Sunfish Racing Class Netherlands

Sunfishklasse Nederland

51e Sunfish Worlds
ISCA

51e Sunfish Worlds

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De afgelopen week vond in Torbole aan het Gardameer het 51e wereldkampioenschap (‘Worlds’) Sunfish plaats. Gedurende 6 dagen werd er gezeild, waarbij 14 landen vertegenwoordigd waren en het verschil in leeftijd tusen de oudste en de jongste deelnemende zeiler 58 jaar bedroeg. Van meet af aan was Jean Paul Trazegnies van Peru elke race vóór in het veld te vinden en het was dan ook logisch en verdiend dat hij er met de begeerde titel vandoor ging. Jean Paul was ook al in 2011(Curacao) jeugd-wereldkampioen en in 2018 (Carolina YC) wereldkampioen. Eerer dit jaar heeft hij het Noord-Amerikaans kampioenschap gewonnen (een veld met bijna 80 deelnemers).

Peru leverde ook de wereldkampioen bij de dames; voor het 2e jaar op rij ging de titel naar Caterina Romero.

De omstandigheden waren sterk wisselend, van windstil tot windkracht 7 à 8, waarbij lichte en oudere zeilers moeite hadden hun Sunfish onder controle te houden. In de uiteindelijke top tien waren zeven van de veertien deelnemende landen te vinden: Peru, Guatemala, Aruba, Curaçao, USA, BVI en Colombia.

Tijdens de practise race bleken er problemen met de eindcaps op de giek. Deze bleken uit de 3D-printer te komen. Bij de minste geringste kracht op de onderlijk trok de control lijn het oog doormidden. De deelnemers moesten dit zelf fixen. Met versterking kreeg je RDG anders niet.

Voor Nederland kwamen Paul van Alphen en Eugene Hendrikx aan de start. Paul had gelijk bij het optuigen al issues met de endcap. Zijn practise race ging zeer goed: 11e. Van de 10 echte wedstrijden echter 4x RDG vanwege materiaal pech (ook het val oog brak), 1x naar de verkeerde bovenboei gezeild (samen met Team Bonaire) en 1x aan de verkeerde kant gestart. Dus eigenlijk maar 4 lekkere wedstrijden gezeild, met een 43e plaats overall als resultaat en 2e in de categorie Grand Master (60-69). Die categorie is gewonnen door Alex Zimmerman (ook al Peru), de Master Wereldkampioen van 2019 (Bonaire).

 Bij Eugene liep het bepaald niet zoals in 2019, waar hij 5e eindigde. De eerste race was gelijk UFD, da’s nooit een lekker begin. Uiteindelijk een 46e plaats gezeild. Deze verslaggever heeft verder nog geen diepte-interview met hem hierover gehad. Is er nieuws, dan vul ik dit artikel aan.

Uiteraard volgen we de prestaties van de zeilers van de ABC eilanden nauwlettend. En die resultaten waren indrukwekkend: 5e: Just van Aanholt (ARU) , 7e: Tijn van der Gulik (CUR). Van Bonaire vielen met name de prestaties van George ‘Kabes’ Soliano op: 47e overall en 11e bij de Masters.

Tot slot kan gemeld worden dat de ISCA World Council opnieuw (na Greet Dekker in 2019) een niet Amerikaan benoemd heeft tot “Lifetime member”… namelijk mijzelf. Extra jammer dus dat ik er dit jaar niet bij was, maar soms laten agenda’s zich niet plooien.

Volgend jaar is het WK (Invitational, Youth en Masters) in Ecuador (Salinas Yacht Club in Salinas). Vooralsbnog daarna in 2024 USA (Rush Creek YC), 2025 Bonaire en 2026 de US Virgin Islands.

Volledige uitslag

Foto album

2022 Sunfish Worlds report – Italie
Italie

2022 Sunfish Worlds report – Italie

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After ten races held in very varied conditions, first with medium-light southerly winds and then with gusty, stronger northerly winds, especially on the last day, the 51st World Championship of the Sunfish class came to an end.

Peru’s dominance at the Sunfish World Championships: overall, women’s and grand masters’ victory respectively with Jean Paul Trazegnies, Caterina Romero and Alex Zimmermann. USA hat-trick in the masters, while it was Ecuador with Stefano Andre Pensola de la Torre who won among the youths.

On Garda Trentino ten regattas in five days with winds varying from light to strong to award the world titles of the most popular class in the world, the Sunfish.

