Spring 2019 Beacon

THE ANNAPOLIS YACHT CLUB

BEACON VOLUME 11, NO. 1 | SP RING 2019

RESTORING A SYMBOL OF THE BAY The year-round care and keeping of this iconic fixture

AYC MIDSHIPMEN HOMECOMING Servicemen and women and the draw to Annapolis

THE VIKING TROPHY

The history behind one of our most recognizable trophies

ICONIC YACHTS OF AYC

The importance of five well-known yachts of AYC

Contents

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Star Flyer Carole Falk Members set sail on the Star Flyer on their way to the Leeward Islands

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It Takes a Village Alan Shearer A behind the scenes look at setting up events at Annapolis Yacht Club

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Restoring a Symbol of Chesapeake Bay Bill Parlatore An inside look at volunteer work at the Thomas Point Shoal Light

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Yachtsmen of AYC: Terry Hutchinson Bob Putnam

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Meeting member Terry Hutchinson and other icons 15

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The 2019 Triple Crown of Charity Sailing Lori Ross Finding out the meaning of this prestigious award

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Homecoming for AYC Midshipmen Bob Putnam Servicemen and women and the draw to Annapolis

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Repurposing nautical items 24

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New Treasures from Old Krystyna Belendiuk

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The Reason Things Happen at the Club Alan Shearer, Bill Parlatore, Lori Ross Learning more about Club committees

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Iconic Yachts of AYC Past Commodore Peter Gordon The importance of Finisterre, Dyna, Running Tide, Merrythought, and Gaucho

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The Viking Trophy Lori Ross The history behind one of the most recognizable trophies at AYC

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About the Authors

AYC BEACON

VOLUME 11, NO. 1

From The Communications Chair

B

y the time you read this spring issue of the Beacon, summer will be just about here. And what a summer this is going to be! All three campus buildings will be fully operational this summer, the pool drawing young and old for the first time, the Sailing Center a beehive of sailing activity. There are onwater programs to delight every interest and skill level, and summertime racing is in full swing. The Junior Fleet, now at record numbers with dozens of sailing coaches, thrives in our new campus environment.

Weekend regattas fill most weekends, and the popular WNR Series brings us back to sitting on the Second Deck watching race finishes as we’ve not had the chance to enjoy since 2015. I have many fond memories of sitting with friends on the outside deck while the lead boats sail up Spa Creek, threading through the mooring field to gain every advantage. What a sight at the finish, made particularly special when conditions allow a spinnaker finish with all boats seemingly on top of each other! Yes, it is summer in Annapolis at its best.

It is also a great time to get involved with your Club.

To highlight the behind-the-scenes volunteer activities, we showcase some of our committees in this issue, to introduce new and perhaps newly retired members who might like to participate and volunteer in some aspect of the Club. These exciting summer programs don’t just happen: They are the work of many volunteers who assist the staff to organize and run these events. You would be surprised how many people it takes to put on a proper regatta. And if you would like to meet more of your fellow club members, joining a committee or race volunteers is a great way to contribute. From Annapolis Keels & Wheels Front/Back Cover: Thomas Shoal Point Light courtesy of John Potvin/Gaucho courtesy of Past Commodore Peter Gordon Left: Royal Clipper courtesy of Peter Thornton Vol. 11 No. 1 AYC Beacon (ISSN 1949-2995) is published by Annapolis Yacht Club. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Flag Officers Commodore James Ellis Vice Commodore Jonathan Bartlett Rear Commodore C. Edward Hartman, III Fleet Captain Robert Shapiro Secretary Howard Brooks Treasurer Timothy Cusack Board of Governors Past Commodore Debbie Gosselin Peter Trogdon Michael Mulligan Christopher Bell

Communications Committee Bill Parlatore, Chair Krystyna Belendiuk Robert Putnam Alan Shearer Editorial Office Annapolis Yacht Club 510 Severn Avenue Annapolis, Maryland 21403 410.263.9147 communications@ annapolisyc.org

to the summer racing events, those who manage these events are always looking for volunteers to help out.

There is no shortage of opportunity at AYC. And even more is on the horizon. A movement is afoot to bring back the once popular Build-A-Boat program, where teams from the Annapolis area build simple boats from plywood sheets on a sunny Saturday, then race, row, sail, and/or sink the boats the following day.

It is a spectacle watched by hundreds of Annapolitans. I attended one of the last Build-A-Boat programs when we first moved to Annapolis, and we even sponsored the allwomen breast cancer awareness team. I could not get over the laughter, the shenanigans, the creative design ideas, and the outright cheating…all in great fun, of course. It is one of the most original and fun ways to connect AYC with our Annapolis community.

In this issue, we also want to tell you about the ongoing restoration of the Thomas Point Shoal Light, a historic icon on Chesapeake Bay. It was falling into disrepair once the light was automated—the lightkeepers gone, the building abandoned. It was only through the efforts of dedicated volunteers that today the lighthouse is a museum showcasing the lifestyle of the lightkeeper and his assistant, who were responsible for operating and maintaining the light and foghorn for the protection of Bay mariners. I have no doubt that Thomas Point lighthouse is part of your boating memories. I know it is for me.

With all of these many activities in our vibrant Club, I know we will have our challenges, from a communications perspective, to keep everyone informed and updated regarding all that is going on with a very busy calendar.

This puts new demands on our communications team, but that is a good thing.

I want to thank everyone who shared how much they enjoyed The Story of the Annapolis Yacht Club. It started off as a much simpler project but soon became a serious effort as I uncovered the rich history of AYC and Annapolis, and the many personalities that left their mark. It truly was an honor.

Enjoy your summer, and take advantage of all that is planned for you and your family. And if the mood strikes you to get more involved with your Club, there is no better time than now.

Bill Parlatore, Communications Chair Contact Want to provide feedback? Submit a story? Or have a question?

Email: billp16@gmail.com

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r e y l F r a t S lk

Fa e l o r a

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n late December 2018, we sat in an elegantly appointed home surrounded by good AYC friends.

While the dinner was memorable, the conversation on that cold, gray evening sparked desire! Conjured up were images of sunlight dancing on waves amid the sounds of occasionally flapping sails. Diane and Bob Heaney had plans with Ann and Peter Thornton to depart in late January for a cruise on Star Flyer among the Leeward Islands. The experience sounded so delightful that the next morning we signed up!

The Leeward Islands? I sort of knew where they were but Googling a map cemented their presence.

Did it matter where we were sailing? Probably not—it all looked enticing. That cerulean blue water and gentle warmth. Wow! Cruising can range from a family doing 10 days on a Rainbow (yes, the Falks did that in 1971) to the almost ready-to-debut Seven Seas Splendor’s Regent Suite that promises the ultimate in luxury. Richard and I have enjoyed several commercial cruises over the past 15 years: Holland America to Alaska, Seabourn through the Greek Isles and to Turkey, Celebrity around Italy.

While we had marvelous trips, I consider those vessels more like floating hotels than ships.

Our recent experience aboard the Star Clipper ship, Star Flyer, was much more a seagoing adventure aboard a sailboat. While we had never been on a Clipper cruise before, both the Heaneys (seven cruises) and Thorntons (four) had earned their frequent flyer cards.

That was reassuring! Thus, in late January we flew from frost on the windshield and landed amidst blooming bougainvillea and the ridiculously blue waters of St. Maarten.

Embarking involved tropical cocktails and the usual safety drills for the seventy sailors. The Star Flyer is a four-masted tall ship, 366 feet with a draft of 18 feet.

The staterooms are cozy: navy and gold decor with brightwork and polished teak appointments.

Our ship departed the harbor that evening after gathering the passengers on the top deck. Stirring rhythmic music (Vangelis’s 1492: Conquest of Paradise) enveloped us aurally, as visually lights played upon the rising sails. Top gallants, mizzen sail, and spanker—all part of a new vocabulary! Star Flyer is a real sailboat, and the captain receives a bonus by sailing and conserving fuel.

The ship sailed while we slept. Some nights were balmy and calm, others more challenging as the ship heeled and responded to the waves. And every morning we arrived with a new island to explore.

We visited Nevis, Dominica, Les Saintes, Guadeloupe, and St. Barts before returning to St. Maarten. Every island offered tours or adventures: swimming with stingrays, hiking through the rain forest, ziplining. We six took a kayak tour of a mangrove ecosystem that was particularly rewarding: exercise plus learning about the local flora and fauna in a unique setting! We spotted large iguanas sunning on mangrove branches and held sea cucumbers and a starfish.

And every evening we dined from a menu geared toward satisfying discerning palates. For old sailors, this unique cruise offered nostalgic sounds and scenes.

