Eric Oetgen - Sailing, 2020
Eric Oetgen’s journey as a competitive sailor began at 10 and lasted a lifetime. He competed in three Olympic sailing campaigns spanning from 1993 until 2004, both in a single handed Laser sailboat and a single-handed Finn sailboat. He was a silver medalist in the 1994 Goodwill Games in Russia, took sixth place in Olympic trials in Savannah in 1996, fifth place in Olympic trials in San Francisco in 2000 and third place in Olympic trials in Olympic trials in Fort Lauderdale in 2004. He is a five-time Southeastern Champion in the Laser class, and he captured the 2015 Deep South Regatta in Savannah. In 2018, Oetgen won the Sunfish Master World Championship in Panama City, racing the same boat class that started his competitive career. He was nominated for the U.S. Sailing Rolex Sailor of the Year following his world championship, and framed artwork honoring his victory hangs in the Savannah Yacht Club Quarter Deck. Both as competitive sailor and an ambassador for sailing, Oetgen served as an inspiration for future generations of Savannah sailors.