ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB TROPHY

For the North American Championship

The North American Silver Star Championship is relatively a latecomer to the Silver Star series held by the Star Class. Originally the North American’s was sailed only when the World’s was not sailed in the North American continent.

The oldest Silver Star event of the Star Class was the Mid-Winter Championship which was held in Havana, Cuba. That series was discontinued in 1957. The next oldest Silver Star event is the Championship of Europe, which began in 1932. This is followed by the Western Hemisphere Spring Championship, which began in 1934. The first N.A.'s was held in 1939 at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay in conjunction with the 1939 World Fair. That year the World's was sailed in Kiel, Germany. The first N.A.'s was won by Walter Sumner of San Diego Bay fleet. The series was not held again until 1948 in Puget Sound, and was won by the local fleet representative Charles Ross. Then, starting in 1952 the World's was held in Europe for three consecutive years. Whether coincidentally or not, starting in 1952 the N.A.'s have been held annually ever since.

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club Trophy is for the winning skipper of the North American series. It was donated to the North American Championship in 1952 by the Royal Canadian Y.C. which hosted the event in Toronto that year. This was the third time the Championship had been held, and the perpetual trophies had yet to be organized.

The trophy lost it original top sometime in the 1960’s. Stanley Ogilvy put a notice in January, 1967, Starlights accompanying the above picture as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. Don Trask and crew Bill Kreysler (seated, left,) inspect their newly won North American Championship trophy.

This cup, donated by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in 1952, once possessed a different top surmounted by a silver model Star boat. The present top, which it has been bearing for some years, does not fit it exactly; it was switched somewhere along the way with that of another trophy. If anybody has a cup with a boat on top that doesn't quite look as if it belonged there, please notify us at the Star Class office and we'll straighten things out.

The Paul Masson Cup

The Paul Masson Cup is for the winner of the tune-up race of the North American series. The trophy was designed by Klaus Murer and donated by Paul Masson winery which is located in Santa Clara County on the San Francisco Peninsula. The trophy was first raced for in 1968 at San Francisco and won by Tom Blackaller who also won the series.

The trophy is now part of the collection of Star Class material housed at Mystic Seaport.

The Edward N. Hay Memorial Trophy

(Photo: Guy Gurney)

The Edward N. Hay Memorial Trophy is for the winner of the last race of the North American series. The original trophy, which was a simple Revere ware bowl, was donated in 1954 by same Edward Hay who donated the original winning crew trophy to the North American Championship in the same year. Then, in 1965 the trophy was replaced by a more elaborate trophy donated by the Eastern Shore of Maryland fleet. Until 1974 the trophy was for the winner of the 5th race, but starting in 1975 the Class voted in six race / one throw-out scoring system so the trophy went to the winner of the 6th race. However, in cases where the number of races in the series is curtailed the trophy is awarded to the winner of the last race, be it the fifth or even the fourth race.

SANTA MARIA TROPHY

for the Spring Silver Star Championship

when the series is sailed in Nassau

The Western Hemisphere Silver Star Spring Championship began in 1934. This first running of the series was held in Bermuda. By winning the series Adrian Iselin collected his second Silver Star for the year 1934, the first being won at the Mid-Winter’s held earlier that year in Havana. The location of the Spring’s is not fixed as was the Mid-Winter’s. While several locations have been used over the years, the more favorite venues have been Nassau and New Orleans.

When the series is sailed in Nassau the winner is awarded the Santa Maria Trophy. The trophy stays in the Nassau Yacht Club showcase and does not travel with the series to other venues.

THE MILLIKEN BOWL

for the Spring Championship

when the series is sailed in New Orleans

The Milliken Bowl, which is used as the Spring Championship’s trophy when the series is sailed in New Orleans, is quite a massive affair. The bowl was originally donated to Southern Yacht Club in 1915 by Richard Milliken. In 1939 it was rededicated to its present purpose and Edward Jahncke, with Buddy Cross crewing, was the first winner. In the 1941 Log there is a picture of a small boy sitting in a very large bowl with his father standing next to him. The caption reads "Commodore Jahncke and son with Spring Championship Trophy." The father is Edward Jahncke and his son is Edward Jr. This photo got belatedly included in the 1941 Log.

Like the Santa Maria Trophy, the Milliken Bowl is awarded only when the Spring’s is sailed in New Orleans.