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It Takes a Village behind the scenes at AYC events

by Alan Shearer

A

t AYC we are fortunate to have many banquets, parties, and celebrations, that come together so beautifully and that we all enjoy. It’s easy to forget all the preparation our staff does to make these events fun and memorable with minimal hassle. But what happened on the second night of the 2018 Newcomers’ Weekend drove home the importance of recognizing the work of our Events and Food & Beverage Staff.

Roberta Nowell and her crew spent much of the afternoon setting tables and buffet stations and the bar.

Vidal Torres set up the audio system, and the band was almost finished setting up their equipment. Around

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4:30 p.m., a violent storm rolled in. The wind-driven sideways rain made a beeline for the big tent, taking out several poles, knocking over the speakers, and soaking everything less than 30 minutes before the cocktail hour.

The storm only lasted a few minutes, but as soon as it was over, Roberta and her staff flew into action— putting everything back together, running to the Club to get more linens and other supplies. Between the band and Vidal, they got a working audio system up. A couple guys helped us put tent poles back into place and helped Tom Farcosky and company reposition an anchor that had torn from its purchase in the ground.

Once things settled, I started taking photos again.

I sent dozens of pictures to Communications at the Club. Among them, I made sure to get some of each of the staff members there. I got a request from every one of the staff members at Newcomers to access the pictures. Of course, I gladly granted those permissions.

Clearly, the staff appreciated that we had included them in the photos, and they wanted to see and perhaps save them. They notice and feel good when we show our appreciation for them.

So what does it take to put on an event, or recover from a setback so smoothly? According to Roberta, it takes a village! It takes Roberta, Leo Luistro, and Nicki Baillie to create a detailed plan and timeline for the event. It takes Vidal setting up and making sure all the audiovisual equipment works. It takes Chef Michael Herr and the Food & Beverage team to design the perfect menu and bar setup. Then, it takes Josue Menjivar and the event staff—with extra help from the a la carte

staff—to make it happen!

Leo is in charge of the big annual events such as Eggnog, Commodore’s Reception, Memorial Day, while Roberta and her partner, Nicki, oversee the other 60plus member events and catered outside activities such as weddings, dinners, and meetings.

Roberta, who has been with AYC for 18 years, described the process as follows: “We make a list of everything needed—food, containers, serving pieces, plates, Sterno, polishing cloths, linens, props, cards, decorations, furniture arrangement, tents, AV, food, flowers. A few days before the event, we draw up a detailed list of activities, a timeline, a room and table setup chart, and table settings including linens, wine glasses, flowers, and china.”

On the day of the event, Roberta, Leo, and Nicki function as the hubs of each of their respective events.

The morning of an event, they conduct staff meetings that include everyone involved. They talk about the

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event, and its purpose, the “client” (AYC members), and their expectations. They review the event details and post them in the event prep area, so everyone can refer to them (e.g., what time to bring out dinner, pour the wine). Most important, Roberta says, they emphasize that there is no “do-over” for an event. It has to be done right the first time.

Once the event room is set up, Roberta says, the staff has learned to “look at the big picture” of the room, as well as the little details. Is the room layout balanced, attractive, and inviting? Are the linens even all around the table?

Are chairs just touching the linens? Are the glasses and silverware placed correctly and identically? She believes all the parts must connect to make a dramatic whole.

Roberta knows the staff take the extra step to make it perfect, adjusting a wine glass here and picking up dropped flower petals there until it is just right.

This level of attention to detail in advance allows the staff to be prepared and “on the same page” before the event begins. This calm readiness for an event is reflected when they politely welcome members as they arrive.

Rather than appearing panicked with all there is to do, they are relaxed and in control. They offer assistance.

They are true event hosts.

During the event, the staff works together to coordinate activities, referring to the event schedule as needed and responding to requests. Most importantly, if there is a problem, rather than blaming someone or complaining, they fix it. Roberta, Leo, and Nicki, while still in leadership positions, function as staff during events, often cleaning up messes, helping to serve, resolving problems, and doing any of the many jobs that the team does.

Roberta believes that she needs to set an example by being part of the staff during events. While she trusts her team to get the job done, in the end, it is her responsibility whether or not a member event is successful. What causes her the most anxiety is the unknown. Not knowing the date the Clubhouse or Sailing Center would open, not knowing what the weather will bring, not knowing how a new vendor will perform…there are countless unknowns to anticipate and consider. Despite these concerns, Roberta, Leo, and Nicki soldier along, making the best of every situation.

Roberta and Leo work closely with the Entertainment Committee to create exciting member opportunities throughout the year. Some of the activities under discussion are a Summer Soirée, a musical event with the Annapolis Symphony Chamber Orchestra, and

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a Disney Princesses event! Stay tuned.

And the next time you attend one of the enjoyable activities the staff puts together, take a moment to thank them. They do appreciate it, and it makes them proud to be recognized.

Restoring a Symbol of Chesapeake Bay

by Bill Parlatore

I

f there is one iconic image that defines Chesapeake Bay, it is Thomas Point Shoal Light. This landmark is instantly recognized by all area boaters and the thousands of people who transit north and south each year. The lighthouse is part of the logo of our signature Annapolis to Newport Race, and its image can be found in one form or another in every tourist shop in Annapolis and St. Michaels. Indeed, this lighthouse and the blue crab have been symbols of our Bay for as long as any of us can remember.

Situated just over a mile off land beyond shoals at the mouth of the South River, the lighthouse has a wonderful history. Erected in 1875 to replace an earlier stone tower on land dating to 1824 (which did a poor job of highlighting the shoals so far out from Thomas

Point), the six-sided Victorian cottage is a fine example of screw-pile construction. The cottage sits atop threaded iron pilings that were screwed deep into the soft bottom to create a firm foundation. This contrasts to more expensive, concrete or metal caisson lighthouses, such as Sandy Point Light or Baltimore Light.

Chesapeake Bay is over 180 miles long, and 100 years ago there were nearly 90 lighthouses dotting both shores of the Bay in Virginia and Maryland. Forty of these lights were screw-pile lighthouses. Today, Thomas Point Shoal Light is the only surviving screw-pile lighthouse in the country still standing on its original location. And it is the only screw-pile lighthouse ever designated a National Historic Landmark.

VOLUME 11, NO. 1 floors, AYC BEACON The lighthouse has two arranged into two 9

Completed reception room after lead removal, repainting of walls, and installation of period antiques. This room represents conditions pre-1939 when the United States Lighthouse Service was in charge of the lighthouse operations.

Completed restoration of the radio room. This room represents conditions post1939 when the Coast Guard was in charge of the lighthouse operations. Note the small black and white TV used by the enlisted men.

Completed restoration of the kitchen area to pre-1939 conditions. Note the potbelly stove. The coal burning stove was used for heat and cooking.

bedrooms, a kitchen, and a sitting room. The lighthouse keepers lived and worked in less than 800 square feet. A spiral staircase leads up to the fourth-order Fresnel lenses, originally lit by an oil lamp. (“Fourth-order� refers to its size and focal length.) A clock-type mechanism used large weights to turn the lens,

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which had to be rewound on a regular schedule.

Thomas Point Shoal Light was manned until 1986, and it was the last lighthouse on the Bay to be fully automated. The oil-fueled Fresnel lens system was replaced long ago with a solar-powered light. The lighthouse remains an important aid to navigation, and today it is also a valuable weather station, known as NOAA Station TPLM2.

Coast Guard Station Baltimore still maintains the light and foghorn, but the restoration of the cottage exterior and interior is the ongoing work of volunteers.

The Coast Guard intended to dismantle the cottage decades ago, but public opinion would have none of that.

The current caretakers of the Thomas Point lighthouse are dedicated volunteers of the Chesapeake Lighthouse Society, the Chesapeake chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. And the cottage will remain under the care of volunteer preservationists.

John Potvin celebrates 25 years of AYC membership this year. An avid yachtsman, he is used to being involved in his community and interests, so it was only natural that when John retired, he sought out a meaningful project to get involved with. This led him to the restoration of the lighthouse, and the U.S. Lighthouse Society.

Today John is the preservation foreman of the Thomas Point lighthouse. He spends a significant number of hours each year supervising the docents who give tours of the lighthouse during the season, as well as managing woodworkers, painters, and other volunteers committed to restoring the structure back to its original charming condition. Given its exposed location, the cottage must be painted every two years, and the interior restoration must be a historically accurate museum.

Regular tours provide a look at what life was like for the lighthouse keeper and his assistant. It is an understatement to say they lived a solitary life. Until the Coast Guard took over the lighthouse in 1939, there was no electricity, and the two men relied on a rain catchment system on the roof for water. Reading and fishing were about all they could do when they were not tending to their duties. Two potbelly stoves provided heat during the cold winter months when the threat of moving ice, the enemy of a screw-pile lighthouse, added a touch of drama to the otherwise lonely existence of a lighthouse keeper.

