On the Harbor: Join me as I share my “Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame,” story at this week’s NHYC Yachtsmen’s Luncheon

(L-R) Hook Beardslee and Barney Lehman, part of the Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame, The Silent Generation

By LEN BOSE

This Wednesday (Sept. 4), I will be speaking at the Yachtsmen’s Luncheon at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club (NHYC). Lunch is open to the public with people starting to arrive around 11:45 a.m. Lunch is served first, and if I recall my presentation starts around 12:20 p.m. The topic will be a review of a story I wrote about five years ago – “Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame,” which has been one of the most-read stories over the years. You can find my original story at http://lenboseyachts.blogspot.com/.

One day, I found a story in another local paper that touched on this topic dating back to the 1990s. I found the story out of date, and in my opinion, not deeply researched. I thought to myself, let’s update the story, and I went to work. I had no clue how much research it required. I interviewed David Carol, Phil Ramser, Larry Somers, Don Ayers, Brad Avery, Tom Schock, Henry Sprague, Jane Farwell, George Twist, Dennis Durgan and Dave Ullman, along with spending many hours with the NHYC’s, well-written and updated history book. I did make stops at Balboa Yacht Club (BYC) and the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club (BCYC), and really should have made a stop at Sherman Library. My interest in our harbor’s history is overwhelming, but I needed to stay focused on the sailors.

I still have the recordings of all the interviews of the many people I interviewed, and a couple of them still are fresh in my mind, which seems to be more difficult to recall every year for me. Of all the quotes I still easily recall, was one from David Carol describing a conversation he had with Fred Schenck on the docks of the NHYC. Schenck was approached by Humphrey Bogart to give sailing instructions to his wife Lauren Bacall in her Lehman 10. Schenck at the time was 19 years old and had seen photos of Bacall, yet in person, she was even more beautiful. “She was something else,” said Schenck. After telling the story, Carol was laughing so hard; my guess is Schenck might have described the moment a little differently.

 Another interesting interview was with Henry Sprague. Sprague is known to be a talker, and he must have had tears in his eyes when telling a story when he and Bill Twist were junior sailors and went to a movie theater somewhere around the corner from the BYC. I recall Sprague describing the incident with a third sailing friend who was with them, when one of them produced a couple of M80s, which are very loud explosive firecrackers. “I’m not sure which one of us brought them or who lit them, but two of them rolled down the theater floor to everyone’s surprise. The funny part was the theater manager tried to run us down on foot and catch the three of us. The yacht club was over a mile away and we were maybe 18 years old, and this guy was still just behind us,” Sprague recalled. When I asked George Twist to remark about this story he had a long pause and said, “Yeah, Sprague is quite the character.”

I also had another interesting talk with Dennis Durgan, who covered his America Cup experience, Fastnet Race and Congressional Cup races. The quote I recall most was, “If you can make your Sabot go fast, you can pretty much make anything go fast.”

All of the interviews are priceless to me, and yet I was extremely fortunate to spend time with Nick Scandone. Scandone called me up one night and asked if I could go back East with him to the Norton Yacht Club. Scandone had Lou Gehrig’s disease and was restricted to a wheelchair at that time. My full story with Nick at this event can be found at http://lenboseyachts.blogspot.com/2006/06/all-in_27.html.

If you are wondering how I decide who should be inducted into the Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame, it must be someone who has spent most of their lives competing in our harbor, their attendance would most certainly increase the boat’s performance and I would recognize their advanced skill level in the sport of sailing.

A sailor’s story is always an interesting one…quite often funny and sometimes sad. I had my share of laughs and tears while researching and writing this. I hope you enjoy it and are inspired to see your name or that of a loved one on the list. I hope you can make it to the luncheon.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.

The Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame (First Posted on 1-16-2020)

I would like to introduce to you the Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame. My interest in our Harbor's history has always grabbed my attention and affection. So yeah, I like doing this kind of stuff. I started with the Newport Harbor Yacht Club history book, three yacht club roster books and my phone. I interviewed David Carol, Phil Ramser, Larry Somers, Don Ayers, Brad Avery, Tom Schock, Henry Sprague, Jane Farwell, George Twist, Dennis Durgan and Dave Ullman.  To qualify, inductees into the Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame must have spent most of their lives competing in or Harbor. Their attendance would most certainly increase boat's performance, and I recognized their advance skill level in the sport of sailing.

