Steve and Louise Andrews holding the
Arms (Steve) and White (Louise) trophies after they won them in 1975. They won the series
again in 1980.
(Photo: 1976 Log)
ARMS-WHITE REGATTA
Arms Trophy To Winning Skipper
White Trophy To Winning Crew
The Arms-White
series is named after two sailors from the CLIS, John Taylor Arms and Elwood S. White. In
1937 John Arms donated the Arms Trophy and in 1942 the family of Elwood White donated the
White Trophy for the winning crew of the Arms series. The series, originally known as the
Noroton Race Week, was sailed out of the CLIS until 1969, and then was relocated to
Mid-Conn in 1970. The historical account of the C.L.I.S. Fleet written in 1947 by Harold
Nash has the following account:
NOROTON
RACE WEEK
In the Winter of 1936-37, Mr. John Taylor Arms approached Paul Smart, Commodore of
the Noroton Yacht Club and Harold Nash, Fleet Secretary, with a suggestion to inaugurate
an open series in the early Summer.
Mr. Arms offered to present a perpetual trophy for the event and to assist with the
incidental prizes. His idea was that it should be a tuning-up series of the three red
chevron or Class C category; that it should always be held under the auspices of the
C.L.I.S. with the Noroton Yacht Club as host.
This idea received the sanction of the I.S.C.Y.R.A. and was held for the first time
in 1937. The series was to consist of five races ending on the Sunday before July 4th.
The response to this event was immediate and heartening. Forty-two boats crossed
the starting line, which was almost a record. Mr. Arms, whose son was then Fleet Captain
for the fourth successive year, had taken a great interest in the class and hoped that the
entry list would some day pass the 50 mark.
To date, this goal has not been reached. In 1939 a peak entry list of 49 was
attained but, due to the war, it fell off and reached a low of 23 in 1942. Due to the
rationing of gasoline and other factors, it was considered to be a patriotic duty to
discontinue the series in 1943 and 1944.
Definite interest was shown by W.L.I.S. in the resumption of Noroton Race Week and
one of the clubs in that district was considering an open Spring series in the event that
C. L. L S. did not hold theirs.
So, for the benefit of those who lived near by and who would enjoy the contest as a
diversion from war duties, the series was raced in 1945 with war bonds and savings stamps
as prizes. The entry list was short but it was considered to be entirely worth while.
1946 dawned as the first year of peace when many of the boys were coming home and
war restrictions were off. There were 27 starters, ten of which came from Western and
Southern Long Island Sound and Great South Bay Fleets. The best C.L.I.S. could do against
these invaders was a fifth place, E. W. Etchells and his wife from W.L.I.S. capturing the
cup.
In 1947 the entry list jumped to 48. Noroton Race Week had returned to form and it again looks possible to reach Mr. Arms' hope of seeing 50 contestants start together. Etchells and his wife again took first honors with three firsts out of the five races.
This event has always been held in an atmosphere of informality, taking on the
nature of a community house party. Entries from distant places are lodged in the dwellings
of local residents; teas and supper parties are held both at the club and at private homes
and a friendly spirit prevails throughout. While the best skippers fight hard for first
honors, the others are glad of the opportunity to compete against such good sailors and to
use the contest for the purpose Mr. Arms had in mind to tune their boats up for better
performance in their local fleets during the Summer.
Some skippers have suggested that a method be devised whereby the fleet is divided
into two sections. It has generally been considered, however, that the large number of
boats create a thrill that can only be had in such an informal event as this. Besides
being an unsatisfactory compromise in many respects, such a division would deprive some
members of racing against the boats which they want most to observe. So far, this thought
has not been given serious consideration.
Of the nine series held to date, Stan Ogilvy won three and Skip. Etchells two.
W.L.I.S. has been able to take the cup seven times while C.L.I.S. kept it only twice.
Peconic-Gardiners Bay and Southern Long Island Sound Fleets each won a second place.
In 1942, John Hazen White offered a perpetual trophy in memory of his father,
Elwood S. White, who had acted as his faithful crew for many years. This trophy was to be
presented to the crew of the winning boat of the Noroton Race Week each year. Blair
Kinsman, jib-sheet tender for Paul Smart, was the first to have his name engraved on this
trophy. Since then, two women, Wilma Bell and Mary Etchells, have added their names.
On the mornings of the regatta, special events such as Ladies, Junior and Crew
Races were held. These added to the fun and interest of many who otherwise would have had
to be content with watching or tending jib sheets.
