COMMODORES
CRUISER-RACERS VERSUS DAYSAILER ONE-DESIGNS
The Ensigns and Bluejackets were essentially daysailers with only two bunks in a crowded cuddy cabin. The Bluejacket came in two models described as a "Daysailer" and a "MORCEE" said to comply with the Midget Ocean Racing Club Rule (MORC) by virtue of its self-bailing cockpit and enclosed cabin. Most of the Bluejackets in the VSC were daysailers with the exception of Dave McDowell's Valcour V and one other.
It seemed inevitable that, with increased participation in the LCRC races with a preponderance of larger Vermont boats, many skippers in the VSC would want to move up to larger cabin sloops which are generally described as "cruiser-racers." One example of a cruiser- racer was David McDowell's Tartan 26, Valcour VI, in which he campaigned from 1973 to 1979. Another boat which was popular in the VSC in 1973 was the Canadian built Tanzer 22 which would become one of the most successful designs in North America. By 1974 there were six Tanzer 22's in the Club.
In 1974, Harry Walcoff's Ranger 26, WIKI-WIKI [renamed FREE SPIRIT by Gene Grafals in 1988], was a very competitive cruiser-racer as was Ric Schneider's BAREFOOT. In 1973, Harry Walcoff campaigned a Pearson 26, CELERITY, which remains a competitive cruiser-racer in the LCRC today. Peter Hornby started campaigning his NIMUE' III, an elegant Mariner 28, in 1979.
Under the CCA measurement rule, all of these cruiser-racers could race in fleets which could be conveniently divided into Classes according to the number of boats showing up on the starting line on a regular basis. And in the process of moving up to these larger boats, family cruising on Lake Champlain became more popular in the Valcour Sailing Club.
EVOLUTION OF THE RACING FLEET IN 1973
The single Cruising Class of 1972 had included boats which varied in rating (CCA) from 21.7 ft. to 30.5 ft. and the one-design boats were racing in a single Ensign-Bluejacket Class made up mostly of Ensigns. The change in the 1973 racing fleet in the Club was not revolutionary as it had been in 1970. But there was a definite evolution that is reflected in subtle accommodations to the increasing numbers of cruiser-racers in the fleet and to the flexibility of the CCA measurement rule for handicapping the variety of boats wanting to race together. Taking a cue from the LCRC, the Valcour Sailing Club initiated racing by lettered classes: Class A for boats rating over 22 ft. and Class B for those rating 22 ft. or less. Continuing as a class were the Ensigns and Bluejackets but this was more a "class within a class" as they started with the Class B boats in most cases. Added in 1973 was a Tanzer 22 one-design class which also raced as a part of Class B. Also, the board boat class was established in June but there are records of only two races being held that summer.
The final results for the 1973 racing schedule, consisting of two series of eight races each in the Spring and Fall, indicate that the practice of breaking out the two one-design classes from the B Class results was abandoned by the end of the season. The records do not indicate that separate awards were given in the Ensign/B' jacket or the Tanzer 22 Class and the practice of those boats starting with all the other B Class seems to have effectively integrated these boats into essentially a one class fleet. Even though there were still five Ensigns, four Tanzer 22's, three Cal 21's, and two Bluejackets actively racing in Class B, one-design boat-for-boat racing was clearly fading from the scene in the Valcour Sailing Club. As shown in the results of that year, the Ensigns dominated the Spring Class B series but the Cal 21s and Tanzer 22s came charging back in the Fall series.
THE VSC RACING FLEET OF 1973
| CLASS A - CCA rated over 22 ft | |||
| Wayne Clark | MOLLY STARK | Yankee Sail | Nr 32 |
| Bill Rowe | CRISIS | Tartan 30T | #10670 |
| David McDowell | VALCOUR VI | Tartan 26 | #11497 |
| Wayne Twining | MISTEE | Pearson 26 | #28 |
| Harry Walcoff | CELEBRITY | Pearson 26 | #10632 |
| Peter Covert | TURTLE IV | Tanzer 28 | #40 |
| Bill Empsall | FEELING FREE | Morgan 25 | #2543 |
| George Dietrick | Helms 25 | #11 | |
| Brown/Grant | COMBINE | Cal 25 | #11013 |
| CLASS B - CCA rated 22 ft or less | |||
| Bob McCracken | ESCAPE | Paceship 23 | #40 |
| Robert Hohman | Cal 21 | #509 | |
| Peter Hornby | NIMUE' | Cal 21 | #550 |
| Ric Schneider | Cal 21 | #574 | |
| Joe Garcia | DAVE'S OLD BOAT | Bluejacket | #61 |
| Herb Koerner | Bluejacket | #76 | |
| Jim Connors | AMARANTH | Olympic Dolphin | #153 |
| Wayne Hostetter | SHATZI | Tanzer 22 | #45 |
| Paul Laramie | REMEDY II | Tanzer 22 | #178 |
| Robert Post | FIFTY BUCKS | Tanzer 22 | #162 |
| Ralph Stevenson | Tanzer 22 | #187 | |
| L. Pollack | FOLLY | Electra | #177 |
| Skip Barnett | NEPIDAE | Ensign | #1379 |
| Derek Allan | GRUINARD II | Ensign | #1172 |
| Bob Sutherland | DARCY | Ensign | #369 |
| Herman Doh | PUNKY ANNE | Ensign | #111 |
| Harold Klein | DADDY | Ensign | #23 |
HIGHLIGHTS OF 1973
Minutes of Meeting 3/21/73. "Barnett made a motion that all boats rated 22 ft. and under (CCA) start at the same time and be designated as Class B with all larger boats starting at a different time as Class A boats. Individual class racing can still be held within Class A or B. Motion was seconded by McDowell and passed.
