1971: THE HEYDAY OF THE VSC ONE-DESIGN FLEET RACING
The records of the Valcour Sailing Club for this year reflects what was the most intensive period of one-design racing ever to occur in the Club until the turn of the centrury when the Soling fleet became active. Certainly in terms of numbers of identical boats, seven Ensigns and six Bluejackets, no other period of the VSC saw such scratch fleets. Added to these boats was Skip Barnett's Electra #177 which was rated identically to the Ensign at 20.8 feet under the CCA measurement rule.
But even this did not seem to satisfy the fleet of those years as an effort was made to include other boats in a single fleet. This seems to be a precursor of the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet rule which would follow in another seven years. From the minutes of the Executive committee on July 7, 1971, this:
"Moved by John Grant and seconded by Harry Walcoff that Bluejackets, Ensigns, and Electra race boat for boat with a rating of 20.0, to be effective starting with series races on July 11. Carried.
"Moved and seconded and carried that (in accordance with CCA Measurement Rule Booklet) Rowe's Cal 2-30 be handicapped so that when a course has more than 1/3 its length to windward, there will be an additional percentage of the handicap added (Barnett to calculate what the handicap shall be for the several courses and their length).
The Club records of that year give no clues that any of the skippers of the non-standard boats paid any attention to this "most gracious" invitation to race with the Ensign and Bluejacket fleets; in fact, even the Ensigns and Bluejackets continued to race as separate fleets. The third fleet of that year included Bill Rowe (Cal 2-30), Skip Barnett (Electra), Dick Moore (Challenger), and Peter Hornby (Cal 21); John Felty joined them once in a Laser. Harry Walcoff had organized Ensign Fleet #13 and the July 7, 1971, minutes included this:
"Most of the Ensign owners having been polled, the Ensign fleet has decided to begin racing as a fleet on July 11. That is, official records will be kept from July 11 forward so that a series ranking for Ensigns will permit awarding small trophies to the best performances by the Ensigns during the VSC series race. It is supposed that this arrangement will in no way detract from Ensigns participating in the VSC series races. Which is to say: Ensign sailors will continue to race for the VSC standings and trophies; the Ensign records, which shall from July 11 forward be official, are simply an added feature for the Ensign owners."
ONE-DESIGN SERIES RESULTS 1971
"Results of Class racing. Totals are of best four races. (DNS & DNF get number of boats in the race plus one.) * => DNS, ! => DNF
| ENSIGNS | ||
| Walcoff | 1/2/2/1/1 | (5) |
| Allan | 2/1/5/2/5 | (10) |
| Doh | 3/3/1/3/6 | (10) |
| Krakowski | 4/4/3/7/2 | (13) |
| Sutherland | */5/4/4/* | (20) |
| Klein | 5/7/*/5/3 | (20) |
| Seawill | 6/6/!/6/4 | (22) |
| BLUEJACKETS | ||
| Brown | 1/1/2/2/1 | (5) |
| McDowell | 3/2/1/1/2 | (6) |
| Walker | 4/4/3/3/3 | (13) |
| Grant | 2/3/*/*/* | (16) |
| Koerner | 5/!/4/4/4 | (17) |
| Moore | */*/*/5/5 | (20) |
RUM PUNCH PARTIES AT DAY POINT
A tradition in the Valcour Sailing Club started in 1971 - the parties, originally a "Rum Punch Party", at "McDowell's Point" after the Saturday Valcour I LCRC race. On June 15, Steve Griswold of the Lake Champlain Racing Conference thanked the McDowell's in a letter saying "it certainly was a great weekend and the hospitality of you, your wife, and all the others of the Valcour Sailing Club cannot be surpassed. I think you have established a fine sailing weekend tradition, and know it will continue for many years. We all had a wonderful time."
There is a special ambiance at these post-race parties; old friendships are renewed, information about families exchanged, and no small amount of second-guessing the recent race can be heard in the animated conversations of skippers and crews. To many, it is these occasions that give special added meaning to the sport of yacht racing.
Mimi and Dave would continue this tradition for many years and it became one of the social highlights of the sailing season, both in the Valcour Sailing Club and the Lake Champlain Racing Conference. Also part of this tradition has been the many post race parties at the home of Bill and Bunny Rowe on Lake Champlain just south of the Valcour Lodge.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF 1971
The records of 1971 are rich in details of the activities of the Valcour sailing club. The yearbook was beautifully done in typeset and printed on fine paper; the cover had blue tone pictures of Bluejacket #61 (McDowell) and Ensign #23 (Walcoff) under sail. The rear cover was a tricolor chart of the Valcour area of Lake Champlain with the twelve courses drawn on the interior. Notable was a reference to "Saturday Series Race Clinics" that explains, in part, the effort at total fleet handicapping:
The Saturday Series is more informal than the Sunday Series with a learning (clinic) atmosphere being stressed. All Valcour Sailing Club yachts rating from 20.0-22.0 (CCA) will race on a boat-for-boat basis (no handicapping). Starting time is 10 AM and courses will be short versions from the numbered course sequence 1-5. In the absence of a committeee boat the starting line will be between two racing buoys. Starting signals will in this situation be indicated by the sounding of a horn from the boat of one of the Race committeee members. Ten minute warning, five minute preparatory, and starting signals will be sounded. Finishing will be on a boat-for-boat basis honor system."