When the Coast Guard took over, they assigned four men to the station and upgraded the services.

While the men enjoyed some of the creature comforts that come with electricity, life at this duty assignment

If you want to find out more and perhaps volunteer your time, John told me they are always looking for volunteers and no skills are required. Email jpotvin48@ gmail.com to help out.

Another view of the completed kitchen area to pre-1939 conditions and the potbelly stove.

Volunteers hard at work! Clockwise from top left: 1. One of the many volunteers painting newly installed walls in the equipment room. 2. Virgil Ramey and Jim Church, members of the Annapolis Woodworkers Guild (AWG), replacing rotten siding on the exterior of the lighthouse. 3. Bernie Lammers of the AWG replacing siding on the exterior of the lighthouse. 4. John Potvin painting the exterior wood trim around the dormer windows.

was still pretty simple.

With technology, GPS, and all the many navigation aids we enjoy today, the need for lighthouses and their keepers has all but disappeared. As John Potvin told me, all lighthouses are in trouble, and the history and heritage of lighthouse life is at risk. Most of the structures are in dire need of restoration with ongoing maintenance, but unless they are manned or funded, that will not happen.

Sadly, most lighthouses are simply too remote, too far away from potential volunteer efforts.

Thankfully, that is not the case for Thomas Point Shoal Light, which serves as a shining example of what organized volunteers can accomplish. It will be preserved for future generations.

I’ve made many passages offshore cruising and racing, as well as the seasonal spring migration north on the ICW. Even returning from extended cruises on the lower Bay, seeing the Thomas Point lighthouse emerge over the horizon makes me feel like I am home, back in home waters. Any anxiety or pressure simply fades away.

There is nothing more comforting in foul weather.

Thomas Point Shoal Light will remain an icon of Chesapeake Bay for many years to come, thanks to the many volunteers who maintain this historic landmark of life on Chesapeake Bay.

Fog bell striker on the second deck. This would strike a bell located on the outside of the lighthouse which had to be cranked every 2 hours during foggy conditions by the lighthouse operators.

Captain Howard Lewis and his deadrise workboat “Audacious” taking volunteers out to the lighthouse to work. His boat has been used over the past 15 years shuttling volunteers, contractors, and benefactors out to the lighthouse.

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Terry Hutchinson "Steller Fellers" Three Amazing Luminaries with Much in Common

by Bob Putnam

T

he ancient Greek storyteller Aesop is credited with saying, “A man is known by the company he keeps.”

With that wisdom in mind, it’s fair to say we know some interesting things about Terry Hutchinson, the AYC member who is now officially linked with Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken, Jr. Last year, Terry joined company with those two American icons when he, too, was installed into the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame.

It was Scuttlebutt Sailing News that adroitly linked Hutchinson with the two baseball legends, as the online sailing news digest reprinted a story by the Capital Gazette. Reporter Bill Wagner wrote that Annapolis sailor Terry earned the nexus with Ruth and Ripken by virtue of ranking “among the greatest sailors in the long history of the sport.” The story noted Terry’s amazing record includes winning 15 national, North American, and world championships, in five different classes of boats.

Terry visited AYC recently to give members an update on his current activities, prominently including his involvement with the upcoming 36th America’s Cup. He had occasion, on that day, to spend some time with a group of AYC Junior Sailors.

What we saw and heard during Terry’s visit led us to reflect on some ways AYC’s own superstar mirrors those other two slightly better-known heroes in the pantheon of sports. There are interesting parallels. Each of the three is associated with a particular achievement, which alone would justify acclaim. But in each case, there are other dimensions equally worthy of attention and praise.

George Herman (Babe) Ruth achieved fame as baseball’s ultimate power hitter, setting the record of home runs (60) that would stand for more than three

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decades. But the Babe was also a phenomenal pitcher.

Before quitting the mound at age 22 to specialize as a slugger, the Babe was one of the top hurlers in the game. Compared with all pitchers who have played professional baseball right up to the present, the Babe has the second-lowest earned run average. He surely would have made the Hall of Fame solely as a pitcher!

Similarly, Cal Ripken, Jr. is often associated with a single achievement: playing in the most consecutive games. In a sport with a grueling, near-daily schedule, in which inevitable sprains and other injuries—not to mention colds, flu, and other illnesses—regularly sideline players, Ripken played in 2,632 games in a row.

This astonishing record, never missing a game over a period of 17 years, surpassed Lou Gehrig’s streak, which had stood for over half a century.

But Cal wasn’t just in the lineup for those games; he starred in them. Considered one of the best fielding shortstops and third basemen in baseball history, he was an outstanding hitter, and he continues to hold the record for most home runs by a shortstop.

The similarities between these high achievers continue with our own Terry Hutchinson. He gained

Terry chatting with a group of AYC Junior Sailors.

recognition initially for a somewhat specialized skill: as a dinghy skipper, he was ranked as a collegiate All American in all four years at Old Dominion and named College Sailor of the Year in 1989 and 1990. Terry soon demonstrated wider skills by excelling with a slightly larger team in small keelboats, reaching the pinnacle in winning the J/24 North American Championships twice, followed by the class’s World Championship. Then he showed further talents extending to larger sailing platforms. As skipper or tactician, Terry won world championships in Corel 45, TP 52 (four times), Farr 40 (three times), Congressional Cup, Key West Race Weeks, and the IMS Offshore World Championship.

After gaining celebrity status in their area of sport, each of these luminaries continued to gain distinction, but in new ways. The Babe briefly tried minor league baseball coaching and engaged in entertainment activities, including appearing in movies. Since retiring, Cal has worked to foster the love of baseball at the grassroots level, an endeavor which has included purchasing three minor league teams. Cal also has been extremely active in philanthropy.

For Terry Hutchinson, a further spreading of wings lifted him to the rarified atmosphere of the America’s Cup. He has now been involved in five campaigns to win the Cup. The closest he has come in the quest was in 2007, serving as tactician for Team New Zealand, reaching the finals before losing to the Swiss-based Alinghi team.

Today, Terry serves as skipper and CEO of American Magic, the New York Yacht Club’s challenger for the next America’s Cup contest, to be held in January and February 2021. This exquisitely high-profile, highpressure position demands an amazing skill set: • ability to recognize and develop sailing skills at the absolute highest level, • enough insight into advanced design dynamics to manage a team of brilliant naval architects and aviation engineers, • sufficient understanding of high-tech construction techniques to oversee the building of ultrasophisticated hulls and spars, and • ability to understand and manipulate human behavior in a way to optimize performance of all these teams.

There’s one, final aspect that strongly links these three superstars: a humility that holds them close to the fans who share a love of their sport. And this demeanor especially includes an affinity for the young.

Stories abound of Babe Ruth’s special connection to young baseball fans. In the simpler times of America in the 1920s and ’30s, kids unabashedly worshipped baseball stars; some of the stars—including the Bambino—reciprocated. A typical example was the time in Waco, Texas, when he broke up an exhibition game by inviting some of the kids to come out on the field and roll around on the grass. They poured out of the stands by the thousands, overran the field, swamped the local

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police, and ended the game.

Cal Ripken, Jr. had so much in common with Babe Ruth. By the time Cal was leading the Orioles teams of the 1980s and ’90s, there were lots more choices of heroes for young folks. But there were still plenty of kids who idolized the Birds’ Golden Glove shortstop, showing up at the ballpark in Baltimore, hoping to get an autograph or a picture with him. If you ever attended a game at Camden Yards in those days, as I did, you’ll recall the scene of Cal standing by the on-deck circle after the game, surrounded by kids, signing autographs for hours.

Terry Hutchinson shares a great deal with both the Babe and Cal. Terry’s regular schedule involves mixing with competitive sailors at major regatta sites, traveling all over the world to coach crews at world-level

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competitions, and meeting with designers, managers, and sponsors of America’s Cup campaigns. Yet, for all these high-altitude interactions, it only takes watching Terry for a few moments, chatting with Junior Sailors, to recognize he shares the same solemn regard and affinity for youth exhibited by his fellow sports legends.

During the recent visit to AYC to show our members some videos of the work and testing taking place in the American Magic campaign, Terry spent a considerable amount of time, most of it essentially unscheduled and impromptu, chatting with a group of AYC Junior Team members in the new Sailing Center. The youngsters were there to receive awards earned in recent regattas. Terry congratulated the kids, asked about their achievements, and handed out American Magic burgees signed by team members. He answered every question from every youngster, in a relaxed, unhurried manner.

AYC staff took some pictures of Terry with the Junior Sailors. Looking at those photos reminds me of Cal signing those autographs at Camden Yards.

To be honest, I don’t know much about Aesop and don’t pretend to remember any of his fables. But he had it right that we are known by the company we keep, and we do know that the Babe, Cal, and Terry have much in common. About the only thing we don’t know, is a nickname for the third member of the trio. Babe Ruth was known as the “Sultan of Swat;” Cal is called the “Iron Man.” What about Terry?

