The engraving on the top right hand side of the trophy is from a picture of Dave at the Sunfish International Masters Championship in Melbourne, FL in 2004. The number on the half hull - 3609 - was Dave's sail number in the 2006 Worlds.
The trophy says: This award recognizes and honors a Sunfish sailor who best embodies the spirit and dedication that Dave Thompson brought to the sport of sailing. Dave was one of those rare people who was always willing to do whatever needed doing. He wrote the sailing rule book for his local club and repaired old boats for others to use, wrote computer programs to help with scoring, taught people how to sail and was always willing to share whatever knowledge he had with his fellow competitors. Dave was especially interested in introducing new sailors to the sport and enjoyed the time he spent teaching youth. Dave, who passed away while competing in the 2006 World Championships, should be remembered for his determination to ensure that everyone interested in sailing could have the opportunity to participate in the sport he loved.
This trophy and the keeper plaque below were made by Dave Noble of Noble Awards and Engraving. Many of the extra touches - like engraving the back of the keeper plaque and using Dave's sail numbers on the trophy were thoughtfully added by Dave Noble. They weren't requested by the family. These special touches make the trophy even more meaningful to us and we're glad he thought of them.