News Note, VSC BULLETIN Aug 15, 1971, Skip Barnett went over to Vermont for the Mallett's Bay Race Week and won all three Class B races. In the course of winning the Class B trophy he also beat the Class A boats.
Minutes, Ex. Com., Aug 8, 1971, Plans were begun for a "Teacup" Regatta on Saturday, August 28, for boats 14' and under. Peru Dock at 1 pm for skippers. Barnett will supervise the operation. Publicity will be out, but every member of the Club should talk it up and participate in whatever way he can. Bill Rowe is donating prizes.
VSC Bulletin, Sept 7, 1971, The "Teacup" Regatta was a rousing success. Bill Rowe made the casual observation that two boats did better than the others. Hale Walcoff won both the singles and doubles in a Laser. Bill Levy was second in both races in a Laser. Results to ten places will be in Wednesday's Press-Republican.
Minutes, Ex. Com., Sept 1, 1971, Discussion of purchase of Lake shore property. The question seems now to be in the hands of individuals who may wish to get together to invest in the property. [RdF note - made reference to a special meeting notice which announced that: "There will be a very special meeting of the Valcour Sailing Club this Wednesday, August 11th, at Tom Brown's home, 90 Beekman Street - time 8:30pm. Subject for discussion will be the possibilities of acquiring Lake Frontage in Valcour Bay that has been brought to the attention of the Executive committeee. Whatever your views or interest, please make an effort to come as we are interested in growth in our Club. Skip Barnett, Race committee"]
THE CLUB HOUSE AT JANCO'S
Judging from the records of 1972, there was a flurry of spring activity in preparation for the sailing season. A new motor for the committeee boat was approved and at least one work session to refurbish the boat was held at the clubhouse at Janco's. Several references are made to the Clubhouse that spring. Since the matter of a VSC shore facility has been a matter of frequent discussion and effort over the years, it seems particularly interesting and instructive to recall the problems and activities surrounding the club house in 1972.
"Derek Allan moved to accept Janco's offer of the old dive shop for use as a Club House on a three year renewable lease at $1.00 per year. Tom Brown has the terms of the lease." Minutes of Meeting 3/16/72.
"There was further discussion of the proposed Club House. Janco will provide docks to go out at least 100 feet from shore and to connect to the marina dock. The Club will have to provide drums or pipes to support these docks. It is still questionable if the present insurance policy will provide coverage for the the building. Tom Brown is to investigate this problem." Minutes of Meeting 4/13/72.
"IMPORTANT: There will be a work party Saturday, May 13, at the new Club house, starting at 9 a.m. We need everybody there to fix and clean the house and grounds. If you have any questions call the man in charge, Bob Sutherland." VSC Bulletin May 8, 1972.
"Peter Covert will allow the committeee Boat to be moored in front of the Club House to the north of the Club docks. There will be no charge for this privilege, however the Club will have to provide the mooring and a nominal amount ($10 to $20) should be given to the boat-boys at Jancos. In return they will watch the boat and periodically check the mooring lines. Minutes of Meeting 5/15/72.
"At the present time our insurance covers the use of the Club House as an office only. This means that meetings can take place at the Club House but there can not be any social events held there. Don Ireland is investigating the cost of additional insurance which cover the use of this building during picnics, parties or other Club events. In view of the insurance problems only the following people will have keys to the Club House - Skip Barnett, Dick Sowers, Hal Klein, Pete Covert and the boat tender.
"There will be another work party on Saturday, May 27, to install the floating docks at the Club House. Don Ireland will try to find the 30-55 gallon drums required for these docks. Anyone having access to one or more of this size of drum please contact Don. John Grant is to check on the banding which will be used to secure the drums to the docks. If economically feasible to install electricity in the Club House, Peter Hornby will make the necessary connections. John Grant is to look for a fuse box and Bob Sutherland is to investigate the cost of two small flood lights for the outside of the building."
VSC CLUB NEWS (1972)
"WELL DONE Many contributed a lot of effort and chilled bodies to the paint job, grounds clean-up and dock installation at the new club house. Thanks to Pete Covert for donating the dock sections. The workers were Skip and Lucy Barnett, Peter and Claudia Hornby, Bob Sutherland, Don Ireland, Hal Klein, Dick Sowers, David McDowell, Tom Brown, John Grant, Derek Allan, Lawry Pollack, Wayne Twining, Dave Ford, Ric and Carol Schneider. THANK YOU!"
Noteworthy of that record is the amount of coordination and personal effort required to maintain a shore facility in the Club. Also interesting is the problem of liability insurance for off-water activities not covered in the VSC's United States Yacht Racing Union (USYRU) liability insurance for on water activities. Certainly those members of the Club could attest to the importance of volunteerism as a key mechanism to maintaining a club house if dues were to remain a nominal amount, thirty dollars for boat owners and twenty for "non-boat owners" in 1972.