This is a living document and will be amended as more information is gathered and better photos added. If I have the information or have forgotten someone you feel should be added, Please do not hesitate to contact me at Boseyachts@mac.com

A sailor's story is always an interesting one....quite often funny and sometimes sad. I had my share of laughs and tears while researching and writing this. I hope you enjoy it and are inspired to see your name or that of a loved one on the list.

                                                                                                 Respectfully Len Bose 1991 

The Silent Generation from 1925-1945

Walton Hubbard

Walton Hubbard: 1927 Star World Champions Active boat builder” Walton Hubbard pronely did more to develop new yachtsmen and new yachting activities within the range of everyone. Famous Star boat builder, Falcons, Albatross, Rhodes 33 He owned South Coast Boatyard He passed away at the age of 36.

Dick McKibben

Dick McKibben: Was the first winner of the first two Flight of the Snowbirds in 1936 & 1937. McKibben boat was named after his mother’s nickname  “Wa-Wa.” 1937 was a good year for McKibben winning the Staff Commodore IB Potter Perpetual  which is a high point series for the Snowbird fleet. He also won the Griffith Trophy that same year. McKibben was also apart of the crew of Walt Elliot’s Cal 32 “Escapade” 5 Time Lipton Cup winner. 

Left to right Hook Beardslee & Barney Lehman

Harlan (Hook) Beardslee:  1934-35 won two Star internationals/Worlds with Barney Lehman. It was written that in a Star Mid-winter regatta that Beardslee withdrew from a race because he had fouled another competitor, who did not file the protest Beardslee withdrew. “The Rhodes class always showed up with a sizable fleet, but the race was usually for second place when Hook was sailing his # 8 Seabee” Won 9 out of 10 Rhodes 33 Championships between 1939 & 49. Tom Schock said, “He was a man of very few words, he was bigger than life.” NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner

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Barton Beek:  Flight of The Snow Bird winner and top Star sailor. “Under that crusty exterior was a huge heart (even with the pacemaker). With Linda by his side, Barton participated and showed us all what it was like to be a true competitor in the corinthian spirit. The Star Class was his passion and one of the reasons it remains THE CLASS of yacht racing after 90+ years is the dedication and spirit of guys like Barton” quote from The Star Class web page. 3rd Place 1976 Star Worlds, Star Baxter Bowel Winner 1979 & 86. Lehman 10 Lehman 12 champion. He was a BYC Sportsman of the year and NHYC Burgee of Merit recipient. 

Fred Schenck

Fred “ Mr. Snipe” Schenck: “Was one of the best dingy sailors come out of the harbor.” Dave Carol said. When Humphrey Bogart was racing Lehman 10’s, Bogart asked Schenck if Bacall could sail with him to learn more. Schenck was 19 years old and had seen photos of Bacall, yet in person, she was even more beautiful. “She was something else.” Said Schenck. He was the sailing master Circus II for Howard Ahmanson and sailed to Hawaii in the Trans Pac race. According to Dave Carol, he could sail anything. Dragons off the coast of Spain, part of the crew of Walt Elliot’s Cal 32 “Escapade” five Lipton Cup Wins. Lehman 12 sailor. Won the Snipe Worlds once and crewed in the worlds 4 times, won Lehman 12 Champs 1963 & 65, NHYC Burgee of Merit

Don Elder

Don ( D.K.) Edler: Part of the crew of Walt Elliot’s Cal 32 “Escapade’ won the Lipton Cup 5 times, 1964 Won the Star world championships. 2nd Star worlds 1960, Star Baxter Bowl Winner  1956, 57 and 61, active Lehman 12 sailor National Champion Lehman 12 1961, Tom Schock: Big man, “When Edler talked everyone listened” A lot like John Wayne walked and talked like.” NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner

Tom Frost

Tom Frost:  Quoted from Sea Magazine “A sailing whiz kid, 19-year-old Tom Frost from Newport Beach, Calif. Won the Snipe Nationals for the second year 1953 & 54 in a row. His record of two firsts, a second, a third, and a fourth against the country's top 24 Snipe sailors makes him a crown prince among small-boat skippers.  Sept 14 1952, The Newport-Balboa News-Times: “Tom Frost has done it again! The Newport Harbor schoolboy, who placed second in the World’s Snipe Sailing Championships off Monaco along the French Riviera last week, today holds the honor of being the Snipe sailing champion in the International Regatta, at San Remo Italy. Tom and his crew Fred Schenck. In 1950 & 51 Frost was NHYC Junior Champion and Flight of the Snowbirds winner. Tom Schock said, “Greatest small boat sailor that ever was.” NHYC Burgee of Merit recipient.