Maybe we can ask our Junior Sailors.

The 2019 Triple Crown of Charity Sailing T

by Lori Ross

he Triple Crown of Charity Sailing, sponsored by Weems & Plath, was created in 2018 to recognize the top sailor and fundraiser for three charity races on the Chesapeake Bay: the Leukemia Cup, the CRAB Cup, and the Hospice Cup. Skippers must compete in all three races in order to be eligible to win the Triple Crown Trophy. The 2019 races are as follows: June 1: Annapolis Leukemia Cup Regatta leukemiacup.org/md August 17: The CRAB Cup crabsailing.org/fw-event-slug/crab-cup

The Triple Crown of Charity Sailing Trophy. Trophy photos courtesy of Weems & Plath.

John Heintz with the trophy in 2018.

September 14: The Hospice Cup hospicecup.org The skipper with best score in the three races and the most funds raised is awarded the Triple Crown of Charity Sailing Trophy at an event hosted by the three nonprofits and Weems & Plath.

AYC member and Harbor 20 sailor John Heintz was the 2018 recipient of the Triple Crown of Charity Sailing Trophy.

The Annapolis resident participated in all three charity regattas and performed well while also raising significant funds along the way. John is a veteran competitor in the Harbor 20 class, which faithfully supports the Leukemia Cup, Hospice Cup, and CRAB Cup. Heintz finished fourth overall among 11 boats and second among single-handed Harbor 20 entries in the CRAB Cup, a pursuit race hosted by Eastport Yacht Club. He was ninth out of 20 boats in the Leukemia Cup and one of its top fundraisers. In addition, while the 2018 Hospice Cup was cancelled due to Conowingo Dam debris in the Bay, Heintz raised a total of $24,330 for the three charities in 2018.

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Homecoming for A

by Bob Putnam

AYC Midshipmen I

t’s not unusual to see a sharp, service-dress Navy uniform among AYC’s Third Deck tables, worn by a handsome young man or woman dining as guest of a sponsor family. What might be a bit more surprising is that several club members may take note of the visitor from the Naval Academy with a little smile or a knowing look, each recalling his or her own days as a midshipman.

If you’ve ever had the impression that quite a number of AYC members are Naval Academy graduates, you’re not alone. It seems most of us know fellow members who were midshipmen.

On the face of it, that’s remarkable. The Brigade of Midshipmen draws from every state and U.S. territory.

Appointment is very limited, requiring nomination by a senator or member of congress from the candidate’s home state. This is not a school lots of students attend just because it happens to be in their hometown.

So why would numerous former midshipmen from

other states choose the Annapolis area after their service?

Navy officers have the opportunity to sample many beautiful and otherwise desirable locations. Consider the competition Annapolis has to beat out in order to reacquire U.S.N.A. graduates: • During their service years, some live in dream vacation spots such as San Diego and Honolulu.

• Some had temporary homes in fantastic foreign cities like Rota, Spain; Naples, Italy; or Yokosuka, Japan.

• Many others lived in tax-advantageous states, with homes in military family-friendly places like Jacksonville or Pensacola, Florida; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Puget Sound, Washington. (These three states and four others have no state income tax.)

Compared to several of these locations, Annapolis wouldn’t seem as favorable in terms of climate, exotic appeal, or income tax structure. Yet it seems to many of us at AYC that a surprising number of former midshipmen “come home” to Maryland’s capital after their Navy

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career. Is this an accurate impression?

In a charming article in the May 25, 2018, issue of the Capital Gazette, reporter Jimmy DeButts opined that a disproportionately large percentage of former midshipmen do return to live in the area. “It’s easy to understand why Annapolis calls graduates home,” DeButts wrote. “The waterside town is where they matured into men and women.” He described a “symbiotic relationship:” Annapolis takes pride in being the site of the Academy, and “support from the community [helps] shape and prepare [midshipmen] for whatever the future brings.”

For AYC, this discussion poses some further intriguing questions. First, do we have an unusually large number of Naval Academy alumni among the Club membership? We set out to learn the answer, sending a broadcast email asking for a response by members who are Academy alums.

Along the way to getting a count, we felt we might look for answers to two other questions. First, what were the major considerations in choosing Annapolis as a permanent duty station home? And second, a slightly more complex query: If we accept that good memories from the formative years of college can positively dispose a graduate to consider living near the alma mater, what

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about the inverse? The Academy’s notoriously arduous curriculum and the infamous challenges of Plebe Summer would not seem to be endearing recollections.

Would the idea of returning to live near “the Yard” launch a bad trip down memory lane?

On second thought, we realized we might not have much of a forum for answering the question about negatives: Mids choosing to avoid Annapolis due to unpleasant memories wouldn’t be participating in our survey. (Duhhhh!) But we still asked our AYC Academy alums if they ever think back to those tough moments in times past. This was fun, because stories about being hassled as a plebe are generally pretty amusing…at least, when told much later.

In any case, we got a lively response to our quick, single-time inquiry by email. Twelve AYC members acknowledged being alums of the Academy; some emailed or called to talk about the reasons they chose the Annapolis area as a permanent home, or to relate a personal story. A few could find photos of themselves in midshipman garb, and bravely shared those images, along with current photos. (Who has the courage to publish their image upon college graduation, for comparison with today’s likeness?)

So, let’s get to that basic question: Does the AYC

membership include a disproportionately large number of U.S.N.A. graduates?

Our solid, definitive answer is, well, “Maybe.”

Full disclosure is in order. A proper statistical analysis is beyond our means; we lack comprehensive, reliable data. So, we’re constrained to anecdotal information and conclusions, on the order of, “Gee, there sure seem to be a lot of Navy grads in the Club.”

And the U.S.N.A. alums we spoke to and exchanged emails with agree with that conclusion. They also agree, generally, that certain factors are common in the choice of Annapolis as a place to live. Five motivations were most frequently mentioned. In priority order, they were 1. employment opportunities (generally, for a postservice career) 2. proximity to family and friends 3. for those raising children, good educational system 4. proximity of the Chesapeake Bay for boating 5. opportunity to attend sports and other functions on the Yard and at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Some alums mentioned other influences that factored into the decision process, including the cost of housing (somewhat negative, as it’s relatively high in the area); proximity to cultural activities in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore; taxes (slightly negative due to high state income tax); and food options (fairly positive due to good selection of restaurants and grocery sites).

One Navy grad raised an interesting point, related to the second most-cited motivation, proximity to family.

This has been a factor for moving to the Annapolis area, even for midshipmen from other states. It involves mids who, during Academy years, met a future spouse who hailed from the Annapolis, Baltimore, or D.C. area. The spouse’s family in the area serves as a focal point for support and stability in postservice years.

David Radi’s story is a case in point. David and his high school sweetheart, Kris, were from Pennsylvania, but they spent a lot of time together in Annapolis during his Academy years. They got engaged on the Academy seawall the night before his graduation. Following his 20-year Navy career, Kris suggested they settle down in Annapolis. That was a dozen years ago, and David says, “We’ve loved every day since in our beloved adopted home of Eastport.”

Our question about lingering negative memories from midshipman hardships drew surprisingly mild reactions. We anticipated hearing some strong opinions,

Keeping it on Ice

by K Scott Pugh, CAPT, USN (ret) I was CO (skipper) of USS Whale (SSN-638), a nuclearpowered, fast attack submarine homeported in Groton, CT. We usually sent at least one SSN to the Arctic every year.

Aircraft and satellites can observe the extent of the ice cap, but submarines are the only good way we have to monitor ice canopy thickness from beneath, and thickness is as much or more important than surface area (some ice keels can extend as much as 600 feet below surface).

We also wanted to stay proficient at under-ice war-fighting skills and stay informed about any other submarine presence in the area. Occasionally we would surface through thin ice for public affairs and crew morale purposes, as well as trying to visit the pole if the ice there wasn't too thick to break through.

The photo at the top shows me standing near Whale at the precise location of the true (not magnetic) North Pole in April 1994 with a sign showing distance and direction to Annapolis.

We were cooperating with a British nuclear submarine, HMS Trenchant, which provided us a photo taken from underneath Whale (beneath the ice).

They were simply returning the favor because we had done the same for them earlier.

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perhaps within two extremes: 1. The many challenges midshipmen face— Plebe Summer, in particular—are an important part of tradition; experiencing and dealing with this pressure makes them stronger.

2. Mids go through a lot of irksome stuff that’s really a silly waste of time and energy and is ultimately inconsequential.

The consensus of the AYC’s Academy alums we asked about this came nowhere near either extreme. The pressures were just something they learned to take in stride. Perhaps that’s the real lesson of the process: These mids learned to reduce any challenge to something you don’t make into a big deal. Just handle it and move forward.

