Pacific Northwest sailing legend Doug Fryer died about a month ago. Much has already been written about him elsewhere, but I’d like to add a few thoughts here, even though I never knew him.
A few years after Night Runner was launched I was working at Sailing Magazine in Wisconsin. In the course of my work there editing Bob Perry, I saw photos of the magnificent Night Runner, and was taken aback by how a boat like that could be conceived, created and competitive in the Pacific Northwest. What a cool region, I thought. Eventually, largely because it was such a great sailing area, I moved here.
When Fryer died my colleague Ryan Helling, who served on The Sailing Foundation board with him, related how “just the other day” Fryer had been promoting some initiative at the Foundation.
From everything I’ve heard and read about Doug Fryer, he epitomized PNW sailing. As a young man he worked as for a sailmaker and as a rigger. He created a true original in Night Runner, utilizing local talents for the design and build. He raced very successfully. He cruised far and wide was awarded the Cruising Club of America’s Blue Water Medal.
Through it all and with what must have been an unreal amount of energy, he gave back to the sport. I wish I had known him. Sailish readers, whether you knew him or not, can be appreciative of Fryer’s example and contributions to PNW sailing.
48 North has a web page dedicated to Doug Fryer, with Andy Schwenk’s first-hand accounts. Here’s the obituary. Sail on, Doug.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.