Northwest Ice Yacht Association, Wisconsin Stern Steerers Association, and International Skeeter Association.

Felix designed national champion Stern Steering iceboats:

• The A Class Michigander, #A10
• The C Class Haywire, #C47
• The Skeeter Sassy #U311

And World Champion

• Skeeter Childsplay #U311
• Skeeter F-N-A #311

Felix repaired countless sailboats and iceboats during regattas to keep the competitors going, no matter what happened. He was always willing to help a sailor in need. Felix always encouraged people from all areas of life to participate in sailing, regardless of income, class or experience.

Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation honorably inducts Felix Yaeso, Jr. into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame.

December 7, 2025

Felix Yaeso, Jr., was nominated by the Board of Directors of Windjammers Sailing Club.

J. Lawrence “Larry” Taunt

J. Lawrence “Larry” Taunt got his start in sail racing on Lake Michigan in 1984 working foredeck on Kinetic Energy. Seriously, Larry worked foredeck! Larry is a financial portfolio manager, guiding his clients to reach their goals and live their dreams. Larry started crewing on Kinetic Energy, owned by a couple of his clients, who were able to buy their first boat thanks to his successful financial guidance.

Right away in 1984 Larry joined the Grand River Sailing Club. An active member, he served the club as Treasurer, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore and then Commodore for two years. As Commodore, Larry led a successful fundraising campaign which brought internationally renowned speakers Buddy Melges, John Rousmaniere and Gary Jobson to Grand Haven to educate and inspire the membership.

In 2000, Larry joined Muskegon Yacht Club, making this his 25^th year of membership. Larry has served this club as Director, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore, Commodore, Past Commodore, and in a continuing role, now seven years running, as Treasurer.

Larry’s years of service to Muskegon Yacht Club has seen his implementation and management of many important activities and improvements. These include, but are not limited to, the refinancing of the dock mortgage twice, implementing ClubSpot, a new yacht club and race management system, and organizing two US Sailing Safety at Sea events.

Larry has competed in 25 Chicago to Mackinac races.  He was inducted into the Island Goats Sailing Society of Chicago in 2024. Larry is a regular competitor in the Queen’s Cup and Clipper Cup races.

Larry became a certified US Sailing Club Race Officer in 2015 and a certified US Sailing Club Judge since 2019. He served as a Judge for the 2023 and 2024 Melges Spring Regatta. Larry became a Life Member of Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation in 2018, served as Commodore in 2023-2024, and Treasurer starting in 2025.

Larry’s work for the J/35 Class includes serving the Lake Michigan Class as President and advancement to the role of J/35 U.S. National Class President. In this role he caused the Class Rules adoption of the use of carbon fiber spinnaker poles.  Larry also organized the J/35 North American Championships in Muskegon in 2009 and 2019.

Many young sailors have begun their sail racing experience aboard Bad Dog, Larry’s J/35 offshore sailboat. He mentors and encourages young sailors to develop in the sport. He has served as Principal Race Officer for the Midwest Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association Turkey Leg Regatta at the Spring Lake Yacht Club for the Shoreline Sailing Teams in 2022 and 2024.

Anyone who knows Larry would agree that he is a very caring and giving person. He is always collected and doesn’t lose his cool, even under stressful situations, like the Mackinac races in 2022, 2023 and 2024.  He is meticulous in his preparation, particularly when it comes to safety. Larry is always willing to teach a new crew member, especially Junior sailors. Larry never uses vulgar language, even when his crew experiences a miscue. Bottom line, Larry is a true gentleman and very deserving to be a member of Lake Michigan Sailing’s Hall of Fame.

Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation heartily honors and inducts J. Lawrence “Larry” Taunt into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame.

November 8, 2025

J. Lawrence “Larry” Taunt was nominated by the Board of Directors of Muskegon Yacht Club.

Douglas “Doug” Vaccarello

Douglas Vaccarello is the kind of sailor and racer who is honest, fair, respectful, and a gracious loser while working to grow the sport in the Kenosha, Wisconsin and Lake Michigan region.

Since becoming a member of the Kenosha Yacht Club on June 1, 1972, Doug has served the club by participating in activities and serving as a member of the Board of Directors, including his term as Commodore from 1984-1986. He continues in leadership to the club as the Dockmaster, Master of Ceremonies for the annual Blessing of the Fleet, and Past Commodore’s Installation Dinner. He has led events like Kenosha Yacht Club hosted Tall Ships Festivals.

Doug is very knowledgeable about the sport of sailing, sail racing, iceboat sailing, and serves as a leader in the area of water safety. His dedication to sail racing has been unwavering and dependable. He is highly respected, a valued friend to all club members and is always available to lend advice and a helping hand.