Of course, learning things like close-order drill and how to keep your locker “squared away” are valuable life skills. For example, U.S.N.A. alumna Liesel Schopler now has her own little brigade to move through the chow line and keep squared away; see Liesel’s picture at the beginning of this article with husband and four kids.

So, we didn’t get some of the answers we were looking for in our informal survey of AYC’s Academy alums, and I still don’t know if we have more of them as members than a suitably sophisticated formula might predict. But we did get confirmation of one expectation: We correctly guessed there might be some amazing stories within the lives and careers of these Navy/AYC folks.

Gordon Roesler, for example, grew up in Annapolis, learning to sail at Severn Sailing Association.

Gordon skippered one of the old Luders yawls during his midshipman years. His 11 years on active duty were spent mostly in subs, during which he had the distinction of being the last officer of the deck on USS Nautilus—the first nuclear sub, and first to transit the North From top to bottom: Roesler on USS Nautilus; Roesler in a one-man submarine; Roseler with Pole submerged. After one of his advanced engineering projects.

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active duty, Gordon attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology to become a physicist. Photos with this article show him with some of the many advanced engineering projects he worked on at the Department of Defense.

K Scott Pugh is another of our Academy alums who spent much of his Navy career under water. One of his final assignments was skipper of USS Whale, a nuclearpowered fast attack sub. In one trip under the polar ice, Whale poked her “sail” (conning tower) up through the ice to test the ice canopy thickness. In the accompanying photo and sidebar on the previous page, Scott stands near the sub at the precise location of the true—not magnetic—north pole, with a sign showing the distance to Annapolis.

Tom Corboy worked at a much higher altitude than our submariner members: He attended flight school at Pensacola after graduating from the Academy. He flew the legendary F-8 Crusader, the hot Navy fighter that bested MiGs over North Vietnam. In this carrierbased jet known as “the last American gunfighter,” Tom’s exceptional skills led to him being selected to train young pilots in air combat maneuvering. After this exciting duty, he became a commercial pilot for American Airlines, flying out of Boston and New York.

He eventually relocated to the Annapolis area, where he was sponsored for AYC membership by fellow Academy alums Guy Cane and Ned Shuman.

In even a short chat with any of our AYC U.S.N.A. grads, it quickly becomes evident that there’s a sensational story behind their Academy years, their time on active duty, and their eventual return to the Annapolis area.

It’s a shame we don’t have the space here to tell every story. The good news is that at the Club, we can hear those stories in real time! Just ask any of the following members. AYC is proud to have them in our ranks!

Tom Corboy Bob DiAiso Rick Elliott Edward Grunwald Ken Henry Todd Nichols K Scott Pugh David Radi Gordon Roesler Liesel Schopler A.J. Whittle Robert Williamson

New Treasures from Old: repurposing nautical items

by Krystyna Belendiuk

L

ike many people, I love to collect things.

Some are old: religious icons, antique oriental furniture, handmade Turkish rugs, and the like.

Others are interesting nautical items: ships’ clocks, a diving helmet. For the most part, the collectibles either serve their original function or add interest and beauty to their surroundings. However, some creative business entrepreneurs have taken a novel approach, turning nautical items, some that might otherwise have been discarded, and creating innovative, beautiful, and sometimes functional new pieces. All have a purpose far different from the original. Two such companies are Sea Bags and CHART Metalworks.

Hannah Kubiak founded Sea Bags in Portland, Maine, in 1999. Hannah’s father, who worked in the fishing and lobster industries, hated to see old sails tossed away or relegated to collecting dust in basements and garages. So, Hannah, with an industrial-sized sewing machine, set up shop in a facility over the water on Custom House Wharf, a popular tourist attraction and commercial wharf that still houses operations today.

The first products she made were totes fashioned from used, discarded sails. Initially the totes were sold by word of mouth, mostly in the boating and seafaring community where the family was known. However, when Sea Bags developed its website and more people saw the rugged but attractive bags—totes with a story behind them—sales quickly took off. Despite growth, the company remains true to its three guiding principles: manufacture in Maine, be involved in the community, and stay green in product and practice.

Sea Bags soon expanded its product line, both in terms of the types of bags the company produced and the decorations they placed on them. The initial totes had numbers, letters or logos from the original sails.

However, some customers wanted something more whimsical. Product line extensions such as wine bags, bucket bags, and accessories followed. Soon Sea Bags had several lines of bags decorated with various designs: anchors, dogs, astrological signs, sea creatures…you name it. Customers can even request a custom design.

Due to the popularity of its products, the company

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Top: Beth Shissler, President and COO of Sea Bags, with Don Oakes

expanded geographically, now operating 24 locations along the East Coast, including stores in Maine, New England, Florida, and Annapolis.

Sea Bags obtains its sails via different means and for different purposes. One way it acquires sails is through its Sails Acquisition Team, a group that scours boatyards in Maine, the eastern seaboard, and countrywide, in that order. Probably its most notable find was sails from the 295-foot schooner Athena. The sails were so large the team and ship’s crew had to use the boom as a crane,

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lowering over 2,000 pounds of sails that were then sent to the Maine factory. Hundreds of bags were (and are still being) made from Athena’s sails!

The company also acquires sails through its popular Sail Trade Program. Individuals can arrange to have their sails picked up or sent free of charge to Maine. In return, the donor receives one of the company’s products made from his or her own sail. This is a very popular program, since some sails have a rich history and strong sentimental value, which is then carried on in the new item. Sails are also donated to support specific causes.

One program Sea Bags supports is the nonprofit Sail Maine, which teaches children how to sail. The company has put more than 100 children through sailing school.

Sails are also accepted to help fund the Maine Cancer Foundation. Twenty percent of sales of the Nautical for a Cure Collection goes to the foundation. Over the last 10 years the company has donated approximately $70,000 to that cause. Last year’s logo was the Pink Dragonfly.

Recently the company launched a campaign supporting veterans through Sword & Plough, which recycles used sailcloth and parachute material into totes and accessories. All these programs align with the company’s philosophy of giving back to the community.

Organizations often donate sails and purchase totes or other products as fund-raisers, or as award items.

Over the years, AYC’s Junior Sailing Program has used Sea Bag’s Sail Trade Program to provide totes as prizes or “trophies” in its awards ceremonies. According to Jane Millman, over the past three years AYC has provided around 50 bags in its Halloween Regatta. Another 70 bags (backpacks, duffle bags, or totes) as well as wristlets were awarded in the Ida Lewis event. Members of the AYC community have donated about twenty sails to support these award programs.

Because of its successful sail reclamation effort, Sea Bags has recycled over 600 tons of sails that would otherwise have clogged landfills. Since 2014, the company has recycled approximately 26,000 sails—sails that have been turned into treasured products, evoking memories of their past on the water, or supporting worthwhile causes.

CHART Metalworks, a sister company of Sea Bags, also operates out of Portland. I first met Charlotte Guptill, founder of CHART, about a half dozen years ago at the Annapolis Boat Show. I was drawn by both the company’s name and the displays of pendants, belt buckles, earrings, keychains, and cuff links that crammed her tiny booth. The items had one thing in common: The

centerpiece of each was a nautical chart or map. Soon, my husband, Patrick, and I were rifling through the pieces, looking for locations that had special meaning to us: the Annapolis Yacht Club, the port in San Diego where Patrick had been stationed, Cape Cod where I had vacationed with my late husband.

John, Charlotte’s business partner and now husband, explained that we could buy any of the existing items, or CHART could custom design a piece with the exact location of our choice. In fact, we could even e-mail a special picture—a beloved pet, our sailboat—to be incorporated into the jewelry. We left with an AYCcentered chart pendant for me and ordered a West Point set of cuff links for Patrick. And I had an idea for a Christmas present for Patrick (who is notoriously difficult to shop for) and stocking stuffers for our two sons.

I asked Charlotte, a longtime sailor who initially worked in real estate finance, how she got the idea for her company. She explained she was attracted to designing and making jewelry, but while her original line of beadwork products was pretty, the items were not unique. She considered what reflected her life and lifestyle. Charlotte had a deep love of sailing and she described herself as “sporty yet classic.” She thought of sailing, her boat, her nautical charts…. Well, charts are sporty and classic, and each location is unique! Why not develop jewelry made from nautical charts?

For her first prototype, a pendant, Charlotte cut out her favorite location, Spar Cove, from her beloved vintage chart of Casco Bay, put it into a bezel and filled it with nautical cement. She showed it to her friends who loved the idea and started buying her jewelry. Then, one friend asked, “Could you make a pendant showing the location where I got married?” And CHART was born!

Most of the charts Charlotte uses now are downloaded.

