Aileen Bryan Explained

Birth Date:April 4, 1925
Birth Place:New Rochelle, New York, U.S.

Aileen Shields Bryan (April 4, 1925 – November 29, 2005) was an American sailor who won the 1948 United States' women's national sailing championship.

Sailing history

Bryan was born in New Rochelle, New York. Her mother was Josephine Shields and her father was Cornelius Shields, the sailor after whom the Shields sailboat was named. She went to Rye Country Day School, St. Margaret's School, and finally the Berkeley-Llewelyn Business School.[1]

The New York Times covered a successful day of sailing when she was six years old and won three races of the day with her father crewing for her, thereby winning as many races as when she crewed for him.[2] Her father eventually named his boat Aileen after her.[3] In 1938, Bryan sailed with Allegra Mertz during her win for the Syce Cup trophy, the women's Long Island Sound championship; she was 13 at the time and the youngest competitor of the event.[4]

Bryan won the Mrs. Charles Francis Adams Trophy, the United States' Women's National Sailing Championship, in 1948.[5] [6] After this win, Margo Gotte and Bryan published an article in Yacht Racing magazine that was called “How to Win a Sailboat Race”.[7] She also won class championships in other sailboats include the Atlantic[8] [9] [10] and 210[11] classes.

Bryan played a key role in the design of the Sunfish. Her husband, Alexander Bryan,[12] and Cortlandt Heyniger designed its predecessor, the Sailfish. She encouraged them to build a boat that had a cockpit where she could place her feet and allowed her to sit sideways while steering.[13] [14] This led to the development of the Sunfish, which was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame in 1995.[15]

Awards and honors

Bryan is a nominee to the United States' National Sailing Hall of Fame.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: December 8, 2005. Aileen Shields Bryan, 80, Was Skilled Yachtsman. 2021-11-07. The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News. en.
  2. News: Times. James Robbins special To the New York. 1932-02-23. AILEEN SHIELDS, 6, A FROSTBITE STAR; With Father Acting as Crew, She Guides Skippy to Three Victories in Dinghy Races. NINE EVENTS ARE STAGED Cornelius Shields Takes Trio in the 11-Foot Class -- Buchanan Scores With 14-Footers.. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-07. 0362-4331.
  3. Web site: CAPRICE and GHOST. 2021-11-07. WoodenBoat Magazine. en.
  4. News: Robbins. James. 1938-07-28. Larchmont Skipper Wins Cup. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-26. 0362-4331.
  5. News: 1949. MotorBoating. en. January. 114.
  6. News: Robbins. James. 1948-08-31. Aileen Shields Takes Lead in U.S. Women's Sailing Championship; L.I. SOUND SKIPPER FIRST ON 15 1/4 POINTS. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-07. 0362-4331.
  7. News: Margo. Bryan. Aileen Shields. 1950. here. 125–127. Yacht Racing. Gotte.
  8. News: Times. James Robbins Special To the New York. 1945-09-09. RECORD 133 CRAFT SAIL AT MANHASSET; Corny and Aileen Shields Win International and Atlantic Class Races in Regatta. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-07. 0362-4331.
  9. News: Times. James Robbinsspecial To the New York. 1944-07-16. SHIELDS TRIUMPHS IN SOUND YACHTING; Manhasset Bay Club Sailing Victory Also Registered by Daughter Aileen SHIELDS TRIUMPHS IN SOUND YACHTING. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-07. 0362-4331.
  10. News: Times. James Robbinsspecial To the New York. 1947-05-25. Knapp Winner With Bumble Bee As 77 Yachts Compete on Sound; Record Turnout Noted for First, Regatta of Summer Season -- McCullough, Aileen Shields, Etchells Among Victors. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-07. 0362-4331.
  11. News: Motorboating - ND. 1949. en. 60. December.
  12. News: 1950-07-09. AILEEN SHIELDS A BRIDE; Yachtswoman Wed in Larchmont Church to Alexander Bryan. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-11-07. 0362-4331.
  13. Web site: AL, CORT & SAILFISH. November 7, 2021. National Sailing Hall of Fame.
  14. Web site: S.I. Staff. September 20, 1983. HERE SHE IS, THE TRUE LOVE BOAT. 2021-11-07. Sports Illustrated Vault SI.com. en-us.
  15. Web site: Sunfish. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070126063057/http://www.sailamerica.com/halloffame/sunfish.asp. January 26, 2007. February 19, 2010. American Sailboat Hall of Fame. mdy-all.
  16. Web site: Bryan, Aileen Shields. 2021-11-07. National Sailing Hall of Fame. en-US.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Aileen Bryan".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.