Organised by Circolo Vela Torbole, Garda Trentino Vela Consorzio and Federazione Italiana Vela, the event attracted 94 sailors, mainly from South America and the United States, together with Italy and Holland. From a technical point of view it was certainly a complete championship for the different wind conditions found, starting from 8 knots up to gusts of 20 in the last two races on Saturday morning.

Deserved and overwhelming victory for the Peruvian – already world champion in 2018 with 11 participations in all – Jean Paul De Trazegnies, very regular and often protagonist of great recoveries: he discarded a tenth; for the rest of the championship he always remained in the top 5 with 3 first partials.

The northerly wind of the last two days compromised the final overall result of the other Peruvian, Caterina Romero, who was confirmed first of the women, but after four days in which she gravitated to second overall, with the last four races she gave way to Guatemalans David Hernandez and Juan Maegli, who finished second and third overall respectively.

Hernandez, who finished 32 points behind winner De Trazegnies, ended the event with a second and a first; compatriot Maegli, eight points behind, with a first and a sixth. Caterina Romero did very well in the medium-light wind, but with the violent gusts from the north she was unable to maintain the pace of the first days: she nevertheless finished in a splendid fourth place, winning in her category; second woman was the American Caroline Young and third Philipine Van Aanholt (CUW), 32nd and 33rd overall.

Keeping in the top ten was the winner of the masters category, the American David Mendelblatt, eighth overall, while the first youth, sixteenth overall, was Ecuadorean Stefano Andre Pendola de la Torre. Peruvian victory also in the Grand master cetegory with Alex Zimmermann (to his credit, participation in 16 Sunfish World Championships). The Italian colours did not shine: first blue and 31st overall Davide Lavafila.

The event was experienced in a nice family atmosphere, as the Sunfish class likes to define itself. Tourism, sailing, and sport were once again a winning combination to experience a Sunfish World Championship in an area like Trentino and Lake Garda, which satisfied the needs of both racers and their companions and families: a formula that allows foreigners to come to Italy and enjoy the natural beauty and more.

Full results

Eight Bells: Victor Manning
ISCA

Eight Bells: Victor Manning

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It is with a heavy heart that we let you know that Vic Manning, past US Sunfish Class President, passed away on January 9, 2018 at his home, age 72.  Vic has been one of the Class’ strongest supporters in too many ways to mention on both the international and local scenes.  His love for the Class and its members knew no bounds.

He was always there with a smile and a willingness to help with whatever needed done.  As we sail and see the sunshine sparkle off the water, we will know that Vic’s spirit is with us forever.  He will be so missed.

Please join us in a prayer for Pat Manning and her family who lost someone so very special.

Obituary

Victor Vincent Manning was born in New Orleans to John Albert Manning Jr. and Tommie Clentine Partridge Manning on December 16, 1945. He went to school in Charlotte, North Carolina and married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Ann Pietras on June 18, 1966, in Charlotte. He then entered the US Air Force where he proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. He continued in the Air Force for 22 years in intelligence operations and was awarded numerous decorations and medals including the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal.

Vic was active in the Austin Yacht Club where he was honored to serve as Vice Commodore in 2001 and Commodore in 2002. He also served in turn as Race Commander, Harbor Commander, and Building and Grounds Commander. Most recently he served on the Membership Committee and the Long Range Planning Committee. Vic was awarded the Blue Duck Trophy in 2002 for most outstanding blooper, the Ol’ Salt of the Club in 2011 for his contributions to the club and sailing, the Jessie McIllroy Smith Bowl in 2012 for outstanding service to yachting and racing achievement, and the Max White Memorial Trophy several times in recognition of outstanding service to the club. In 2017, he was granted life membership to Austin Yacht Club in recognition of his years of outstanding service.

Vic enjoyed competition and raced in the International Sunfish Class Association World Championship Regatta multiple years. He served as United States Sunfish Class Association (USSCA) Masters Coordinator 1993 – 1998, as well as a National Race officer, and as such was the Principal Race Officer for many regattas across the country. He served as the USSCA President 1998 – 2004 and continued as the USSCA Representative for the Southwest Region 2013 – 2017. Vic was an avid educator, trained as a US Sailing Small Boat Instructor, and loved instilling his passion for sailing in others.

Vic is survived by his devoted wife, Pat; his two doting daughters, Jennifer Manning and her husband Richard Varnell, of Austin, TX; and Nicole Manning and his adoring granddaughter, Kayla Manning, of Clifton, TX.