The Clubhouse will be available again this year. Peter Covert has announced that the Swinging Turtle will offer meals and drinks at reduced prices to Club members and their families during race days. All boats must be properly weighed and measured before a race in order to have that race count. The exception is a class boat in which a boat of that class has been weighed and measured. In such cases a standard rating will be used for all boats in that class with an adjustment for sail area."
Minutes of Meeting 5/2/73. "May 19 will be the date of the spring workday to put the dock in, launch the committeee boat and clean up the club house. The Clinton County Youth Bureau has again approached the Club to have a group of underprivileged children sail on a number of member's boats on June 23. Harry Walcoff is to investigate the various insurance aspects and report at the next meeting. If the insurance can be worked out then there will be a need for volunteers who will take 2 or 3 children on their boats".
[RdF Note — On June 23rd, as scheduled, members of the VSC provided sailboat rides for approximately twenty children of Upward Bound. A photo subsequently appeared in the Press Republican showing Joe and Joann Garcia with three children well secured in life preservers and wearing broad smiles. The photo caption was: "Wind in their faces - Joe Garcia of the Valcour Sailing Club guides his sailboat through waters of Lake Champlain while youngsters enjoy their first boat ride. The Clinton County Youth Commission sponsored the project which allowed area Clinton County youngsters a chance to sail on Lake Champlain. Members of the Valcour Sailing Club helped in the project."]
VSC Bulletin June 1973
"The Valcour Race was a big success. We had 45 boats starting on Saturday and approximately the same number on Sunday. This is the largest turnout in history for the Valcour Race as well as for any LCRC Race. Despite rain and light shifty winds on Saturday, we managed to complete a 11 mile race in under five hours with Skip Barnett coming out a clear winner against all classes by finishing 24 minutes ahead of the next boat and having the shortest elapsed time of any boat in the race.
"On Sunday, conditions were greatly improved as it blew 20 from the North. In this race, Phil Davis of MBBC managed to sail his PJ 43 around the 15 mile triangle in under three hours establishing the lowest elapsed time. Although the official results for the two day event have not yet been computed, it looks as though VSC managed to snag four of the eight trophies. Rick Davis sailing his Pearson 30 took 2nd in B Class, Dave McDowell took 2nd in C Class with his Tartan 26, and Skip Barnett and Peter Hornby took 1st and 2nd respectively in D Class."
"I am sure that all members of the club will be saddened to learn of the death of Mr. Harry Walcoff's wife, Pearl. Mrs. Walcoff died early Monday morning ..."
THE PEARL WALCOFF MEMORIAL BOOK COLLECTION
In June, 1973, the members of the Valcour Sailing Club were saddened to learn of the death of Pearl Walcoff, wife of founding member Harry Walcoff. Commodore Hornby, in a letter to the members on July 3rd, indicated that the Executive Committeee had suggested the purchase of a collection of sailing books in memory of Mrs. Walcoff.
"Dear Valcour Sailing Club Member: The executive committeee has given much thought to the subject of an appropriate gift to be given in memory of Pearl Walcoff. Among the several suggestions made, was the possibility of purchasing a collection of books on sailing to be given to the Plattsburgh Public Library in her memory. This idea seemed to the committeee to be most appropriate since Mrs. Walcoff was actively interested in our local library and, of course, in sailing. At present the library holdings on this topic are quite meager, and therefor such a gift would be of benefit to our local community as well as being an appropriate memorial. ............ We hope that by this endeavor we will be able to provide a fitting and lasting memorial to someone who meant a great deal to all who knew her and were saddened by her death."
The members responded and in September of that year, Claudia Hornby wrote to Miss Pungitore, Director of the Plattsburgh Public Library, giving the details of the intention of the Valcour Sailing Club.
"Some time ago we spoke with you regarding the establishment of a collection of books on sailing to be donated to the library in the memory of Mrs. Pearl Walcoff, by members of the Valcour Sailing Club...... and that an appropriate book plate would be placed in each book of the collection. ... "The members of the Valcour Sailing Club have contributed $175.00 to the Memorial Collection Fund. ........" Claudia A. Horby, Memorial Fund Chairman"
CONTRIBUTORS - The Pearl Walcoff Memorial Collection
Mr. & Mrs. J. Derek Allan, Dr. & Mrs. David B. McDowell. Dr. & Mrs. Stockton G. Barnett, Dr. Lawrance C. Pollak, Dr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Brown, Dr. & Mrs. Jerome H. Resnick, Mr. & Mrs. Roderick C. Giltz, Mr. & Mrs. William L. Rowe III, Mr. & Mrs. John A. Grant, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Schneider, Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Hornby, Mr. & Mrs. Bernard J. Seawell, Mr. & Mrs. Donald A. Ireland, Mr. & Mrs. Richard S. Sowers, Dr. & Mrs. Harold G. Klein, Mr. Wayne N. Twining, Mr. Paul D. Laramie Jr., Dr. & Mr.s. H. Alan Walker