THE GOLDEN YEARS OF YACHT RACING

the Term “The Golden Years of Yachting” is usually reserved for the Edwardian Era. A pre-income tax time and the yachts were truly magnificent. I hold such good memories from the sixties and seventies. It seems a bit silly reminiscing about boats that we had trouble sailing faster than ten knots, and that was under exceptional circumstances but it was as is said of the past “it was a simpler time”.

The boats themselves became legends, because they were long-lived. “Carina” a name associated with the Nye family had an unparalleled record. “Figaro” Bill Snaith’s boat was a long time competitor.

The broom was Commodore Tompkins’ (sailing on “Red Rooster”) idea; once it was clear that the American Team had won the Admiral’s Cup. He called it a clean sweep.

The photograph of Indian Harbor Yacht Club must have been for the Onion Patch. The middle distance  race sailed from Long Island Sound around the Buzzards bay tower then Block Island and finish at Castle Hill.

The photo of the 1972 Bermuda race was taken as we were sailing into a hurricane.

The headstay on deck was the 1975 transatlantic race, we were starting to really move on the fleet when the headstay broke at the toggle as shown. We diverted to Marblehead and once a new headstay was fitted, back on our way. We managed to chase down several competitors and not finish last.

I have so many friends and acquaintances from those years, some of whom have passed over the bar. These were the golden years.