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.