2021 Sunfish Worlds report – Florida
Florida

2021 Sunfish Worlds report – Florida

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Sarasota, Fl … 50 years, imagine, 50 years of creating and building a sailing organization culminating in a 50th Sunfish World Championship. The Sarasota Sailing Squadron hosted special invited guests from the past few decades and one hundred competitors from 11 countries with 25% of the registered competitors being female. All special happenings worth celebrating!

In attendance as special guests were past International Sunfish Class Association (ISCA) presidents and other Class members whose dedicated efforts from decades ago went above and beyond to help ISCA reach this major 50-year milestone. Most of these guests had received ISCA’s highest honor – to be a member of the prestigious Life Member group. With a total of 25 Life members eligible for induction at one per year according to the ISCA Constitution, 12 of these Life members made the effort to attend this special 50th celebration. Congratulations to Paul-Jon Patin, a past ISCA president for 6 years, who is now the 26th Life member to join this special group for the time he devoted to support and build the Sunfish Class. Dedication to the Class has no time limit!

On the racecourse, there were several past Sunfish World Champions and many national champions competing against those who were vying for their own chance to become the next World Champion.

Mother Nature put on a little bit of drama queen playacting with 15-25+ mph winds on Day One. Some minor equipment breakdowns in the newly built Sunfish© from the Portugal factory sent a few competitors to shore for quick repairs. But the majority of racers remained on the course fighting stiff winds and choppy waters to keep their boats right-side up, hiking out hard to keep the boats flat to go faster.

Jonathan Martinetti of Ecuador did all the right stuff in every race to become the 2021 Sunfish World Champion. He managed a 2nd, 1st and 3rd on Day One. On Day Two with challenging winds of 15 gusting to 20+ mph, Jonathan, again, couldn’t be beat and sailed two 1sts and two 2nds. On the last race day, with one race day canceled due to no winds, Jonathan slowed down just a bit with two 2nds, one 3rd and a 26th (his throwout). But there was no one close enough to take away his first place standing. An incredible feat by one of the nicest young men who has been part of the Sunfish “family” for many years.

Winning the second place overall honor was Jean Paul de Trazegnies of Peru who is one of our former World Champions always finishing near the top of the fleet. With a 19th place finish as his throwout, Jean Paul kept pace with Jonathan Martinetti but not quite enough to beat him. Still, that’s impressive sailing.

The 3rd place overall winner was Conner Blouin of Charleston, SC USA who was first at the finish line four times out of the eleven races. Just not quite enough to pass either Jonathan or Jean Paul in the final standings. This might have been a special occasion for Conner, too, since his Dad, Joe Blouin of Tampa, FL, also competed in this World Championship and won the top overall finish for the Great Grand Master age group (70-79) with a 47th.

In 4th place was Peter Stanton of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 5th place winner was David Mendelblatt of St. Petersburg, FL, who was also the top finishing Master (50-59). Simon Gomez Ortiz of Colombia, a former Youth Sunfish Champion, placed 6th overall. In 7th place was Matias Dyck of Ecuador who got a bullet in Race #1. Jose Daniel Hernandez Santos of Guatemala placed 8th overall and got a bullet in Race #7. In 9th place overall was Jeff Olson of Sarasota, FL, who was also the top finisher for the Apprentice Master age group (40-49). The top female finisher was Caterina Romero of Peru who placed 10th overall.

The Top Ten Winners (L to R) Bottom Row: Simon Gomez/COL, Conner Blouin/USA, Jonathan Martinett/ECU, Jean Paul de Trazegnies/PER. Second Row: Caterina Romero/PER, Matias Dyck/ECU, Jose Daniel Hernandez Santos/GUA, David Mendelblatt/USA. Top Row: Jeff Olson/USA, Peter Stanton/USVI

Another “age group” top winner was Paul Odegaard, 84 years old of Gilford, CT, who was the top Sr. Grand Master (80+). Paul is also a Life Member. And at 84, with wife Polly by his side, Paul continues to actively participate and sail in Sunfish events.

Other special awards included:

Marco Polo Award – Constanza Olivares/CHI

Sportsmanship Award – Vicki Palmer/USA, Austin Yacht Club and Arizona Yacht Club.

