This trophy is awarded to the winner of the Commodore James. D. Bishop Class, which this year will be the J/44 Class in recognition of Jim’s longtime involvement with that class. A long-time member of the Storm Trysail Club, Jim Bishop’s contributions to the sport of sailing have touched many clubs and organizations over the past five decades. Racing since a teenager, and entering world of ocean racing in the early 1950s, Jim spent much of his life sailing IODs and J/44s, many named Gold Digger. He raced IODs around the globe, and, as the President of the Long Island Sound J/44 class since 1990, Jim was the visionary who developed the practice of class-owned sails that are rotated between boats each regatta to keep the class competitive and affordable. An ocean racer at heart, Jim sailed 23 Newport to Bermuda Races (winning the J/44 class in 1996). Another pride of Jim’s was the Coastal Queen, the graciously restored Chesapeake buyboat that he brought to this regatta every year.

The James D. Bishop perpetual trophy was originally donated to the Storm Trysail Foundation by the Ulmer family, in honor of Jim Bishop and his magnanimous contributions to Storm Trysail and the sport of sailing. The trophy was to be awarded to the winning team in the match racing event at the Storm Trysail Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta. If at some time in the future, there is no such event, the Foundation can repurpose the trophy for a similar award encouraging young sailors to become proficient blue water sailors. The trophy shall reside permanently with the Foundation, with added recognition of each winner who shall be given a suitable keeper trophy.

2012 – US Naval Academy
2013 – Not Awarded
2014 – Adam Loory
2016 – Commodore Charles Ulmer
2017 – Gold Digger/ Maine Maritime
2018 – Maxine / U.S. Naval Academy
2019 – Maxine / U.S. Naval Academy