Dick Deaver

Dick Deaver: “Probably one of the best sailors in the Harbor,” Said Dave Carol, He sailed PCs, with Lowell North. Two-time winner of the flight of the snowbirds 1949 and 50. 1976 & 78 Congressional Cup winner. Won Bronze metal Dragon Class 1964 Olympics. A crew member of three Trans Pac winning teams. Winner of the 1976 One Ton Worlds and skipper of an Admirals Cup Team in 1979. Best known for being apart of the beginning of North Sails and being very thorough in his racing preparation BYC Wall of Recognition.

Bill Ficker

Bill Ficker: 1957 Star North American Championships 2nd ,1958 Star Baxter Bowl, 1958 Star World Champion Winner, 1962 Lehman 12 National Champion, 1970 America Cup winner aboard “Intrepid”, 1974 Congressional Cup Winner 1974. Lehman 10 & 12 competitor,

George Twist “ He was a very meticulous, thoughtful personal person without natural talent very organized and knew what he needed to do”. Peter Wilson said, “Ficker had a unique way of motivating the crew. He wanted all of us to decide how best to do our jobs,”. NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner, Two-time BYC Sportsman of the Year recipient. 1993 America’s Cup Hall of Fame, 2016 US Sailing Hall of Fame.

The Baby Boomers from 1946-1964

TC

Tom Corkett: Grew up sailing Snowbirds in our harbor, 1963 at the age of 21 he won the Trans Pac overall and became the youngest skipper to compete and win, 1969 1st Class 2nd Overall Transpac, 1967 & 68 1st in class Acapulco Race, 1964 & 65 Mazatlan Race 1st in Class, 1966 2nd overall 1st in class. 1992 Pacific Cup Double Handed winner aboard the 60’ “Peregrine”. Was active in the Etchells fleet and today is very competitive in the Harbor 20 fleet. NHYC Burgee of Merit recipient.

Henry Sprague

Henry Sprague III. Two Time winner of the Flight of the snowbirds, 1961 Sailed with Tom Shock  in the Sears Cup, 1963, he won the Sears Cup with George Twist, 1974 Finn National, and World Championships. 1969 Congressional Cup winner, Lehman 12 Champ 69,73, 74,76,77. Now known as “Super Sprague”, Tom Schock described Henry as “Pure natural sailor.” 1967 Collage Singlehanded National Championships for USC, George Twist “ When it was his turn on the tiller the boat seemed to go a little faster”. Known as a natural sailer, Two-time winner of NHYC Burgee of Merit.

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Fred Miller: Finn National Champion 1960 & 1961 and North Americans champion in 1961. Placed 3rd in  Finn World Champions, Active Snipe Sailor.  Henry Sprague described Miller as  the “Original Harbor Columnist five days a week in the Daily Pilot, true Guinness, went undefeated, continuously smoked  “Salam” cigarettes. Was known as a perfectionist and would help people organize their boats for side work.”

Nina Nielsen

Nina Nielsen: Snowbird champion, 1969 Jr. Sabot National Champion. 1969 Balboa Sabot fleet Joe Wells Perpetual winner. 3rd 1976 Adams Cup; Dick Sweet recalled “My bravest student was Nina Nielsen. Nina was so small that she didn’t have enough weight to keep the boat upright. Because of this, she would tip over nearly every day, but she never complained or called for help. Nina was the smallest girl with the smallest voice and the biggest heart that he had ever seen sailing. Nina later went on  to win the Intercollegiate sailing championships three times for Princeton and become the first.  Top Snowbird and Lehman 12 sailor, Active Etchells sailor.