Youngest Participant – Sophia Zimmerman/PER

Although an exquisite bouquet of tropical flowers doesn’t sparkle like a silver trophy might, it symbolized a sparkle of a different kind as our way to say Thank You to Cindy Clifton who chaired this wonderful 50th Sunfish Worlds celebration. With a hard working committee who planned and worked on this event for over two years, interspersed with Covid delays, no competitor was ignored or forgotten. No detail was overlooked. Kudos to this dedicated team of volunteers who helped create a 50th year celebration that will be remembered for a long, long time.

Cindy Clifton accepting a Thank You from all who experienced a great event.

Energy-building breakfasts and lunches helped competitors remain fit and healthy for the heavy air they faced. Delicious dinners provided the opportunity to meet with long-time friends who journeyed to Sarasota just to be part of this 50th Worlds celebration. And some of the raffles, games and laughter lit up the evening with hoots ‘n hollers and laughter heard ‘round the bay. It seems no competitor was too tired to have fun.

But without the support of Chris McClellan and SunfishDirect who supplied the 100 boats for this special event, we would have been feet-surfing on the waves instead of sailing brand new Sunfish shipped directly from the factory in Portugal. Yes, a few breakdowns happened, but Chris and his team had them fixed quickly. There’s no gratitude said loud enough that expresses the Thank You to Chris McClellan and his SunfishDirect team.

Well, we now had the 100 boats, but needed was a stellar Race Committee to direct competitors where to sail and when. Led b all of the race days were run with perfection. Wind, no wind, maybe wind, yikes wind – Taran made professional judgments that kept things running smoothly and fairly. We couldn’t have asked for better RC leadership. Thank you to Taran and her awesome RC Committee who set great courses for 11 races in challenging winds, rescued broken down boats, changed marks quickly when needed and who provided that needed safety net when the winds started howling.

Then came the let-down – leaving beautiful Sarasota, one of our favorite sailing venues, and all the friends we’ve met and sailed with for a big part of the last 50 years. Some of us are an “icon” which does sound better than saying we’re “old.” But no matter how long we’ve been a part of the International Sunfish Class Association, a few years or 30+ years, we all agree that our association with this “friendly” Class has played a huge role in our lives. Nothing beats good competition in a fun boat and making friends for life.

For more photos, go to the Sunfishworlds archive.

Full results
Previous winners
50e Sunfish Worlds
Florida ISCA Noord Amerika

50e Sunfish Worlds

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Afgelopen week is het 50e WK Sunfish gezeild bij Sarasota Sailing Squadron (aan de westkant van Florida). Het weer ging alle kanten op: op maandag een beste deuk wind (met zeer veel materiaal pech tot gevolg), op dinsdag weinig wind, op woensdag geen wind (en dus geen zeilen), op donderdag onweer (en dus geen zeilen) en op vrijdag gelukkig weer een zeilbare wind. Er waren 100 deelnemers uit 11 landen, waaronder 7 van Bonaire en 3 van Curacao.

Voor Jonathan Martinetti (ECU) maakte dat niet uit, hij zeilde naar een schitterende serie: 2-1-3-1-2-1-2-2-3-2-(26) . Hiermee werd Jonathan voor de 2e maal Sunfish Wereldkampioen na 2010 Italie. In 2009 (Bahamas) was hij de Jeugd wereldkampioen.

Volgend jaar september is het WK in Italie op het Garda Meer. Het is nog niet bekend of de World Masters er voor of er na vallen.

In 2023 zal Ecuador het WK organiseren. Voor 2024 zijn Rush Creek (USA. TX), Bonaire (!) en de US Maagdeneilanden genoemd.

Dit WK was uiteraard DE gelegenheid om te zoeken en vragen naar oude foto/film materiaal. Het allermooiste wat dat opgeleverd heeft is toch wel een geweldige filmpje (zie Youtube) vande 1e WK in 1970 op de Maagdeneilanden. Voorts zijn flink wat dia’s gedigitaliseerd (waarbij iemand niet heeft zitten opletten en dus zijn ze bijna allemaal in spiegelbeeld). Maar ook voor veel andere jaren ontving ik van alle kanten materiaal (Gijs-Willem van Omme, Alex Roose, Jurgen Schneider, Geert van Stokkum, Eduardo Cordero (!), Carl Knight (!!), Lee Parks, Paul Odegard, Paul Fendler, Gert-Jan Zeestraten, Steve Caulfield, Rich Chapman: BEDANKT!).