I asked her whether she ever goes back and uses her original ones. “I try not to,” she confided. “I love my charts and I can’t bear to cut them up!” She added, “Initially I wondered if what I was doing was making a difference. I wanted to do something meaningful. But when I see how special a piece is to someone, or how it reminds them of a loved one or special occasion, I know I am.”

Sea Bags and CHART are just two examples of the many businesses that have successfully recycled nautical items to create new, useful, and attractive products that have special meaning, especially to members of the sailing community. In the process, they have not only given back to their communities; they have given us the gift of memories.

Top: Charlotte Guptill, founder of CHART

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The Reason Things Happen at the Club by Alan Shearer

D

ozens of club members participate on various committees at AYC. My aim in writing this article is to shed some light on the roles of a few of those committees, and to explain how to participate in a committee and what to expect when you do.

There are 23 committees comprising 205 members, some of whom volunteer on more than one. Although a few specific roles are elected, the majority of these opportunities are open for participation. The volunteer committees arrange travel events, cruises, racing, lectures, and training classes; keep our history; and bring to life many of the other activities we all enjoy as part of our membership in the Club.

Of course, our staff keep the Club running and the food and drink coming, and they take care of our physical plant at our expanding facility. But without the volunteers, AYC would not be the fun, exciting experience we have all come to appreciate.

Shortly after my wife, Kathy, and I joined the Club, we went on a cruise to Solomons Island with a group of Cruising Fleet members. We met a lot of great fellow members and boaters and had a delightful first cruise. In the few seasons since, we have gone on many cruises and made many new friends.

We have enjoyed dinners and happy hours during the off season with our new friends. Co-leading a Northern Bay cruise with our friends the Heaneys was the step we took to become involved in the Cruise Committee, and we have participated in planning and organizing several cruises since.

Being part of the Cruise Committee and leading or co-leading cruises has brought us closer to several of our new AYC friends. Working together on a cruise, attending meetings, planning, and having it all come together smoothly is a very satisfying pursuit that builds camaraderie. The 2018 New England cruise was the culmination of our experience to date. Being part of the Cruise Committee has been a wonderful experience and a lot of fun.

Here’s a closer look at four different committees that are active at AYC.

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Entertainment

Adult Interclub Racing

The Entertainment Committee schedules, coordinates, and conducts a program of social events and activities designed to appeal to the interests and entertainment of all segments of the membership. Consisting of twelve members, the Entertainment Committee coordinates nine groups that focus on the following activities:

One of the least known but most fascinating committees among AYC’s many volunteer efforts is the Adult Interclub Racing Committee (AIRC). For those not familiar with this form of sailboat racing, team and match racing occurs between Club teams each sailing two, three, or four sailboats of the same class.

Colleges that offer sailing programs teach the sport through team racing, as it is done in closed courses and each race takes a short time: at AYC, 15 minutes each. It requires skill and coordination among team boat crews and is an outstanding team-building experience, as the boat crews must work together to keep themselves in position. It is not about boat speed, but rather chess-like positioning to help one’s team while keeping the competitors from winning position. This hones boathandling skills rather than simply going fast.

Rounding marks every few minutes keeps everyone engaged, and younger sailors especially enjoy the continuous excitement of competition. On a team race day, it is not unusual to have ten or more races back to back. Protests are dealt with on the water, which makes everyone happy. One fine example of this sport was the recent Baldwin Cup this past April—four boats versus four boats—hosted by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club in California. Cole Allsopp was the team captain for the AYC team, sailing Harbor 20s provided by the host club.

This interesting form of competition has gained momentum in recent years, so we formed our own committee in 2014 to promote team racing at AYC. AYC uses its fleet of J/22s for racing, and there are classes for young sailors as well as older members in the Master and Grandmaster categories.

Derick Lynch shares committee chair responsibilities with Margaret Podlich, two enthusiastic sailors who love the sport of team racing. With the five other members of the committee, they develop and promote the program within our Club, as well as coordinate events with other clubs in this country and abroad. Practice sessions are held every Monday evening during the WNR season on Spa Creek.

It takes a lot of volunteer hours to pull together successful regattas and team challenges, and this committee works hard to make work...and fun!

Committee members Cole Allsopp and John Howell recently invented a spinoff racing format that fits well with the rest of the program. It is the 3-2-1 format we wrote about in a recent Beacon article.

All age groups and skill levels are welcome. It is a great way to become a better sailor, and a great way to go sailing without having to own a boat. Currently there are about 40 members in our team racing program. If you want to get involved in this unique and exciting sailing program, contact Regatta Manager Linda Ambrose at lambrose@annapolisyc.org.

· Book Club: a monthly book discussion group · Cultural/History: events highlighting AYC and local history and culture, including music and the arts · Hulliday Bazaar: an annual shopping event in December · Annapolis Keels & Wheels: an annual collector car and boat exhibit and competition event · Knotty Girls: a regular education program that creates opportunities for AYC women to increase their comfort level with boats and being on the water in a fun, relaxed, and social environment · Social: a new group that will oversee member social events · Speaker Series: features authors, government leaders, historians, and yachting legends who explore current events and topics of interest to members · Women’s Group: formed in 2011 to draw women to the Club, the groups hosts lectures, performances, hands-on workshops, and off-site trips of interest to women · Youth: a new group to attract individuals under age 21 to the Club Headed by Ann Connelly since January, the Entertainment Committee meets monthly to brain-storm ideas for activities of interest to members. Committee members also review suggestions submitted by AYC members using the Entertainment Committee Event Planning Form. In addition, Committee members involved in the nine subgroups meet at other times to plan their events.

All Entertainment Committee activities are scheduled, planned, coordinated, and budgeted with the help of AYC staff who implement Committee events, including General Manager Brian Asch, Assistant General Manager Leo Luistro, Chef Michael Herr, and Events Director Roberta Nowell. Over the course of a year, the Entertainment Committee sponsors more than 70 activities for AYC members.

Since many hands make light work, the Entertainment Committee welcomes new members. Simply fill out a Committee Volunteer Interest Form (on the AYC website under Media, click Club Documents, then look under Membership Documents). If you have an idea for an event, complete and submit an Entertainment Committee Event Planning Form located just below Committee Volunteer Interest Form on the website. And watch for some new events on the horizon! ...Lori Ross

...Bill Parlatore VOLUME 11, NO. 1

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History & Artifacts

Communications

Individual members originally served as our Club historians, keeping tabs on the past and present documents and materials that represented AYC’s achievements and milestones. While that was mostly sufficient, it did not really address the growing needs of our vibrant Club. As a result, Past Commodore Kevin McNeil formed the History Committee, which later evolved to include our Club trophies and models. Mark Kiefaber chairs this committee, now known as the History & Artifacts Committee.

The committee took on the important task of archiving many years of Club documents. Historical documents are very important to our heritage, and letters written on onionskin paper are proof of past policies and a culture that is otherwise lost. So, all 40,000 pages of physical documents have been cataloged and digitized over the course of three years.

The truly important value of this committee of eight volunteers really came into focus after the fire of 2015, which left us with a nightmare of melted trophies, ship models, awards, art, and other important elements of Club history. We lost over 100 half-hull models, as well as forty-six of the hundred or so trophies collected over generations of sailing competition.

It was the arduous responsibility of this committee to step in and identify, track, catalog, clean, and/or replace these many treasures, a huge job indeed. They are also charged with making sure our especially valuable treasures carry insurance where warranted.

The History & Artifacts Committee is currently working with management and staff and other committees to make sure we appropriately showcase our physical historical assets in the three new campus facilities. Just having a digital copy of a document is not always enough, Mark Kiefaber says; there is something special about holding a handwritten letter on onionskin stationery from the 1800s. And important enough to our heritage to keep safe.

In today’s world of information overload from so many sources, it can be difficult to know what is important to keep in our historical files for the future. It remains this committee’s task to sift through the ongoing flow of data streaming through our Club.

It was even suggested that perhaps a Communications Annual Report of what happened during the year be compiled, published, and archived by the History & Artifacts Committee.

Not a bad idea.

Everyone has specific skills they can contribute to these volunteer efforts. One of mine is photography. I take some pretty good pictures. On all of our trips, I have photographed the action and sent many images to Communications for publication on the website and in our newsletters. I wrote a short article for the Beacon about our "firsts" on the Northeast trip. I enjoyed doing that and got some thoughtful feedback.

That led me to be asked to join the Communications Committee. Chaired by Bill Parlatore, the committee produces written communications and photos for the Beacon. We meet periodically, as needed, to get the publication out the door on time. Everyone helps edit and improve the work to make the publications exciting and entertaining for you, the members.

The AYC Communications Department—Kate Edwards, Charlotte Barter, and Tracie Parkinson—help make this a very professional operation.

