Cy Gillette

Sad news just received from Hawaii that Cy Gillette, a long-time and beloved friend of many involved with the Cup and our sport, passed away overnight at age 92.

Mr Gillette was an active and successful racing sailor until his last days, and was a highly respected judge and umpire for longer than most of us can remember.

Cy was among those involved in umpiring from its inception in the late 80's. He umpired at both the 1987 Maxi Worlds in Newport, Rhode Island where umpiring match racing was first used on an experimental basis, and at the 1988 Congressional Cup at Long Beach, California when umpiring was initiated on the match racing circuit. One of the few senior judges at the time who supported umpiring, Cy was a strong advocate for its first-ever use in the America's Cup at San Diego in 1992. Indeed, he chaired the jury and was chief umpire for 1992 defender selection series. For the 1987 and 1995 Cups Cy served as Dennis Conner's senior rules advisor.

Following the 1995 Cup Cy was awarded the Nathaniel G Herreshoff trophy, the U.S. Sailing Association's most prestigious award, for his many years of exemplary service to sport. His sailing biography published on that occasion is here.

AC 32 jury chairman Bryan Willis said, "This came from an experience at the second Match Racing World Championship which was in 1989 hosted by Royal Lymington YC. Cy, then 75, was in my umpire team. Christchurch Bay was, as usual, rough and windy, and umpires came home after a long tiring day to meet with skippers for a long and tiring debrief. Many of the supplied umpire boats were totally unsuitable for the sea conditions so I had drawn lots for which umpire got which boat. Cy had drawn the short straw and had spent the day in a ten food aluminum tub. But the next morning before the draw he insisted on going in the same boat because he said he had ‘developed a good rapport with the owner/driver’ and that was more important to him than not being tossed around all day.... No one lucky enough to serve on his Jury for the Kenwood Cup will ever forget the experience.... Great memories of a great man."

A true gentleman and corinthian, and a major contributor to our sport over his long life, Cy will be dearly missed and long remembered. Our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Camille, son Greg, and other members of the family.