The Jahncke family donated a trophy for the warm-up series held before the Spring’s. The Commodore Ernest Lee Jahncke Open Series is held only when the Spring’s is to be held in New Orleans.

A HISTORY OF

THE BACARDI CUP

In 1927, one year after the Mid-Winter Silver Star Championship for the Cup of Cuba began, a second series was inaugurated in Havana. The Bacardi family, the makers of Bacardi rum, created the Bacardi series. This series was used as a warm-up for the Mid-Winter’s, and of course helped prolonged the reason for staying in Havana, the better to enjoy the freedom of a Prohibition-free environment!

The first winner of the Bacardi Cup was the perennial winner of major regattas, Adrian Iselin with his Ace. He went on to win the regatta three more times: 1933, 1935 and 1936.

As shown in the Star Class Log, there are three occasions when this series was interrupted as an annual event. The first time was in 1934. The second time was during the war years, from 1943 to 1947. The third time was due to the Cuban revolution in 1957. After the Castro take-over of Cuba the Bacardi family and their business moved to Miami. After a five year hiatus the Bacardi series began again in 1962, now hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club. Over the years this series has become the premier Star event, ranking second only to the World’s. In fact, people say that the Bacardi is the World’s without all of the red tape.

The Bacardi winners read like a who’s who of Star Class greats. While the series was sailed in Havana the names were Iselin, Bedford, Shields, Nye, Pirie, Etchells, Knowles, Lippincott and de Cardenas. When the series began again in Miami the tradition continued: Duplin, Stearns, Buchan, Brun, Reynolds, Schoonmaker and Macdonald.

In the top photo we see Vince Brun and Hugo Schreiner after their win in 1987. Notice that the Trofeo Bacardi shown in the photo above is not the same as the one shown below. The above trophy has inscribed on the last line “ACE” whereas the lower trophy has inscribed “1930”. “ACE” of course is the name of Adrain Iselin’s boat. Before the Bacardi series was discontinued in Cuba every winner of the trophy was awarded the trophy as a permanent keeper trophy. There are thus some 25 of these Bacardi Trophies in existence. Ardian Iselin with his “Ace” won four of these trophies. When the Bacardi series was resumed in 1962 the estate of Adrian Iselin donated the 1927 Bacardi Trophy to the event to be awarded as a perpetual trophy. The other three Bacardi trophies won by Iselin and “Ace” are at the Mystic Seaport Museum. W.F Teves of the WLIS fleet won the  Bacardi trophy of 1930.

 (Photos: Ogilvy Collection.)

LIPTON TROPHIES

Text and above photo from Stan Ogilvy’s “History”

“Sir Thomas Lipton looked with favor on the Star Class and gave us four perpetual trophies during the twenties. Perhaps the importance of a series was gauged by the size of its prizes. The four Lipton trophies were all huge ornate affairs of a characteristic style no longer in fashion today, reflecting the Victorian tastes of Sir Thomas's world. They were and still are impressive pieces of silverware. The Atlantic Lipton series lasted only four years and no one knows what became of the trophy. The Pacific (Santa Barbara), Chesapeake, and Gulf of Mexico Lipton Trophies are still being raced for annually. A fifth, the Hawaiian Lipton, was established in 1930.”

Shown in the above photo are the Chesapeake, Gulf, and Atlantic Lipton trophies. Below is the Pacific Lipton trophy.

MEAD BATCHELOR

wins a couple

Mead Batchelor was one of the founding members of the Mid-Connecticut fleet. He has also been active in the Star Class by being a member of various Class committees, including the Governing Committee (today called the I.G.C.). His service to the Class culminated with being  Rear Commodore for the years 1994-1998.

Above is Mead and his boat Kismet, Star # 3340, after winning the Bedford Pitcher in 1959. A slight problem with a port tacker perhaps?

To the right is Mead after winning the Ned Hay Memorial Trophy in 1961 with his boat Aquarius, 4340. Doris Hay is presenting Mead with the take-home trophy. Rockport, Massachusetts is a famous art colony, and from the very beginning of the Ned Hay it was customary to give artwork as take-home trophies.

The John Charles Thomas Trophy

for the Miles River Yacht Club Regatta.