Scott Allen

Scott Allen: Flight of the Snowbird winner. 1968 & 69  College Sailor of the year, 1967 Cal 40 class winner Trans Pac with14 boats in his division. Prince of Wales winner 1967 and Congressional Cup winner 1967,  NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner.

The Durganizer

Dennis Durgan: Grew up as an active Sabot and Lehman 12 sailor within the harbor. “If you can make your Sabot go fast you can pretty much make anything go fast,” Durgan said. He was tactician for Bill Ficker 1974 and Dennis Conner 1975 Congressional Cup Winner. Congressional Cup-winning skipper in 1979 and 1980. In 1980 he was Dennis Conner’s tactician aboard Freedom for an Americas Cup win. Sailed in the 1979 Fastnet Race “ I learned a lot about myself on that one Len” Durgan said while interviewing him. 1991 Trans Pac Overall Skipper aboard Chance. Two time Lipton Cup-winning skipper 1978 & 1991 NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner.

Sawyer,Twist, Duffield, Durgan

George Twist: Americas Cup with Ficker in 1970 aboard Intrepid, 1961won the Sears Cup as crew with Tom Schock, In 1963 Won the Sears Cup as crew with Henry Sprague, Crewed on the 1973 Lipton Cup Boat, Came in 5th in the 1987 Soling World Championships, Competitive Finn sailor, 1973 Lehman 12 Champ, Etchells Fleet 6 Champion 1976,77,79,  Etchells 22 North American Champion 1982 . 2019 Flight of Newport Beach Harbor 20 5th Place “Was one of the best crew members in town, he was a really top notch crew. Every boat he stepped on always seemed to go faster”.  Tom Schock. “Twist was my best friend, we dominated everyone that sailed in the same water as we did”. Henry Sprague

Terry & Duffy Duffield

Marshall “Duffy” Duffield: 1973 & 77 Lipton Cup Team winner. 1979 & 80 Congressional Cup Crew with Durgan, Trans Pac 1991 MVP award aboard Chance the Overall winner.

Burke Sawyer: Best known as the owner of Watts sails and big boat sailing. 1958 Flight of the Snowbirds winner, 1968 Prince of Wales skipper winner. Sailed with top Cal 32 sailors,1972 Acapulco Race 1st class, 2nd overall. Tom Schock: “He really bloomed into a world-class sailor when he took over Watts sails sailing on the different IOR boats around the world.”

Campbell at the tiller

Argyle Campbell: Grew up a harbor Sabot sailor at the age of 8, Lehman 10 & 12 competitor, Congressional Cup winner in 1970 & 72. Four-year Intercollegiate All American at USC, 2001 Melges 24 National Champion, 2011 Etchells Worlds Grand Master winner, 2015 Etchells Jaguar Series Winner, 2nd Place in Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Championships 2018 & 19. It has been said, by more than one of the interviews I did, that Campbell started very young and lost every race but he kept at it and became one of harbors best. He really, really worked at it.“Persistent yet consistent” BYC Sportsmen of the year award and BYC Wall of Recognition

Tom Schock

Tom Schock: Grew up sailing snowbirds on the harbor. Participated in 1961 & 1962 Sears Cup. 1959 Thistle Fleet, District, and Pacific Coast Champion, Intentional 14, Lehman 12,Lido 14, Harbor 20 Champion, 1998 Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Champion. George Twist “ He is persistent and kept going at it.”

Dave Ullman

Dave Ullman Grew up sailing Prams and  Balboa Dinghies on the Harbor, active Lehman 10 & 12 competitor, Lido 14 National Champion 9 times, Three-time World Champion in  470s 1977,78 & 80. Snipe National Championships 1973, Thistle, Sabot and Coronado 15 National Champion, Gold metal Snipe in Pan American Games 1975. US Sailing Champion of Champions 1980, 5-time winner of the Lipton Cup, US Team Racing Championships, Melges 24 World Championships in 2007, Rolex Yachtsman of the year in 1996, 2016 Sailing Hall of Fame. Four-time winner of BYC Sportsman of the year award.