...Bill Parlatore

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...Alan Shearer

GET INVOLVED! It's the perfect time to get involved! If you're interested in seeing what committees Annapolis Yacht Club has to offer and how to get in touch with the chair of a certain committee, check the roster or the AYC website. On the website, located under the Members tab, you can find all the committees with contact information for the chairs as well as other committee members.

If you join a volunteer committee, you’re certain to enjoy pitching in and make new friends. With a few exceptions, most committees meet monthly, and there are enough volunteers to spread the work around. Your efforts and skills will be appreciated.

Iconic Yachts of AYC

A

bove the entry to the Card Room on the Second Deck of the Clubhouse are five half models—these models represent five of the many yachts that have carried the AYC Burgee during the second half of the 20th century. Jack Lynch, a member of the History & Artifacts Committee makes the point: “yacht racing is a fundamental part of our Club’s heritage. These yachts had an impact more than any others by competing and winning on Chesapeake Bay, nationally and internationally increasing the profile of the Annapolis Yacht Club around the world.”

Finisterre (1954) Carleton Mitchell

DYNA (1957) Clayton Ewing

collaboration with Sparkman & Stephens by her owner, Carleton Mitchell. Cruising and racing were a lifestyle, and she was crewed by very fine amateur sailors. Finisterre has a full wood interior and the comforts for cruising that Carleton Mitchell required.

The racing scene 50-plus years ago consisted of distance racing and local regattas around government marks. Gaucho was designed for the prevailing 1992 windward/leeward racing that had become prevalent under Grand Prix racing to maximize upwind performance.

At her debut at the 1992 Key West Race week, at

RUNNING TIDE (1969) Al Van Metre

Two are truly breakthrough designs that have affected the design of all yachts that came after them. The yachts Finisterre and Gaucho are those yachts. The other three yachts are recognized due to their superior racing records.

The design changes reflected in these half models over a 50-year span are significant: the beamy centerboard design of Finisterre with the rudder attached to the fulllength keel; to the sleek hull, rudder, and fin keel of Gaucho.

The underbody of Finisterre’s hull was deep, with heavy wood construction, and the stern and bow overhangs significantly reduced the waterline length.

Gaucho’s design reflects a flatter hull, significantly lighter weight due to the use of Kevlar for the hull. The longer waterline length with reduced overhang improved speed. The sleek deep draft keel of nearly 10 feet and the deep low-profile rudder reduced drag and contributed to upwind performance. The spartan interior is open from stem to stern with pipe berths, lightweight floorboards, minimal galley, and head. Gaucho is a purpose-built racing machine that complied with the IMS rule and was designed to maximize performance under the IMS rule, the basis for today’s ORC International and Club, and ORR (USA) Rating and Measurement Rules.

The nature of yacht racing changed significantly during the last 50 years. Finisterre was designed in

by Past Commodore Peter Gordon

MERRYTHOUGHT (1980) John "jack" w. King, Jr.

Gaucho (1991) p/c Peter j. d. gordon

44 feet she beat the longer 50-foot IOR boats around the course. To maximize her performance, she required a highly skilled professional crew, which had become the norm at major regattas. Members of her crew would eventually go on to win the America’s Cup and Volvo Round the World races.

The debate over the use of professional crews has been a significant issue in the ensuing years. Many onedesign classes have implemented owner/driver rules and one-design class rules have been established as to how many professionals may participate on a race boat. The desire to maximize a yacht’s performance (i.e., “the arms race”) will always be with the sport. Unfortunately, the yachting lifestyle of Carleton Mitchell and his peers is not part of our society today.

What do the owners of these iconic yachts have in common? They all were competitive and wanted to win.

However, the most gratifying experience is enjoying being on the water, the camaraderie of being part of a crew, working together, depending on each other, having fun, and enjoying success and learning from life’s challenges.

The following section describes each of the five yachts and their remarkable racing success.

They are recognized for their winning performance on the Bay and in national and international regattas.

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FINISTERRE

Designer: sparkman & Stephens | builder: seth perrson | year: 1954 owner: carleton mitchell, ayc member 1945-1993 Finisterre was built as a true cruiser-racer and proved to be the best 38-foot yacht built at that time. Her owner worked with Sparkman & Stephens to produce an all-around yacht.

“My idea in Finisterre was to build a floating home for two people.”

Carleton referred to the beamy keel/centerboard yawl as the “fat little monster.”

Her claim to fame is that she holds the record of having won the Lighthouse Trophy for overall performance in the Newport-Bermuda Races three consecutive times (1956, 1958, and 1960). One other yacht has won twice, not consecutively, and no other vessel has won more than once. Considering the number of yachts and their size that have raced in this race since 1926, this is one of the unbreakable records in sports. Finisterre won the AYC Fall Series Viking Trophy in 1955.

Carleton Mitchell was a sailor and a writer. As a sailor he cruised as well as raced and put ten times the miles on Finisterre cruising as racing. This is a man who wrote, “To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness. Aboard a boat it is frequently possible to achieve just that. That is why sailing is a way of life, one of the finest lives.”

DYNA

Designer: sparkman & Stephens | builder: BURGER BOAT CO. | year: 1957 owner: CLAYTON EWING, AYC MEMBER 1963-1981 Dyna was the first all-aluminum yawl built by Burger Boat Co. due to the improved welding techniques and the lighter weight of aluminum. Her construction in aluminum reduced her weight by 8,000 pounds versus a comparable wooden yacht, and 10,000 pounds lighter than a steel hull. She is on the list of famous yachts designed by Sparkman & Stephens.

Dyna won Class A in the Annapolis to Newport race in 1961 and in 1963, and in 1965 won Class A and first overall on corrected time. She won the Chicago to Mackinac race twice, the Port Huron to Mackinac race twice, and the Miami to Nassau race.

One well known story about this boat and her owner is that she raced three times across the Atlantic and on the third race lost a rudder 1,000 miles from the finish. Sailing by sail trim alone, she finished the race in fourth place.

Clayton Ewing's second Dyna, also a Sparkman & Stephens design.

RUNNING TIDE

Designer: sparkman & Stephens | builder: hull by royal huisman shipyard, finished by kretzers yard in city island, ny | year: 1969 owner: al van metre, ayc member 1967-2008 Running Tide was built for Jakob Isbrandtsen, and after winning the Newport-Bermuda Race he chartered the boat to Ted Turner. Al Van Metre then went head to head with Ted and bought the boat out from under him. He brought the boat to the Bay and painted the green boat black, and for the next decade she was the queen of the Bay. The record of this boat under Al is outstanding. She won the 1974 Nassau Cup, was overall winner of the Newport to Bermuda Race in 1976, and won her class in the 1977 SORC and in the 1980 Newport to Bermuda Race.

Running Tide won the AYC Fall Series Viking Trophy in 1973,1975, 1977, and 1982.

One of the three most prestigious trophies at AYC—the America’s Trophy was presented by Albert Van Metre in 1972.

A philanthropist, Al is perhaps most well known for establishing the Hospice Cup Regatta with his wife in 1982.

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MERRYTHOUGHT

Designer: GERMAN FRERS | builder: PALMER JOHNSON | year: 1980 owner: JACK KING, AYC MEMBER 1971-2012 The name Merrythought is known at yacht clubs all along the U.S. East Coast and in ports such as Cowes in the U.K. and Montego Bay, Jamaica. Jack was also an Eagle Scout.

The half model is the Frers 45 and represents the six different yachts with the name Merrythought that Jack King has raced under AYC Burgee. The half model is the yacht that sailed in the SORC, won the Newport to Bermuda race in 1984, and raced in the Mediterranean. Merrythought was part of the first place team in the Sardinia Cup in 1980, and Jack was Captain of the American Team in 1992. She placed first in the 1991 Pineapple Cup. She also won the Viking Trophy in 1986 and the America Trophy in 1986 and 1990.

The full model is of the Frers 46 built in 1975 and his last big boat was the Frers 62 that was sailed until 1994.

Jack said goodbye to ocean racing in 1994. His adventurous spirit did not end there, though, as he sailed with ESPN producer and AYC member Gary Jobson to within 10 degrees of the North Pole. To quote his friend Gary, “What a wonderful time over many years. Merrythought’s legacy will live on. How lucky to have had Jack as a shipmate and friend.

He will be missed.”

gaucho

Designer: farr yacht design | builder: astillero del estuario | year: 1991 owner: past commodore peter gordon, ayc member 1989-present Gaucho was Bruce Farr’s breakthrough design and influenced the design of all performance boats from 1992 to this day. Boats from the Farr 40 to the Volvo boats are part of the heritage of this boat. Her 1992 record matches any yacht's single year performance in the past 50 years including the legendary Finisterre.