1972: END OF THE ONE-DESIGN KEELBOAT ERA IN THE VSC
The year also marked the decline of one-design fleet racing that had been so popular in 1971. In April it was planned that the "Ensigns, Bluejackets, and Cal 21s will have the same start, however the Cal 21s will race within their own group." Added as a class that year were board boats and a VSC News bulletin observed that "the addition of one-man center boards should provide athletic, highly competitive and less expensive racing. Some members of this group seem to prefer to race at a different time so that they may crew on the keel boats." Essentially, that year saw three racing classes: Cruising, Ensign-Bluejacket, and Board Boats.
VSC NEWS (1972)
"The Blue Jackets and Ensigns, who in the past preferred to race One-Design, will be given a separate start signalled by the letters 'OD' below the course code on the committeee boat. Some members of the Blue Jacket fleet would prefer to race in the Cruising Class. The act of starting with the Cruising Class fleet will establish the intent to race in that class for the season. Advise the Officer of the Day your desire to race in the Cruising Class. A separate start for the Cruising Class will be indicated by the letters 'CC' below the course code on the committee boat."
FINAL RACE RESULTS 1972
| SUMMER SERIES | FALL SERIES | ||
| Cruising Class | |||
| 1) | Brown-Grant | 1) | Brown-Grant |
| 2) | Barnett | 2) | McDowell |
| 3) | Hornby | 3) | Covert |
| 4) | McDowell | 4) | Walcoff |
| 5) | Covert | 5) | Hornby |
| 6) | Rowe | 6) | McCracken |
| 7) | McCracken | 7) | Barnett |
| 7) | Schneider | 8) | Schneider |
| 7) | Hohman | 9) | Hohman |
| 8) | Walcoff | 10) | Pollack |
| 9) | Clark | 11) | Rowe |
| 9) | Warren | 11) | Laramie |
| 10) | Twining | 12) | Clark |
| 11) | Mahart | 13) | Twining |
| 12) | Moore | 14) | Miller |
| 13) | Hostetter | 15) | Hostetter |
| Ensign-Bluejacket Class | |||
| 1) | Doh (Ensign 111) | 1) | Allan |
| 2) | Sowers (Sail#1124) | 2) | Sowers |
| 3) | Allan (Ensign 1172) | 3) | Doh |
| 4) | Seawell (Ensign 504) | 4) | Koerner |
| 5) | Pilcher | 5) | Barnett |
| 6) | Sutherland(Ensign329) | 6) | Pilcher |
| 7) | Klein (Ensign 23) | 7) | Sutherland |
| 8) | Koerner (B'Jckt 76) | 8) | Seawell |
| Board Boat Class | |||
| 1) | Giltz | 1) | Barnett |
| 2) | Golz | 2) | Golz |
| 3) | Felty | 3) | Seawell |
| 4) | Heyman | 3) | Felty |
| 5) | L. Barnett | 4) | Giltz |
| 6) | Brown | 4) | Levy |
| 7) | H. Walcoff | 5) | Heyman |
| 8) | N. Seawell | 9) | R. McDowell |
LAKE CHAMPLAIN RACING CONFERENCE: 1972 FINAL RESULTS
Valcour Sailing Club boats were starting to move up in the LCRC standings. In 1972, Harry Walcoff, sailing CELERITY, a Pearson 26, took fourth place in the Royal Savage and the Valcour, and a fifth place in the Lake Champlain race to place fourth overall in the conference. Bill Rowe in CRISIS took eight place overall, Pete Covert in TURTLE II placed thirteenth, Pete Hornby in NIMUE' was fifteenth, Dave McDowell in VALCOUR IV placed eighteenth, and Skip Barnett in FOLLY II placed twenty-first out of forty boats in the competition that year.
PARTING SHOTS ON THE ONE-DESIGN FLEETS
With the end of the "keel boat" period, we see the passing of any significant unanimity on boat selection. Not until late in the century would the Valcour Sailing Club see a one-design racing fleet with large numbers of identical boats in the Club. With the use of the Cruising Club of America measurement rule, and later the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet, members were free to pursue their individual tastes and preferences in boat design and still race in a mixed fleet with some confidence that the race was as fair as any rating system could make it. But diversity of boat design has its price. Gone is that special camaraderie between competitors of a single design. Gone is boat for boat racing on even terms and the simplicity of the fact that the first boat over the finish line wins the race.
In many ways competition could evolve as a function of who had the latest technology in the design of hulls and sails; there could be more discussion of the fairness of a given boat's rating vis-a-vis the rest of the fleet. There clearly was emerging an additional dimension in sailboat racing in the Valcour Sailing Club. The early failure, in 1971, to bring the Ensigns, Bluejackets, one Electra, and other boats into a single racing fleet is an eloquent testimony to the innate satisfaction of one-design racing.
If the days of the Knockabout fleet had ended in a fierce Lake Champlain wind that convinced many on the limitations of the centerboard, the days of the Ensign and Bluejacket fleets ended in the quest for larger more comfortable cruiser-racers ostensibly equalized by rating rules.