Tim Hogan

Tim Hogan: Grew up sailing Snowbirds and Sabots on the harbor. Active Lehman 12 Team racing sailor, 1962 Junior Champion, Three time-All- American, 1969 “College Sailor of the year” Competed in twenty-two sailing events and won twenty. 1972 Prince Of Wales winning skipper, Won the 1973 Lipton Cup Team. 1972 North American Match Racing Championships Prince of Wales, Santana 20 National Champion 1977, 1988 Etchells North American win, 1980 Lipton Cup win, Competitive Finn sailor, NHYC Burgee of Merit

Jim Buckingham

Jim Buckingham: Grew up sailing Sabots on the harbor. 1979 Intercollegiate All-American. Competitive world Star and Etchells sailor, Five-time Lehman 12 National Champion 1982,83,85,88 and 89. Top of the Harbor 20 Fleet 1 in A fleet, Placed 4th in 2019 H20 Class Champions. As crewed in Trans Pac and Cabo offshore racing.

Bill Menninger

Bill Menninger: 1980 J24 Nationals 3rd, 1982 J24 Worlds 6th, 5th 1987 E22 Worlds, 1st 2016 Master Regatta, Crewed on 3-Lipton Cup winning Teams, Crewed on 4 Baldwin Cup wins, Harbor 20 Fleet Champion 2008,10,11,12,13,17, Harbor 20 Class Champion 2019

Gaudio        Photo provided by Joysailing.com

Mark Gaudio: Grew up sailing Sabots and never left home. Won the Jr Sabot Nationals in 1972 First Flight of the Laser winner, Won Senior Sabot Nationals (17 ) Times, (4) Lido-14 Nationals, (1) Cal 25 Nationals, (4 ) Cal 20 Nationals, (1) B-25 Nationals and (4 )Harbor 20 Fleet Championships in 2004, 05 and 06. Spends most of his time now on the water coaching the Jr. Sabot Sailors.

Ann & Kurt Wiese

Ann and Kurt Wiese: Kurt sailed sabots as a kid in the harbor and was Intercollegiate All- American in 1977 and 78. He and Ann have sailed Lehman 12, Lido 14’s and Harbor 20's for over forty years together in the harbor. Always being at the top of the fleet in each class, never winning a class championships. Although it is a safe bet that they have won more one-design regattas than everyone on this list.

Generation X

Nick Scandone

Nick Scandone.  Grew up sailing Sabots on the harbor. 1988 Sabot National Champion, Lido 14 Competitor, 1988 UCI National Champion, and Team Race National Champion, Intercollegiate All- American, 1991 470 North American winner, 2005 2.4 Metre World Champion, 2nd Place IFDS Sailing World Championships,  2008 Beijing Paralympic Games Sailing Gold Medal, National Sailing Hall of Fame, US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman of the year, NHYC Burgee of Merit, BYC Sportsman of the Year and Wall of  Recognition,  BCYC Kennedy Memorial. Scandone is the only person to have won NHYC, BYC and BCYC top awards.

Jon Pinckney Center

Jon Pinckney: Grew up sailing sabots on the Harbor, Won the Junior Sabot Nationals in 1980, (7) Time Flight of the Laser winner, (1) The Flight in Harbor 20’s. Four-Time Intercollegiate All- American 1986,87,88, and 89. 2016 Lipton Cup Skipper, 2014,15 and 16 Harbor 20 Fleet Champion. Baldwin Cup Winning Team in 2014,15 and 16. Phil Ramser said, “Best sailor I have ever seen on our harbor.”

Mike Pinckney

Mike Pinckney: Grew up sailing Sabots on the harbor. 1983 Intercollegiate honorable mention, 3 Time Intercollegiate All- American 1984,85 and 86. 1988 Sears Cup-winning crew, 2016 Won 50th Anniversary Governors Cup alumni regatta. Mike has spent most of his time coaching Junior programs. When he shows up on the racecourse odds are very good that he is going to win the day. Jack Franco said Mike Pinckney is one of the best he had ever competed against.

