Harry Andrews

By Paul Vincent, Contributing Researcher

During the early days of competitive Moth boat racing, it was not uncommon for sailors to design and fabricate their own entries. An intricate knowledge of constructing such a sleek and nimble craft was part and parcel of becoming a truly great contender. Chief among those legendary Moth champions was Captain Harry “Pop” Andrews.

Born in Little Egg Harbor Township in 1879, Andrews grew up around the rich industrial maritime trades that were hallmarks of his New Jersey environs. His aptitude for boatbuilding, as well as sail making, led Andrews to work for the South Jersey Yacht Building Company around 1910. This Atlantic City-based outfit secured contracts for all types of vessels, from whaleboats for the US Navy to top of-the-line luxury yachts.

Captain Harry “Pop” Andrews with the Antonia Trophy and his entry Leo (right).

Andrews won the first Moth World Championship at the first annual National Moth Boat Regatta, held in Elizabeth City, in October 1933.

Courtesy Museum of the Albemarle

Andrews lent his ingenuity and skill to crafting Elizabeth City’s beloved racing dinghy, the Moth boat, starting in the early 1930s. He became one of the earliest originators of the class after Joel Van Sant’s initial design quickly grew in popularity with sailors the world over. Andrews’s own designs coupled with his flair for being an accomplished sailor led the seasoned mariner to three world champion- ship titles in 1933, 1937, and 1938.

Relocating to Elizabeth City in 1939, Andrews began work at the Sanders Shipyard with his longtime friend and contemporary Van Sant. There the veteran captain and champion sailor continued his maritime vocation as a construction foreman, overseeing completion of the new Navy subchasers being built for the war effort. It was during this time Andrews tragically died, aged 62, from injuries sustained during a fall in 1941. He was laid to rest in Atlantic City Cemetery; a Moth boat marks his tombstone.