He is an organizer and participant in Kenosha Yacht Club’s racing program, competing on his C&C 33 Sirocco, on Thursday nights and Sunday mornings. He reaches out to the sailing community to share the great opportunity sail racing offers and encourages their participation. He welcomes new sailors and offers friendly advice for improvement and performance.

With Sirocco, he also has a vast array of awards from the Chicago Race to Mackinac, in over 30  Racine HOOK Races, including a second in section in 2022, the South Shore Yacht Club Queen’s Cup Race, and the Lake Michigan Singlehanded Society 2022 Doublehanded race, in which he boasts a second in Class in 2017.

When the water turns hard in the off season, one will often find Doug on the ice of Kenosha County inland lakes with his iceboat.

Working to grow Kenosha Yacht Club’s racing fleet, Doug welcomes others to join him aboard Sirocco to race and sail. He is patient with beginning racers, yet challenges those who have been out there for a while. In spite of his feisty reputation and competitive spirit, he is the first to invite others into his crew for local races while following the rules of boating and water safety. He respects other boaters and holds others accountable to perform in the same manner.

A Club member wrote the following about Doug, “I have sailed and raced with Doug for over 30 years. He has been the glue that holds our fleet together. In past years we have seen many fleets shrink in numbers. The Kenosha fleet has grown to eighteen boats on the line. Due to Doug’s work as dockmaster and crane operator, he is always helping all of our fleet members. He keeps the mood light and fun for all. He is always available to help make repairs for our members. Doug always has a smile and a joke for all.  Doug is dedicated to the sport of sailing and enjoys all aspects of the sport.”

An endorsement like this is a notable exception to the norm.

Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation is heartily welcomes inductee Douglas Vaccarello into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame.

October 19, 2025

Douglas Vaccarello was nominated by the Board of Directors of Kenosha Yacht Club.

Mark “Wes” Wessel

Mark Wessel has developed as a skilled sailor, racer and leader from his youthful roots in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to experience all over the Great Lakes.

He competed as a Sheboygan Ship 50 Sea Scout, in the Lightning fleet, and the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet.  He has a lifetime of sailing experience. In addition to thousands of miles on the Great Lakes, he also has made a Trans-Atlantic Crossing. He has sailed more than 30 Chicago Race to Mackinacs and over 25 Bayview Mackinac Races as a crew member of the Great Lakes 70s Cynosure and, later, Evolution, with multiple overall wins. He is an inducted member of the Island Goat Sailing Society of Chicago and the Society Of Mackinac Island Old Goats of Detroit.

Mark and his crew on their Olson 25 Vanishing Point were frequent fixtures on the Sheboygan Yacht Club podium before upgrading to the J/92 Runaway about 2018. They achieved a first overall finish in the 2019 HOOK Race, in addition to many more successful finishes to this day.

Not only does Mark compete, he’s also a committed Sheboygan waterfront organizer. He has dedicated long hours to Sheboygan Yacht Club, Sail Sheboygan, and the Sheboygan Youth Sailing Center.

Mark served on the Sheboygan Yacht Club Board of Directors for 10 years, including a term as Commodore from 2018-2020. His leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic ensured the viability of the club through a difficult time. He worked quickly to solve problems. He continues service to the club as its current Measurer.

His dedication to the sport of sailing and racing was evident with his long standing service to the Board of Directors of Sail Sheboygan, including a term as Board President, concurrent with his time on the Yacht Club Board. He was deeply involved in the organization of the 2014 Lightning North American Championship and countless regional, national and international Women’s Match Racing events.

Further, Mark helped manage the equipment for the Sheboygan Youth Sailing Center. He served as a member of its Board of Directors as well.

His years of service to the Sheboygan sailing community and as a participating regional competitor puts Mark notably apart from most others.

Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation is honored to induct Mark Wessel into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame.

October 17, 2025

Mark Wessel was nominated by the Board of Directors of Sheboygan Yacht Club.

Thomas “Tom” Dekker

Tom Dekker has been sailing and racing in the Lake Michigan region for over fifty years, getting his start at age 18 out of Port Washington, Wisconsin.  He joined Port Washington Yacht Club in 1974, is an ongoing active member, past Commodore and consistent racer today.

Tom enjoys sharing his love of sailing and racing and knowledge of skill with everyone.  For many years, passenger van loads of Wisconsin Hoofer Sailing Club members drove to Port Washington to learn from Tom, his crew and the fleet.  Tom instructed church groups. Of course his children, grandchildren and nephews have been the highest priority students and they race with him every summer.

Tom is known as an excellent commander, fully trusted by his crew and striving to maintain safe conduct and passage in all conditions. He has competed in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac over 35 times, on his vessels Warrior and Bravo. He has won his section once, finished second three times, and finished third twice in that storied race. Tom is an inducted member of the Island Goats Sailing Society of Chicago.