Millennial

Justin Law

Justin Law: Grew up sailing a sabot on the Harbor. Twice the runner up in the Sabot Nationals. FJ National Champion, Intercollegiate honorable mention, 3 Time Intercollegiate All- American. Finalist Intercollegiate Sailor of the year. 2017 Trans Pac Division Winner, 2017 Cabo Division Winner, 2015 ISAF Team Racing World Champion. (4) Time Baldwin Cup winning skipper, 2019 Lipton Cup winning Skipper. NHYC Burgee of Merit





Sea ya

On the Harbor: Newport Beach’s 20 most interesting yachts SAIL

By LEN BOSE

I spent a couple of days cruising the harbor previewing sailing yachts that I have seen over this past season. My Top 20 choice countdowns were made by what I believe are the most interesting and demonstrate the character of our unique harbor. Most of the boats I have selected are custom and have been in the bay for a long time. To be honest, I am hoping to get the listing on these or at least be invited aboard.

Your comments are always well received, so let me know which boats I should add next year.

This is the second in a two-part series. 

No. 10 – “ANTARES”

ANTARES is a 1970s Ranger 33. Without a doubt, one of Newport Beach’s staples. It was raced competitively in the 70s and 80s by a family team. Over the last 30 years, it was used as a daysailer with long stays in Catalina at Whites Landing. For years I have copied this family’s routine of setting up the boat once at Catalina. She can be found on a BYC mooring.

No. 9 – “SHOCKWAVE”

SHOCKWAVE, a 1993 Ericson 38, is hull number 8 of the 19 built by Pacific Seacraft. You first notice the transom scope, and fit and finish of the boat. She has been berthed on Lido Soud for the last 20 years and is used primarily as a daysailer.

8. “ BLACK ALERION” 

BLACK ALERION 38’ Alerion is sailed almost every Thursday afternoon. This Carl Schumacher design can be spotted from one end of the bay to the other with her full-roached main. Sailed single-handed most of the time you always have to put down what you’re doing as she sails by. Located on Lido Peninsula

7. “MANAAKI”

MANAAKI 40’ Friendship designed by Ted Fontaine. She will leave you speechless as she glides down Newport Harbor most weekends with the whole family aboard. Truly one of Newport’s gems! She is berthed on the south side of Lido and kept under a full cover. 

6. “BRIGADOON” 

BRIGADOON 56’ Tripp splashed in 2001. The owner has had her now four years and has cruised the Caribbean and raced in 2019 CABO and Trans Pac with plans for cruising the South Pacific in the near future. She is well cared for and is ready to drop the dock lines at a moment’s notice. Located on the Lido Peninsula

5. “PALAWAN” 

PALAWAN 75’ Little Harbor designed by Ted Hood she is a shoal draft of only 6’ – 6” offers gunkholing capabilities in a serious offshore  world cruiser designed for comfortable passage making. With a centerboard and trim board, delta form hull, a large rudder and MaxProp protected by a skeg and a powerful bow thruster, PALAWAN can be maneuvered easily in tight quarters and in all conditions. She is berthed in the Bayshores Marina.

4. “OUR TIME” 

 OUR TIME 63’ Hylas Hull # 3 built-in 2014. This German Frers design performance cruiser

radiates quality and performance just sitting in her slip. While viewing this boat from the dock I appreciate the ability to move around the deck and change gears as the weather changes. Alongside the ability to motor sail close to 10 knots with it’s 220Hp Yanmar diesel auxiliary engine. She has been in town for at least four years and is only seen out of the slip occasionally. She is kept just north of BCYC. For more photos information go to https://www.hylasyachts.com/sailing-yachts/h63/#360tour 

3. “TEAL” 

  TEAL 42’ Hinckley Daysailor built-in 2007 to a Bruce King design. I first noticed this boat pulling into Moonstone on a warm summer afternoon with ensign, club burgee, and private signal all flying perfectly. I must have taken a deep breath because my wife Jennifer asked me what I was looking at and I replied “Oh nothing dear” like I had been caught looking at another attractive lady. She is berthed next to the NHYC.

2.  “VENTURE” 

VENTURE 76’ Pedrick Design built at Admiral Marine in 2000. Constructed of all composite materials after 20 years she is still “state of the art.” She has a commanding profile at the end of Lido Isle where she appears to be moving 15 knots while tied to the dock. Venture is now on her third owner and I have to assume she will be seen at Whites in Catalina most of next summer.

