2024 Long Distance Race
Commodore Bill Zemmin Memorial Race
♦

Bayview Yacht Club 
Detroit, Michigan 
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Race Chairperson: Jim Denner



In honor of a long-time fixture of the Bayview Yacht Club and sailing community, this year’s Bayview Long Distance Race is dedicated to the memory of Commodore Bill Zemmin.  Bill was a member with his parents at 4-years old and joined himself in 1971, eventually becoming Commodore in 1999.

A passionate volunteer, Bill was Chair of the Junior Sailing program from 1974 to 1979 and again in 1984 and 1985. He was instrumental in the selection, purchase, and launch of Bayview's Club Fleet of Ultimate 20s during his three years as Commodore, and he was an active skipper during the early years of the program. Across the decades Bill has served on numerous BYC committees, most recently as the Golf Chair and member of the Control Committee.

As a sailor, he was a student of the sport and a purist, opting for one-design racing in 470s, Etchells, U20s, and Cal25s among others. He preferred mixing it up in close quarters, including match racing small boats well into his 60s. When he wasn't racing, he loved to watch others from the lawn and let the "kids" know which shifts they'd missed.

It's hard to imagine the Four O'Clock Club without Z sitting at the table, telling stories and correcting others. If you had a topic, he could tell you something about it; be it sailing, golf, skiing, construction, art, literature, or partying in the 70's. If Jeopardy was on the bar TV, he'd pause to watch and inevitably know the questions (answers).

Z always had a witty quip, and even on bad days he found a reason to smile and laugh. He may have been the coolest guy any of us ever knew, whether we knew it or not. Com. Zemmin's departure will leave an empty space in our community and Bayview family.