Inducted in 2005, Joe Jessop’s accomplishments in sailing spanned nearly seven decades before he died in 1996. He joined the San Diego Yacht Club in 1917 and became the club’s youngest commodore in 1929 at age 31. The club produced more world champions in the Star Class than any club in the world. He also won five consecutive Pacific Coast Star Class championships and launched the first America’s Cup effort on the West Coast in 1970.
A collegiate rower at Cal, he founded the Crew Classic that remains one of the country’s premier regattas.
