Sail Martha’s Vineyard will give its first Walter Cronkite Award, in the memory of its staunch supporter and honorary chairman who died last July, to the artist Ray Ellis.

The award will be made at Sail MV’s annual Seafood Buffet and Auction at Tisbury Wharf on Saturday, July 10.

“Walter Cronkite might not have wanted this fuss made over him,” Peggy Schwier, president of the Sail MV board, said in a statement, “but he certainly would have approved of Ray Ellis as the first person to receive this award.

“Ray has been so generous to Sail MV over the years, giving us paintings for our annual auctions, just as Walter donated sailing trips on his yacht Wyntje.”

Mr. Ellis and Mr. Cronkite, friends who shared a love of sailing, collaborated in the 1980s on a series of fine art books celebrating the American coastline: South by Southeast, North by Northeast and Westwind.

Sail Martha’s Vineyard was launched modestly in 1992 with a summer program of introductory lessons for children on Lagoon Pond.

Now dramatically expanded, Sail MV offers an extensive range of programs in maritime education, rowing and sailing for young and old, seasonal and year-round residents.

Mr. Cronkite called Sail MV “the quintessential Martha’s Vineyard operation. Homegrown, home supported, for the important reason of perpetuating the culture of the Island through its children ... this is a preservation effort of our culture through our young people.”

The Seafood Buffet and Auction will feature music by the Beetlebung Steel Band, a seafood buffet catered by Jaime Hamlin, and an auction with Kathy Kingston of the Kingston Auction Company.

Tickets are not sold at the event, but are available through July 5 at sailmv.com or by calling 508-696-7644.