Het uitpluizen van de 1e WK stond daarna hoog op mijn lijstje. Wonderbaar hoeveel je met wat digitale research op internet kan terug vinden. Ik kopieer mijn Engelstalige Facebook teksten:

This is HEATHER KLEIN (VIR), The 1970 (1st) Sunfish Worlds Top woman! This photo entered instantaneously in my personal top 10 Sunfish photos. The hat contributes to that!

The sail is rather special: it is an Emilio Pucci design which she won with her first place. I could not find more info except 1 remark about its development.

Heathers husband Ken took 4th place at the 1st Worlds. So that’s another first: husband-wife at the same Worlds. Originally also Carol Griffin (partner of Dick) and Toya Andrew (partner is Art) would sail the Worlds. Heather was one of the first members of the St. Thomas Yacht Club and active on various committees. She helped organize the first Sunfish World competition, and she won various competitions in the Soling category. Heather died on April 1, 2000. The marvelous photo is from Pete Smyth for his book “A Guide To Marine Photography”. The photo was on the cover of the October 1971 issue of Motorboating & Sailing and in 1975 used for the book review.

Nav hiervan kreeg ik een reactie van David Connolly die exact zo’n zeil bleek te bezitten. Op mijn verzoek maakte hij er foto’s van op het grasveld in zijn achtertuin.

“The very first World Championship Sunfish Regatta is the brainchild of RUDY THOMPSON” (https://stthomasyachtclub.org/about/history). After being shipwrecked in Puerto Rico in the early 50’s he made his way to St. Thomas and operated one of the area’s first charter boats out of Yacht Haven. Rudy sailed Flying Dutchman at the 1968 Olympic Games. Garry Hoyt, Jorg Bruder and Per Dohm all sailed in the Finn class at that Olympics… did the Sunfish Worlds idea started there?

Rudy was heavily involved in getting the US Virgin Islands Olympic status. In January 1970 the “Virgin Daily News” did a very good job in informing the Islands on the progress of the event: i found over 10 articles. Rudy must have had a hot-line with the sports news desk! Rudy was a Past Commodore of St. Thomas Yacht Club. He participated in racing events from Trinidad to Puerto Rico for over 50 years. The passing of Rudy Thompson on Saturday, April 24, 2010 saddened the Caribbean sailing world.

The 1st Sunfish Worlds had 56 entries. 4 sailed at the 1968 Olympics: Hoyt, Bruder, Thompson and Dohm. 3 sailed the 1972 Olympics: Klein, Griffin and Kelly.2 Sailed at the 1976 Olympics: Andrew and De la Roche. And JOHN F. FOSTER sailed FIVE (!) Olympics (1972-1992). He also competed in the Bobsleigh event at the winter (!) Olympics of 1988. An interview with John and son is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX9P4urnUQk

4 Olympic sailors at the Worlds is not a record. In both 1972 and 1976 there were 10 Olympians competing.20 SF World sailors sailed more than 1 Olympics. At the top of the list: Hans Fogh: 6 times. John Foster 2nd (5 times). Paul Foerster, Peter bromby, Paula Lewin, Juan Maegli and Juan Torruella all sailed 4 times at the OG’s.I found 61 Sunfish Worlds sailors that sailed at an Olympics. Each now has a link to his/hers Olympedia page (the Olympic ring icon on the profile page). In case i missed you: let me now!Finally: 2 Olympic Gold winners sailed a SF Worlds: Serge Maury won the 1972 Finn class (5th at the SF worlds) and Paul Foerster won the 470 class at the 2004 Olympics and became the 2008 Sunfish World champion.

After writing about Heather Klein as 1st Top Woman, i decided to make that list complete. The “Worlds archive” pages now have an extra column “Top woman”, https://www.sunfishworlds.org/archive_o.aspx?

There are 31 women that claimed this title. 8 of them won more than 1 time: Jo Anne Weberlein, Dianne Harrisson and Gail Heausler did it twice. Yvon de la Fargue, Lee Parks and Caterina Romero three times, Leslie Weatherly four times. But the ever smiling JEAN BERGMAN won the title a staggering 7 (!!) times.

BTW: There is an interview on YouTube with Jean (and Dick Tillman) during the 2000 Worlds at Sarasota: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukerpvUFJNc

In the 1993-94 Fall/Winter Windward Leg issue I stumbled upon this remark about the Sunfish Worlds that year: “The top masters finisher was Jack Willy, of New Weymouth, MA, who not only earned a 1Oth place overall but was an honored recipient of the ‘bullet club’ bottle of rum.”