# 1 “WINDWARD PASSAGE” 

WINDWARD PASSAGE 73’ Built on the Beach in the Bahamas in 1968 to an Alan Gurney design. Best known for Transpac greatest single performance and with a crew list from the Sailors Hall of Fame. This yacht is in perfect condition and is truly one of  Newport’s most interesting yachts. She is berthed at the old Ardell Marina. “In every sailor’s heart, there is a piece of “WINDWARD PASSAGE”. I wrote a story years ago that you can find on my blog site http://lenboseyachts.blogspot.com with interior photos and notes. This story has been read by more than 50,000 readers. It would great if she would race in a Transpac again, seen sailing most Thursday afternoons.     

Hope you enjoyed Newport Beaches 20 Most Interesting Yachts?

Sea ya

The Harbor Report: It's good to be king.

By Len Bose

Sunday July 17 is the start of the 81st Flight of the Lasers and when people like Brett Hemphill, David Beek and Gator Cook call me up to ask me to write a story about “The Flight” I am all over it.

First call I made was to Seymour Beek to find out as much about the race as I could. Beek first sailed in the race at the age of seven, I did not happen to ask Beek what year that was but the race started in 1936. The race first was known as the Flight of the Snowbirds, which is 11 foot monotype sailing dingy. The Snowbird was a class in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Beek’s best finish’s were in 1948 and 49 with two-second places to Gil Kraemer and Dick Deaver respectively. These were the years when as many as a 160 boats would be on the starting line at the same time. To finish in the top fifty would be quite the accomplishment, but to finish second during this time,with all the past Olympians 0n all those boats, needs some serious respect and acknowledgment.

Beek refers to the race as “The Flight” because over the years the race has been sailed in the Snowbirds from 1948 to1970, Kites 1972 to 73 and now Lasers from 1975 to present. The Laser also happens to be an Olympic class boat.

In 1954 Tom O’Keefe won The Flight and I had a chance to talk to him over the phone. “ At that time The Flight was the largest one design race in the world. I recall once I got into the lead there was a news reel boat filming the race and later played the news reel in the theaters.” O’Keefe said. “ I also remember all the power boats in the bay blowing their horns at the finish line when I won the race. It was a big deal at that time. O’Keefe recalled a story about a competitor who's boat did not measure in to the rules and this person had won a number of different regattas that summer. There was someone who took offense to this competitor and swam from Balboa Island and tipped the boat over just before the start of the race. O’Keefe recalls the harbor department following the swimmer back to the beach he had come from. “I still have the silver plated bowl I won as the take home trophy that year, I will always remember all those boats.” O’Keefe said.

Next I checked in with Chris Raab who had won The Flight in Lasers in 99, 02 & 03. “ This race meant everything, I needed a new sail really bad and the winner received a new sail. My father was at work and he did not have time to trailer my Laser down from Long Beach so I remember sailing my boat from Long Beach to Newport, at the age of 15, so that I could practice a couple of days before the event. Dude this race meant everything to me, it was huge!” Raab said.

I had to pick up the phone and call the man himself Jon Pinkney who has won The Flight more than anyone else with seven wins. Like all the past winners the first thing he said was “ It was the big event, the biggest race on the bay at the time, and I wanted that new sail. Out of the 100 boat that started the winner was the king.” Pinckney said.

Pinckney recalls the 1990 Flight, which was one of the windiest, as the one that got away from him. “ Phil Ramming and I came off the starting line ahead of the fleet. Ramming had just tacked off of O mark to starboard and lee bowed me back to the right side of the course. Ramming then made it in front of the ferry, that was headed into Balboa Island, and I had to sail around it. I was never able to catch him after that.” Pinckney said. This was some twenty-six years ago and Pinckey was telling the story as if it was yesterday.

When I told Pinckney and Raab about the winner of this years Flight receiving a new sail they both got rather quite. I’ll let you know if I see Raab on his Laser this week before the start. Sailing Pro shop is donating the new sail along gift certificates, the entry is free thanks to the Newport Chamber of Commerce. There are several categories that people can enter, such as the youngest skipper, parent child, couple, oldest skipper, and bragging rights.

Entry and information can be found on the website, www.flightofthelasers.org

Boat name of the week “ Chill Vibe”

Sea ya

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist for the Daily Pilot.