He’s raced in the Queen’s Cup Race, HOOK Race, and Clipper Cup distance races on Lake Michigan about that many times.  Port Washington Yacht Club has counted him a steady contestant for its weekly Wednesday evening and Saturday races as well. 

Tom’s commitment to his crew, dedication to teaching others to sail and race, and consistent sailboat racing presence on Lake Michigan has set an exemplary standard few others achieve.

Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation joyfully inducts Thomas Dekker into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame.

October 10, 2025

Thomas Dekker was nominated by the Board of Directors of Port Washington Yacht Club.

Timothy "Tim" Graham

Tim Graham has set the example of service to the sport of sailing. Tim is a retired high school teacher who taught 20^th Century History, CAD, Woodworking and Michigan History and coaches sailing and skiing for Grand Haven and Spring Lake, Michigan, students.

Tim created two high school sailing teams, the Grand Haven High School Sailing Team at Grand River Sailing Club in 1999 and the Spring Lake High School Sailing Team at Spring Lake Yacht Club in 2010. 

He supplied the boats, instructors, maintenance and trailers to start the teams. Tim led fundraising activities for further boats, trailers, supplies, and more. In 2022 the Grand Haven and Spring Lake teams, with Mona Shores High School Sailing Team added, joined together under one foundation, the Shoreline Foundation for High School Sailing. Tim still helps with coaching when needed, performs maintenance and serves on the Board of Directors.

This activity did not prevent Tim from enjoying his own sailing career, as he sailed the Chicago to Mackinac Island Race over 25 times and is honored to be an Island Goat Sailing Society member.  He has sailed dozens of Queen’s Cup races and other offshore races, including those at his home Grand River Sailing Club.

He is affectionally known as “Timmy Ten Boats” as he owns and maintains a small navy of his own of sail, power, and self-propelled vessels.  When he sells one of his boats he takes the new owners out and teaches them all the fine points of sailing and racing. 

He was race committee for Grand River Sailing Club utilizing his C&C 25, Tashmoo, for five years and taught many people how to run races effectively.

Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation proudly inducts Timothy Graham into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame.

May 10, 2024

Timothy Graham was nominated by the Board of Directors of Grand River Sailing Club.

Raymond "Ray" Teborek

Few individuals have contributed as much time and talent as Raymond “Ray” Teborek. He was a lifelong volunteer in the sport of sail boating and sail racing.

Ray spent 25 years mentoring the junior sailing program at Chicago Yacht Club and the Midwest Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association. He served the Chicago Yacht Club Race Committee for 25 years, serving as

Chair in 1979 and became a recipient of the Kay Baxter Recognition Trophy in 2006.

He served the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac Committee for 15 years, Chicago Yacht Club Protest Committee for 22 years and was Chair 3 years (1986-1989), was the Chicago Yacht Club Lake Michigan Yachting Association (predecessor organization to Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation) delegate for 3 years, the Chicago Yacht Club Junior Activities Committee for 21 years, the Chicago Yacht Club Sea Scouts program for 5 years, the United States Yacht Racing Union as a Judge from 1979-1996, the United States Yacht Racing Union Appeals Committee (1987-1996), and was a member of the Chicago Yacht Club Board of Directors.

Ray served the Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association Board of Directors for 8 years. He was a two-time recipient of the Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association Jeff Spranger Award, in recognition of his extraordinary dedication and selflessness in cheerful accomplishment of the many tasks which make school sailing work for sailors, in 2000 and and again in 2009.

Ray was the recipient of the United States Yacht Racing Union Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal in 2001.

Ray influenced the sailing careers of many sailors on Lake Michigan. He created and endowed the Teborek Family Trophy which is given to the top junior male sailor each year at Chicago Yacht Club. This trophy serves as an incentive to those junior sailing program participants who have gained the highest levels of junior sailing skill.

Ray competed in 27 Chicago to Mackinac races and in 2018, with his sons and lifelong crew members, he won the coveted Mackinac Trophy aboard his sail yacht Challenge.

Raymond Teborek is hereby inducted to the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame.

December 6, 2023

Raymond Teborek was nominated by the Board of Directors of Chicago Yacht Club.

Dean Cady

It is not often that a one-design sailor contributes to the improvement of sailing and sailboat racing.  However, Dean Cady is one of those.

Dean started sailing in a rowboat using an umbrella for the sail.  He made it work. That attitude prevailed through his sailing career.  He elected to join the Lightning class to have his children, two daughters and one son, sail with him in all the races in which he participated.  He was an excellent teacher, for he regularly was at the top of the fleet. His talents were noticed and he was invited to race on offshore boats in both the Chicago and Port Huron Mackinac Races.