I searched the 60 (!) WWL’s for ‘bullet club’ and ‘bottle of rum’, but there is no other mention. I am just guessing that all members of this club at least won 1 race at a Worlds…?

The club has 119 members. The Top-10:

1.EDUARDO CORDERO (33)

2. Malcolm Smith (20)

3. Alonso Collantes de Riglos (19)

4. Paul-Jon Patin (18)

5. Alexander Zimmermann (15)

6. David Mendelblatt, Dave Chapin (12)

7. Donald Martinborough (10)

8. David Loring (9)

9. Cor van Aanholt and Jean Paul de Trazegnies (8)

10. Scott Kyle and Bruce Sutphen (7)

On top of the Sunfish Worlds “bullet club” is Eduardo Cordero with 33 #1 places. I found another way to show he is the Sunfish GOAT.

In different sports we know a “Grand Slam” (in golf “Majors”). The 4 most prestigious events. So for Sunfish i decided -totally subjective- that the 4 Grand Slam events are: Worlds, North Americans, South Americans and US Nationals/Midwinters. It was not a surprise that Eduardo would end up on #1 but look by what margin!

There is an interview with Eduardo on Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5F70DY4NtA

Caroline Young requested a Women “Grand Slam” list. I decided to use: Worlds (49 Top Women), North Americans (39), Women North Americans (43) and US Nationals/ Midwinters (38). The numbers of regattas is almost equal to the male version: 169 vs 174. Still a (big) DISCLAIMER: the result database is not complete. Example: my NA results start in 1963 (!), the first NA with a woman result is for 1982… These older results may be important because we have two women competing for the #1 spot: Nancy Haberland and Jean Bergman.

https://www.sunfishworlds.org/rankinglist.aspx?

I found a 1971 Sunfish Worlds article “MotorBoating “. The photo/title is click-bait “avant la lettre”! There is a fun story about JORG BRUDER:

“The worst effect of the high winds was the disadvantage at which it placed the lightweight sailors. They were unable to hold the boats Hat, even with the most strenuous hiking, especially when others weighing much more and loaded with fifteen or more soaked sweatshirts, were hiking out. Rudy Thompson of the Virgin Islands, a hundred and forty pounder who did quite well last year, complained in his friendly way, “After last year, I was determined to really get in condition for this year’s championship. I did sit-ups until I was dizzy. When I got here I rushed up to Jorge Binder and said, Jorge, I can do five hundred sit-ups.’ What did he say? ‘How much weight?’.

Unfortunately for Jorge, physical conditioning is only one aspect of racing; rules are another. Jorge ran afoul of them enough to he topped out of serious contention for the championship. He did, however, demonstrate how to sail a Sunfish well by taking the last two races of the six race series.”

Jorg was the first 3 time Finn World champion: 1970,1971 and 1972. In 1970 he sailed: 58-7-2-1-1-(58) , 68,5 points. One of those 58’s was the result of a protest by Garry Hoyt which was upheld by the Protest Committee. Had that not happened Bruder would have won, with Garry second.The 1971 Worlds started with 2 DSQ for Bruder. He then sailed 3-4-1-1 !

Jorg Bruder died in 1973 in Orly, Paris when travelling to the Finn Gold Cup. The IFA has since used the Jörg Bruder Silver Cup to award Junior World Champions of the class. In the 1972 Olympics Bruder competed in the Star Class. On the way out of the harbor, Bruder snagged a shroud on a piling and brought the rig down on their heads. They brought the boat back to the dock, brought down a spare mast, stepped it, rigged it and sailed out to win that day’s race.

The internet and social meeting do make wonderful things possible. High on my search list was CARL KNIGHT. A legend in the Sunfish Class and 1 of the original 10 people in the Sunfish Hall of Fame (1991). In the Windward leg fall/spring 1990 Derrick Fries speaks about Carl: “One of the things I always admired about Carl Knight is that one of Carl’s tricks was that he would play on your ego. Carl was intense and on shore he was always mysterious.””Often, he’d come over and look at my boat and say, “I don’t understand why you have this here.” I could never know if he was telling me something just to give me a bum steer or if he was telling me the truth. He’d just play with you …. I respected him because it was just part of the game. It did not end when he got off the water. For him, it was just the beginning”

I already explained how any search starts. That did not reveal much. But he is mentioned on the website of his neighbor Alison: “As she graduated from high school and entered college, she crewed at every opportunity on Carl’s sailboat in Lake Norman regattas. Being a former North American champion sailor, Carl was a great teacher. He was meticulous in handling his boat, relentless in his competitiveness, and his boat was rarely beaten in any race.”