Bruce Farr’s thoughts on the design: The key points for the development of Gaucho were picking smart proportions of length, stability, draft, sail area, a displacement, and beam that handicapped well and produced strong upwind performance while still light enough to surf easily and occasionally plane downwind. Her hull form was long waterline and overhangs that gained more length quickly with speed and heel. An efficient composite construction and deep low drag keel Photo courtesy of Beken of Cowes. produced high stability and keel efficiency in the non-steady state real sailing conditions, relative to the steady state assumptions in IMS. Gaucho was a very strong all-round performer, and particularly upwind, relative to her IMS predictions. Perhaps her greatest strength was being competitive in almost all wind and sea conditions.

A quote from The Australian stated, “The 44-foot Farr designed Gaucho, a yacht designed specifically to compete under the IMS rules, had beaten all other IMS boats so soundly that it had led to the establishment of a new breed of boat on the international sailing scene in what had become known as the ‘Gaucho Revolution.’”

Gaucho was campaigned by Past Commodore Gordon and his son Ian in every major regatta in the U.S. and in several international competitions. Her race record over a ten-year period is exceptional. Selected results follow: AYC Fall Series, Viking and America’s Trophies: 1992, 1994; Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race, First Place: 1992, 1993; Key West Race Week, First Overall: 1992; Southern Ocean Racing Conference, First Overall: 1992, 1994 and Second Place 1993; St. Mary’s College of Maryland Governor’s Cup, First Overall: 1993, 2000; Commodores’ Cup, Isle of Wight, England, First Place Team: 1992; Kenwood Cup, Honolulu, Hawaii, First Place Team – US Sailing Team Captain: 1994; Marblehead (Massachusetts) to Halifax (Nova Scotia Race): IMS I, Second Place: 1997; IMS Offshore World Championship – Newport, Third in Class: 2000; Yachting Magazine Honor Roll: 1992; Best Offshore Campaign, U.S. Commodore’s Cup; Most Successful Boat – IMS; Most Competitive Event – Rolex Commodore’s Cup

One of the most unusual awards that Gaucho earned during a race in the 1994 Kenwood Cup was the owner’s weight in Mumm Champagne.

Research and Contribution by Jack W. Lynch, Chair Model Committee 2008

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The Viking Trophy

by Lori Ross

W

ho among us has not entered the new Clubhouse and admired the beautiful Viking ship trophy in the case nearest the Ship’s Store? I have often wondered why John Trumpy, Sr. made the Fall Series trophy in the form of a Viking ship. Where was it made? And who wins this trophy?

Most important, why was it saved from the Clubhouse fire? I decided to seek answers to these questions and share my findings.

I learned that John Trumpy, Sr., the Annapolis boatbuilder, formerly located in what is now the Chart House building, was of Norse descent. In 1952 he and his wife, Margaret, went on vacation to Norway. As the Trumpys strolled along the streets of Bergen, Norway, Mr. Trumpy was attracted to a display in the window of Olsen’s jewelry store. It was a beautiful silver longship, built to scale and correct in its detail, made of Mexican silver. He called his wife’s attention to the longship, and after some discussion, he decided to purchase it.

John Trumpy, Sr. had plans for the longship. Upon his return to Annapolis, he presented it to the Annapolis Yacht Club as a beautiful trophy. The inscription in its glass case reads: Viking Trophy, Presented to Annapolis Yacht Club by John Trumpy, 1952. Perpetual Trophy Fall Series, High Point, Class A-B-C. The original deed of gift specified the trophy would be awarded to yachts in Cruising Division (CCA) classes A, B, C scoring highest in AYC’s Fall Series. In later years, the Viking Trophy criteria was changed to reflect the popular yacht rating systems, namely International Offshore Rule (IOR), then International Measurement System (IMS), Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF), and finally Offshore Racing Congress (ORC).

The first time it was presented, in 1952, Commodore

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Photo courtesy of Don Dement

C.S. Dell, Sr. won the trophy. Notable sailors and yachts who have won the Viking Trophy include Ted Turner’s Running Tide, 1971; James Madden’s Gesture, 1964, 1967, and 1970; J. Miller Sherwood’s Rubicon, 1954 and 1959; Al Van Metre's Running Tide, 1975, 1977, and 1982; D.L. Tate’s Cayenne, 1983; Jack King’s Merrythought, 1986; Jim Allsopp’s Ichiban, 1989; P/C Peter Gordon’s Gaucho in 1992, followed by Ian Gordon with the same yacht in 1994; P/C Kevin McNeil’s Nightshift, 2011; Bert Jabin’s Ramrod, 1997 and 1998; and P/C Rod Jabin’s Ramrod, 2008, 2013, and 2018; among many others.

Bill Wagner of the Capital Gazette reported in 2016 that since the heyday of Annapolis Yacht Club's Fall Series, in the 1960s and '70s, the Viking Trophy has been one of the most coveted prizes on the East Coast, the holy grail of Fall Series.

So, how did the Viking Trophy emerge unscathed by the 2015 Clubhouse fire? At the time, the trophy was located in a glass case along the inner stair railing of the second deck hallway. While the third deck fire roared into the second deck, the hall leading from the lobby to the bar suffered somewhat less heat damage near the interior stairwell leading down to the Skipjack.

This arrangement, combined with the enclosure of the Viking Trophy in a glass case, protected it—and several other trophies—from serious harm.

Take a look at this unusual trophy the next time you find yourself in the Clubhouse, and give a thought to John Trumpy, Sr. and his Norse heritage.

About the Authors Bill Parlatore

Bill is an active boater on Chesapeake Bay and jumps on most opportunities to extend that horizon far beyond. Both an avid sailor and power cruiser, he finds the inherent rewards of both the journey AND the destination. Bill recently wrote and published the Story of the Annapolis Yacht Club, which documents the traditional history of our Club while helping set the stage for the continued evolution of our new membership and campus. As chair of AYC’s Communications Committee, Bill knows there has never been a better time to be a member of AYC.

Robert Putnam

Robert R. (Bob) Putnam had a long career as a speechwriter for members of the President’s Cabinet, a U.S. Senator, and several private company CEOs. In 2012, he wrote, The Manager’s Communication Toolbox, published by the American Society for Training and Development. Bob and his wife, Mary, actively race their J/105, Better Mousetrap.

Lori Ross

Lori has written “At Ease in the Galley," a monthly column for Southern Boating Magazine, since 2015.

Previously she wrote for BoatUS Magazine, and was Food Editor for PassageMaker Magazine for five years. A longtime cruiser, sailor, and occasional ocean racer, Lori started boating and cooking aboard in 1981 when she met her husband, Jim Ellis, at Offshore Sailing Schools.

Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer is retired and thoroughly enjoying time on the water. Alan spent his career in real estate development and homebuilding, finishing as a partner in a private real estate investment trust in D.C. The Shearers only began boating in 2009 in a 24-foot center console and—predictably—have moved up in size over the following ten years. Alan is active in the Cruising Fleet and Communications Committee and is president of their homeowners’ association in Arlington. He enjoys photography, golf, sporting clays, and of course piloting their Back Cove.

Krystyna Belendiuk

Krystyna came to sailing late in life. One day she went to the Annapolis boat show with her husband, Patrick, and son and bought her first sailboat, Penniless Now. The rest is history. Prior to being a business executive in pharmaceuticals, Krystyna was in academia, earning both a PhD and MBA from the University of Chicago and serving on its faculty in psychiatry. She and her late husband, George, founded a successful pharmaceutical company that was bought by Shire. She is now happily retired and enjoys spending time with Patrick and their menagerie.

Carole Falk

Carole Falk and her husband, Richard, bought a 12-foot catboat in 1964 instead of going on a honeymoon.

Eleven boats later, they now cruise on Duet, their Beneteau Swift Trawler 44 that is berthed on Clements Creek, off the Severn River. Along with a focus on boating and raising a family, Carole has been involved with art for most of her life. After earning a bachelor of arts in English and a master of fine arts in ceramics, she taught, potted, and wrote about art for 25 years. Now concentrating on painting, she is active as well in the Maryland Federation of Art, the Mitchell Gallery at St. John’s College, West River Artists, and the AYC Cruising Fleet.

P/C Peter Gordon

Peter is a native of Scotland and learned sailing from his Dad and playing aboard Baltic trading vessels on the Firth of Forth. At age 16, he and his brother purchased their first boat, a wooden runabout, and used it for fishing and exploring the tidal marshlands around Sea Isle City, NJ. His first sailboat was a Flying Dutchman that he raced in the Midwest. When he retired from T. Rowe Price Associates, he purchased the Farr 44 IMS racing yacht Gaucho that he and his son campaigned nationally and internationally. Peter is a Past Commodore of Annapolis Yacht Club and is active on the Race Committee. He is a past Chair of the Severn School Board of Trustees. He also earned the Eagle Scout designation.

Annapolis Yacht Club P.O. Box 908 Annapolis, Maryland, 21404 USA