Doug & Bob Schofield, winners of the 2002 and 2003 Arms-White Regatta
2006 8195 Erin J.A. MacCausland Kevin Murphy (CR)
2005 8184 Erin J.A. MacCausland Kevin Murphy (CR)
2004 8184 Erin J.A. MacCausland Brian Fatih (CR)
2003 8131 Doug Schofield Robert Schofield (AN)
2002 7876 Betsy Ross Doug Schofield Robert Schofield (AN)
2001
7988
Peter Bromby
Martin Siese
(Iso/BER)
2000
8024 Erin
J.A. MacCausland George Iverson
(CR)
1999
7847 Rosebud
Cafe John Safford
Joe Chambers
(CA)
1998
7862
J.A. MacCausland Kevin Murphy
(CR)
1997
7862
J.A. MacCausland George Iverson
(CR)
1996
7782
Joe Zambella
Sokolich
(BH)
1995 7773
J.A. MacCausland R. MacCausland (CR)
1994 7681
J.A. MacCausland R. MacCausland (CR)
1993 7468
Ron Sandstrom
Dave O'Brien
(BH)
1992 7261
J.A. MacCausland Bresh
(CR)
1991 7468
Ron Sandstrom
Jeff Bresnahan
(BH)
1990
7409
J.A. MacCausland Tod Raynor
(CR)
1989
7127
Andrew Menkart Chris
Rogers
(WS)
1988
Danger
Jack Button
John Densmore
(Mid)
1987
Zig Zag
Frank Zagarino
B. Lippincott
(BisB)
1986
6378
Ed Adams
Tom Olsen
(NB)
1985
6963
Ed Adams
Tom Olsen
(NB)
1984 Renegade
J.A. MacCausland R. MacCausland (CR)
1983
Morning Star
Whit Batchelor
Wooodside
(Mid)
1982
Schaefer City
Jack Lombard
Bob Lombard
(Mid)
1981
Golden Eagle
J.A. MacCausland R. Pepiah
(CR)
1980
Rampage
Steve Andrews
Louise Andrews
(HB)
1979
Angel Clare
Peter Conrad
Allan Romfeldt
(Mid)
1978
Snowflake
James Allsopp
Beek
(AN)
1977
Jitters
James Allsopp
Allsopp
(CB)
1976
Arriba
Peter Beam
Phillip Beam
(SLIS)
1975
Rampage
Steve Andrews
Louise Andrews
(HB)
1974
C.R. Farquhar
Michael Flynn
Goerge Flynn
(ELIS)
1973
One Over Par
Russell Bogie
Alexanderson
(SLG)
1972
Moody Blue
Steven Haarstick A.
Lippincott
(Ith)
1971
Guacharo
Peter Beam
Phillip Beam
(SLIS)
1970
Raison D'Etre
Whit Batchelor
McGivny
(Mid)
1969
Blue Moon
Steven Haarstick Horton
(Ith)
1968
Heather
Bill Lynn
McWorter
(WLIS)
1967
Cymbal
E. Chester Peet
Mary Peet
(WLIS)
1966
Diablo
Richard Gordon
Mirk
(Mid)
1965
Envy
Kevin Jaffe
Wilson
(CLIS)
1964
Storm
Bruce
Gaillard
(WLIS)
1963
Aquarius Mead
Batchelor Sumner
(Mid)
1962
Shanty
Skip Etchells
Mary Etchells
(CLIS)
1961
Shandon Skip
Etchells
Gilchrist
(CLIS)
1960
Sirene
Ken Smith
Swanton
(HB)
1959
2700 Flame
Stan Ogilvy
Stueck
(WLIS)
1958
Kismet
Mead Batchelor
Tufts
(Mid)
1953
2700 Flame
Stan Ogilvy
Bill Lynn
(WLIS)
1952
October
Bob Smith
Bud Smith
(CLIS)
1951
2700 Flame
Stan Ogilvy
Johnson
(WLIS)
1950
2125 Shillalah
Skip Etchells
Mary Etchells
(CLIS)
1949
Wahini
Patrick O'Gorman Donaldson
(WLIS)
1948
2125 Shillalah
John White
Skip Etchells
(WLIS)
1947
2125 Shillalah
Skip Etchells
Mary Etchells
(WLIS)
1946
2125 Shillalah
Skip Etchells
Mary Etchells
(WLIS)
1945 Wahini
Arthur Knapp
Wilma Bell
(CLIS)
1942
Melody
Paul Smart
Blair Kinsman
(CLIS)
1941
Phryne
Maxwell
(WLIS)
1940
Spirit
Stan Ogilvy
(WLIS)
1939
Colleen
W. McHugh
(CLIS)
1938
Jay
Stan Ogilvy
(WLIS)
1937
Jay
Stan Ogilvy
(WLIS)