Two clicks later i wrote Alison a chat message on FB. The answer came back in seconds: “OMG I love this. This man is the reason I am sailing around the world today. Melts my heart. Carl just celebrated his 90th birthday. “

And moments later i am FB connected with his wife! Then an email from Carl: “Ahoy, mate. I’m still active, with crisp memories and photos. I have left 9 decades astern, and am happy to share what I have to meet your needs.”

Next he shared some thoughts on the Venezuela Sunfish Worlds:” We raced the South American Championship the week before the Worlds. I seem to recall that Harvey Howell won that event. One Championship race was started and allowed to race with winds gusts from a nearby hurricane officially clocked at 56 knots. It was called off when none of us were able to right our capsized boats in mountain-like 12 -15 foot wave crests. We also held a World Team Race Championship event. Teams were 5 boats each country. USA won.

I held the first place in the final race with our places 1 3 4 5 6 at the start of the final leg. I didn’t want Larry Lewis (then in 6th place) not to be in the top 5, so I spent my last leg covering the opponent sailor who started that final leg in second place. I dropped to 5th behind Larry who moved up to 4th giving USA a perfect 1 2 3 4 5 sweep to the chagrin of my victim who dropped from 2nd to 6th..Andre Roache, the Regatta Chairman, held a remarkably perfect event on shore with boat storage rigging stalls, and launching. I think he was responsible also for the Hospitality chair lady, whose photo is attached, Pili Gonzales.”You can see Carl rigging and sailing in the 1972 Sunfish Worlds video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4UPNPRvzkk

History repeats itself!

During the 50th Sunfish Worlds prize giving Top Woman, overall place 10, CATERINA ROMERO (PER) received a Pucci Sunfish sail (donated by David Connolly) just like the 1st Top Woman HEATHER KLEIN (VIR) did in 1970!

Links:

Facebook Sunfishworlds: https://www.facebook.com/sunfishworlds

Facebook Sarasota: https://www.facebook.com/sunfishworldssarasota

Uitslag: https://www.sunfishworlds.org/results.aspx?e=O&j=2021

Foto/video van 50 jaar Sunfish Worlds: https://www.sunfishworlds.org/multimedia.aspx?

The U.S. National Sailing Hall of Fame selects Sunfish designers Bryan and Heyniger
USA

The U.S. National Sailing Hall of Fame selects Sunfish designers Bryan and Heyniger

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The U.S. National Sailing Hall of Fame selected eleven sailors in 2021 to join the 90 previously-recognized individuals who have been enshrined since the first class in 2011.

Among the 11th class to be formally inducted on October 16 are Alexander “Red” Bryan and Cortlandt “Bud” Heyniger (1913-2002, 1913-1992), founders of Alcort, Inc. and designers and producers of the iconic Sunfish. They are profiled in this tribute by 2011 inductee Gary Jobson:

Just about every place you will find a sailboat, a fleet of International Sunfish Class dinghies will be nearby. Over 330,000 of these nifty small boats have been built, making it the largest class of sailboats in the world, and it keeps growing.

As a couple of carpenters in their thirties looking to find some additional income as the United States was recovering from World War II, Alexander “Al” Bryan and Cortlandt “Bud” Heyniger first worked on an ice boat but shifted to working on a small paddle board to be used by the Red Cross as a rescue craft.

Their first concept was to put a sail on a surfboard, but that idea was rejected. The year was 1947 and the partners worked on a flat decked vessel made out of plywood with a lantern rig to hold the sail. They thought aspiring sailors would be able to build their own hulls. Once they got the boat sailing they formed the Alcort Company (a combination of their names) and called their new design the Sailfish.

The pair were friends from their earliest days and enjoyed working with wood. Both were skilled at business. Bryan graduated from Yale and Heyniger from Dartmouth. During World War II, Bryan served in the Army Air Corps and Heyniger served in the Navy.

The boat was a surprise hit because it was affordable, easy to launch, fun to sail, and inexpensive. However, Bryan’s pregnant wife, Aileen Shields Bryan, was uncomfortable sitting on the flat deck with water rushing over it. In 1952, Bryan and Heyniger redesigned the hull with a cockpit with room for sailor’s legs. The new design was easier to sail and sales took off. The new version was called the Sunfish.

