Harman Hawkins' position as a consummate yachtsman is reflected in his life-long involvement in the yachting community and the numerous honors his colleagues have bestowed upon him.

His contributions to the yachting community cover a wide scope.

Most notable is his all inclusive participation in the associations which foster the yachting community. He has presided over the Yacht Racing Union of Long Island and the United States Yacht Racing Union and served as commodore of the Manhasset Bay and Storm Trysail Clubs. His involvement with the USYRU also includes serving as Chairman of the Appeals, Judges, Racing Rules and Legal Committees. During his years with the International Yacht Racing Union Hawkins held the offices of Vice Chairman of the Board of Review, and member of the Permanent, Racing Rules, and Constitution Committees. He also participated in the drafting of Appendix 14, Racing Rules and the Eligibility code.

In addition to his work with the governing bodies, Hawkins has also judged yacht races. An official judge for the International Yacht Racing Union, and the United States Yacht Racing Union Hawkins has also served on a number of international juries including Olympic (Korea), Admiral's Cup (England), Clipper Cup (Hawaii), China Seas Race (SW Pacific), Bermuda Race (Middle Atlantic), Keil Week (Germany), European 470s (Hungary), Bermuda International Race Week (Bermuda), Congressional Cup (California), Etchells Worlds (Larchmont), Rolex IMS Internationals (Seawanhaka), International One Design Worlds (Fishers Island, NY) and various Ton Cup Worlds. He was also the first chairman of the USYRU's judges committee; a pioneer and model for all yachting judging programs throughout the world, including the International Yacht Racing Union's program.

Hawkins is also an extensive race organizer and manager. He has served as Chairman of the Regatta Committee for Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, Cruising Club of America's Bermuda Race, and Vice Chairman of the Race Committee for The Storm Trysail Club's Block Island Race Week.

When not judging or organizing Hawkins has been racing and cruising. His racing career has been in various one design classes, mostly Atlantics and Internationals. He has also served as navigator in eight Bermuda races and three Halifax races. While cruising, Hawkins has explored Long Island Sound, Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod, Maine, Nova Scotia, the Bras d'Oer Lakes, Saint Lawrence River, the Saguinay River, the Richelieu River, parts of Lake Champlain, the Chesapeake, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Lake Huron, San Juan Islands, the Inner Hebrides, the Mediterranean and Norway.

Hawkins has also lent his professional skills as a lawyer to the benefit of the yachting community. From 1970 through 1988 he advised several of the America's Cup syndicates. In 1985 he represented the Royal Perth Yacht Club in the New York Supreme Court to amend the deed to permit the event to be held in the southern hemisphere's summer. Later he chaired the legal committee of the America's Cup Organizing Committee and advised the San Diego Yacht Club during litigation with Mercury Bay Boating Club in the matter of the America's Cup.

Hawkins years of service to yachting have gone a long way to change and improve the very nature and enjoyment of the sport, a fact which has not gone unnoticed by his colleagues. Recipient of the Herreshoff Award (USYRU), the Anderson Award (YRA of Long Island Sound), the Hinman Award (Manhasset Bay Yacht Club), the International Yacht Racing Union's Silver Medal, and the Hyslop Award (Shelter Island Yacht Club), Mr. Hawkins is also an also an Honorary member of the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club and an Honorary citizen of the State of Texas.

Harman Hawkins also served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.

In October of 1991 the USYRU changed its name to the USSA. For more information on the USYRU, the IYRU and the USSF please refer to their web site at: http://www.ussailing.org/directory/history.htm