The John Charles Thomas Trophy is presented to the Star Winner at the annual Miles River YC Regatta. It is on display at the club and is quit a nice trophy.

(Photo: 1936 Log.)

THE UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD TROPHY & GOLD CUP

In 1927 the United States Shipping Board put up a trophy that bears its name for competition on Lake Michigan.

THE CALVIN PAIGE TROPHY

and

THE WEST COAST FALL CHAMPIONSHIP

By David Bolles

In the early 1960's the members of the two fleets in San Francisco, West San Francisco Bay (WSFB) and Richardson Bay (Ric), were a fairly cohesive group. They used to have “Star Parties” at various homes, especially during the holiday season, and thus they had some time together to think about how to improve both their ability to race and racing itself on San Francisco Bay. Certain people, such as Peter Schoonmaker, Jake Wosser, Don Trask, and Ralph DeLuca, were the ones who came up with various ideas about what the fleets should be aiming for to improve themselves.

When Bill Buchan won the World's in 1961 the Bay Area fleets became more aware of the existence of the 6th District fleets. It occurred to the fleet members that San Francisco would make a good meeting place for the northern and southern Pacific Coast Star sailors. Don Trask and Ralph DeLuca were always at the various meetings held with Saint Francis Y.C. officials in order to work out the details of making this idea a reality. The fall was purposely chosen because the winds are milder at that time of the year, and thus would make sailing more enjoyable than the usual slug-fest which would happen during the summer.

After the St. Francis Y.C. officials approved of the idea of holding the Fall Championship I designed the trophy and the silversmith named Dirk Van Erp made it.

The name of the trophy is “West Coast Fall Championship” and it was intended that this would be the name of the regatta. The trophy is not a bowl, but rather a stylized representation of Star boat sails. However, after the regatta began and was reported to Starlights and the local press it jokingly became known as the “Bolles Bowl”.

In the early 1970’s Calvin Paige, race committee chairman at the Saint Francis Y.C., died and a trust fund was set up to provide trophies for the regatta in his name, and so the name of the regatta was changed to the “Calvin Paige”. The “West Coast Fall Championship” trophy was then retired and sat in a trophy case at Saint Francis Y.C. At the 1998 N.A.'s at Lake George I was invited by Barton Beek to join his family in their lodge for dinner. During the conversation Barton asked if I had anything to do with the “Bolles Bowl”, to which I answered as above. His interest in it got me thinking that since there was no Master's division at the Calvin Paige maybe the thing to do is to rededicate the trophy for this purpose. This was done in 1999 and the first winner of the rededicated trophy for two years running was Bill Buchan. Bill first won the trophy back in 1964 which was the second year it was raced for.

FIRST DISTRICT TROPHIES

PANDORA TROPHY

Starting in 1924 the last three races of the International Championship series a separate score was kept for all East Coast boats. The winner was awarded the Pandora Trophy, emblematic of the Atlantic Coast Championship. The Pandora Trophy, a large silver punch bowl and tray, was donated for the Atlantic Coast Championship by Commodore Arthur T. Vance of the Port Washington Yacht Club.

The Atlantic Coast Championship was not sailed separately until 1928 when the International’s was held at Newport Harbor, California. That year the Atlantic Coast Championship was held at Gibson Island, the home of the 1927 winner. It was not until 1948 that the series was split into two Blue Star Championships of the First and Second Districts.

First District Championship TropHy

In 1929 Joe Watkins swept that series to score the third win for Central Long Island Sound Fleet and retire the Pandora Trophy. (Retiring trophies after a person or fleet won the trophy three times was a quaint custom from those days.) Fred Bedford, who later donated the Bedford Pitcher in 1949, immediately donated a handsome new perpetual Atlantic Coast Championship trophy which is still the First District Championship Trophy.

THE WALTER BRACHTEL TROPHY

(Photo: Guy Gurney)

The Walter Brachtel Trophy is awarded to the winner of the last race of the 1^st District Championship.

THE FIRST DISTRICT NOVICE TROPHY

 (Photo: Guy Gurney)

The 1^st District Novice Trophy (Green Star) was donated by Russell Allen of the Central Long Island Sound Fleet. It was first awarded in 1948.  The trophy is identical to another trophy which Russell Allen donated in 1946, the “Inter-Fleet Team Race Trophy.”