Steve Piché Perpetual Trophy

Trophy History

The trophy was created by Juke Ball, Steve’s long time sailing partner, of Austin, Texas in 2022 and features a cowboy boot because Steve was a very proud Texan.  At the 2015 World Championships in Kiel, Germany Steve was very notable wearing his cowboy hat and boots around the regatta venue.

Trophy Recipients

The trophy was first awarded to Brett Burville from Australia at the 2022 F18 World Championships because he competed in the regatta with a cast on his leg due to a broken ankle.  He also demonstrated extreme perseverance to attend many major F18 events transporting boats from Western Australia driving across Australia and then the US from Los Angeles to Florida.

The 2023 trophy recipient was Jill Nickerson for her perseverance in supporting the F18 class over the past decades fostering many youths into F18 racing, organizing training clinics to improve the skill level of the class, and trailering numerous F18s to major regattas all over the US including Burlington, Canada; Newport, Rhode Island; Long Beach, California.  

The 2024 recipient was Ken Marshack for his perseverance sailing as the oldest Master at this heavy wind regatta and his lifetime devotion to the F18 Class. He capsized before the start of the last race and managed to right his boat just before the start and continued to finish the race.

The 2025 recipient was Chris Payne. He was sailing in the starting area and noticed a capsized F18 near the weather mark that was not able to be righted by the crew. Chris abandoned getting ready for the next start and sailed to help the capsized boat. Once they were close by they noticed only one person on the boat with the helm having been rescued by a chase boat. Chris became the rescue swimmer jumping into the water to assist the boat to be righted. He was awarded redress points for missing that race to perform the rescue.

Award Criteria

The trophy is awarded annually to the person who demonstrated the most perseverance regarding F18 racing and/or exceptional sportsmanship at the most important regatta for F18s in North America.  This regatta can be the US Nationals, North Americans, Americas or World Championships.  The recipient can be from any country and can be a competitor in the regatta, regatta official, class official or supporter of the F18 class.  The awardee is selected by a committee that is present at the championship.  The committee will be designated by the USF18 board of directors and can include USF18 board members, regatta chief judge, regatta chairperson and other appropriate people.  Nominations can be made by anyone attending the regatta by notifying any member of the selection committee at least 24 hours before the awards ceremony.

Stephen William Piché (November 5, 1963 – February 7, 2020)

Stephen William Piché of Austin passed away on February 7, of a heart attack, while skiing in Breckenridge, CO. Steve was born in St. Louis Park, MN to Joan Heins Piché and Robert Richard Piché on November 5, 1963. Steve spent most of his childhood in Appleton, WI, graduating from Appleton West High School in 1982. He attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he could satiate his passion for skiing, and graduated in 1986 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, with special honors. He was awarded a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1992. While at Stanford, Steve met his future wife, Catharine Echols. After moving to Austin, Texas in 1992, Steve joined the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). He then worked with several technology companies, primarily focusing on systems to make power generation more efficient and reduce harmful emissions; he was employed by General Electric at the time of his death.  

As an avid sailor, skier and runner, Steve sought personal excellence.  Additionally, he thrived on engaging others in his favorite activities.  He founded the Great Texas 300 Catamaran Race in 2003, a 4-day race from South Padre Island to Corpus Christi.  Steve is the only skipper to have persevered sailing his boat through every leg of all 16 races. This perseverance included legs with no leeward rudder, a massive hole in the hull sealed on the water with gorilla tape, and a broken mainsail shackle that required capsizing the boat in heavy seas, hanging on to the end of the mast to tie the halyard to the mainsail. In his final Texas 300 in 2018, Steve and Juke Ball where the champions leading by 26 minutes over the next team.

Steve’s passing leaves a gaping hole in the lives of his family and his many friends in Texas, Colorado, and around the world. His big personality, zest for life, sense of adventure and generosity will be dearly missed, as will his love for his family. We take comfort that Steve died while pursuing a passion, but feel sorrow that it was far too soon. Steve is survived by his wife of 28 years, Cathy Echols, his daughter’s Tessie and Eliza.