Dean joined Milwaukee Yacht Club in 1961 and in addition to his sailing, he elected to volunteer in the sport by becoming a US Sailing certified Race Officer and Judge.  He was asked and accepted the charge to be Regatta Chair for the 1983 Finn Gold Cup, that class’ World Championship, with a fleet of 94 boats off shore at Milwaukee.  In addition to that, he has been the Principal Race Officer for many national regattas sponsored by Milwaukee Yacht Club. 

He served as a judge for over 20 years for the Chicago and Port Huron Mackinac Races. Additionally, his judging activity included the 2006 US Singlehanded National Championship in Milwaukee and many times at Antigua Sailing Week.  He was Chief Judge for Milwaukee Yacht Club for many years and served on numerous juries.

Dean has been a World Sailing (formerly International Sailing Federation) International Judge, US Sailing Senior Judge, was the US Sailing Chair of the Championship of Champions and served on the US Sailing Singlehanded Championships Committee.  He has served as Lightning Class Vice President, was Head of Rules and Regulations, and is a Past Commodore – International Lightning Class Association Midwest District.

Dean spent many years active in Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation leadership, serving as Judge Advocate, Chair of the Grants-In-Aid Committee, Appeals Committee, Donation Committee and is a past Commodore.

Finally, Dean was named to the 1982 Merritt R. Hayes Memorial Trophy-Yachtsman of the Year Award at Milwaukee Yacht Club. All this occurred with the continued loving and support from his lovely wife, Lois.

LMSRF proudly inducts Dean Cady into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame. 

March 30, 2023
Dean Cady was nominated by the Board of Directors of Milwaukee Yacht Club.

S. Fredric Horwitz, M.D.

Few individuals have had as much of an impact on bringing the youth into the sport of sailing and sail racing as has Fred Horwitz.

Fred, almost singlehandedly, was responsible for the creation of the Denis Sullivan, a three masted schooner developed by the Wisconsin Lake Schooner Education Association to be used to teach and train the young to master sailing, navigation and maintenance of sailing vessels.  The vessel carries 50 people for day sailing and 21 youth for training cruises.  Fred was responsible for raising $750,000 to build and launch the Denis Sullivan in 2000.  It has taken many young people on these training cruises every year since.

Fred began his sailing career in the early 1960’s while in medical training, beginning in a Penguin dinghy.  As financial success occurred for him, he began sail racing in the seventies and continues at this writing participating in the Wednesday night Milwaukee Yacht Club races on his boat, Halley Rose.

Few have given so freely of their time as Fred has to train and serve the sport. He is a US Sailing certified Senior Race Officer. Fred is a certified National Judge having served as a club, regional, national and international judge at many clubs and events, including at Milwaukee Yacht Club, South Shore Yacht Club, Ephraim Yacht Club, Punta Gorda Yacht Club, and Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club. He has served and chaired protest committees for Chicago to Mackinac races, Queen’s Cup races and on many National and World Championship juries.

Fred has received the Merritt R. Hayes Memorial Trophy-Yachtsman of the Year Award at Milwaukee Yacht Club, is Past Commodore of the Midget Ocean Racing Club fleet, served on the US Sailing Board of Directors, Safety at Sea Committee, and the Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation Appeals Committee.

Fred is a member of the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. At the center he teaches navigation and seamanship.  The Milwaukee Journal named Fred’s Pinocchio as the “Boat of the Year” twelve years in a row.

A creditably kind and gentle person, Fred Horwitz is herewith inducted into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame.

March 30, 2023

S. Fredrick Horwitz was nominated by the Board of Directors of Milwaukee Yacht Club.

L. Joe Schiller

How many skippers do you know who placed in section or overall 92 times in eighteen years (1970-1988)?  A true rarity belonging to Joe Schiller. 

Joe started his sailing career in Port Huron, Michigan as a youngster.  He served in World War II and moved to Muskegon, Michigan after the war.  He acquired a 30 Square Meter sailboat, served as a sailing instructor, started Saturday morning Junior sail races and served as the Race Committee for many years. He served the Flag line of Western Michigan Yachting Association, Dock and Yard chair for Muskegon Yacht Club, and Commodore of Muskegon Yacht Club. 

His sail racing included Mackinac races, a 100 Miler in Green Bay and every manner of races on the East shore of Lake Michigan.  He shared his expertise and philosophy with all listeners.

Joe sailed the 1978 Mackinac Race on the vessel, Aries. Well known Lake Michigan sailor Bill Tripp suffered a heart attack in the Straits of Mackinac and Joe handled the radio communications with the Coast Guard.  After the race the Coast Guard acknowledged his sophisticated handling of communications in the effort to save Bill’s life.

Many of the sailing community are thankful that Joe elected Muskegon area for his livelihood and recreation.  It is only appropriate that Joe Schiller is inducted into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame.   

May 29, 2022

L. Joe Schiller was nominated by the Board of Directors of Muskegon Yacht Club.