Alcort offered both the Sailfish and Sunfish as wooden kits. In the late 1950s, a new material called fiberglass was developed. Alcort embraced the material for mass producing their boats even though the partners personally preferred wood. Dacron fabric replaced cotton for the sails. It was the end of providing kits and the beginning of ever increasing sales of the Sunfish.

The first Sunfish sold for $195. One of the most famous images of a Sunfish was sailing downwind in a stiff breeze in front of a tall ship in 1976. The boat was a joy to sail and easily planed on top of the water.

It was inevitable that sailors wanted to race the Sunfish. In 1963, the first North American Championship was held and a World Championship was run in 1970. Both events are well attended to this day. The slogan “Fun in the Sun” was splattered on T Shirts, cars, and of course, boats.

Alcort continued to grow and Bryan and Heyniger sold the company to the American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF) in 1969. The new entity was called AMF Alcort. The Sunfish brand has been acquired several times over the years. The class association has updated its rig, rudder, dagger board and fittings to keep the boat current.

The original vision of Al Bryan and Cort Heyniger has held strong for seventy years. The Sunfish has attracted novices and international champions to sail and race this enduring class. In 1982 Bryan said to a writer from Sports Illustrated, “Bud and I never had any real goals in business. We just wanted to be on our own. We were just looking for something to do, something fun.”

The Class of 2021 will be formally inducted in a ceremony on October 16, 2021 in Newport, RI.

Eight Bells: Dick Tillman
ISCA

Eight Bells: Dick Tillman

Gerard 0

Richard L. Tillman
November 27, 1936 – October 14, 2020

The sailing world has lost a true champion. Dick Tillman died at his home in Syracuse, IN, after a courageous battle with bladder cancer.

Dick’s last Sunfish event was the U.S. Masters Championship held on Lake Wawasee in Syracuse, IN, September 11-13, 2020. He was registered to sail but wasn’t feeling well enough to race. He still hosted many out-of-towners at his lakeside home, however, and enjoyed watching the competition from his motor boat with daughter Laurie while they chatted with the current ISCA President, Rich Chapman, between races.

Dick served as our International Sunfish Class Association (ISCA) President from 2002-2006 and was later named a Lifetime Member for his years of dedication to the Sunfish Class. Dick was also a US Sailing member for more than 30 years and its Director for three years (1999-2002), chairman of the Single-Handed Championship Committee for seven years, commodore of the Snipe Class International Racing Association (1971), sailing representative to USOC Athletes Advisory Council (1976-1980), Executive Director of the International J/24 Class Association (1981-1991), and president of the US Windsurfing Association.

A vintage photo shared by Fred Schroth of the Austin Yacht Club depicts Dick showing up at a regatta with four Lasers attached to his station wagon. Dick was always a man on a mission, especially when helping others, and didn’t let any obstacles stand in his way.

Beyond Dick’s administrative accomplishments, there are so many accolades to note:

1957 – National Intercollegiate Sailing Champion with the U.S. Naval Academy
1958 – ICSA Hall of Fame for Competitive Achievement after graduation
1959 – U.S. National Champion in Snipe
1959 – Won bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Snipe
1965 – U.S. National Champion in Finn
1965 – US Sailor of the Year (Rolex Yachtsman)
1976 – U.S. Sailing Team alternate at the Summer Olympics
1981 & 1982 – North American Laser Masters Champion
1995, 1996, 1998, 2002 – Sunfish U.S. Masters Champion
1998 – Silver medalist at the Nike Worlds Masters in Windsurfing
1998 – Bronze medalist at the Nike Worlds Masters in Laser
2005 – Wrote The Complete Book of Laser Sailing which was published by McGraw Hill

To say Dick was truly one of the most accomplished people we knew, we also have to add that he was, indeed, one of the nicest people ever to have as a friend. Dick was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word and was a wonderful family man to his three daughters Laurie, Libbie, Susan and their families. We’ve never forgotten Dick’s late wife, Linda, who died in 2017. Now we will never forget Dick Tillman, a one-of-a-kind sailing legend, who has touched our lives in the best ways possible. A true champion who will be greatly missed.

Sunfish vondeling
Nieuws

Sunfish vondeling

Gerard 0

Kijk toch eens waar Paul in Kroatie tegen aanliep

“Zo goed als nieuwe AMF Sunfish gevonden in Murter (Kroatië). Als je de eigenaar vindt mag je hem vast meenemen”