05/28/2026
Dear Members,
It is with sadness that we share the passing of a great sailor and longtime friend of the sailing community, Jimmy Greenfield.
Many of you may remember Jimmy by his unmistakable raspy voice, his love of sailing, and his dedication to the sport throughout his life.
Even before organized club racing officially began in some areas, Jimmy was already helping run regattas and supporting the growth of competitive sailing. In the 1990s, he worked extensively in offshore custom racing and spent many years serving the sailing community both on and off the water.
Jimmy ran Lightning Districts regattas when fleets of 18 boats or more competed, famously using his tape recorder to double-check finishes and ensure accurate results. He served for many years as a US Sailing judge and race officer at Riverton Yacht Club and Cooper River Yacht Club.
His accomplishments on the water were equally impressive. Jimmy won national championships in both big boat sailing and Comets, and sailed just about anything he could get his hands on — including Stars, Moths, Sunfish, and Lasers.
Sailing was deeply rooted in his family. His father was a founding member of Cooper River Yacht Club, and Jimmy continued that legacy through decades of dedication to the sport and the sailing community. He also ran Frostbite racing at Cooper River for many years, and the clubhouse there was later named in his honor.
Cooper River Yacht Club will be holding a memorial for Jimmy later this summer.
Eight bells, Jimmy. Fair winds and following seas.
Warm regards,
Lynn Mills
Commodore
Riverton Yacht Club
