April 2000 • 77th Year • Fleets: 177, Yachts: 8016

Sailing beyond tragedy British boatmen team up for Bacardi Cup after each suffers loss of a crew partner By Susan Cocking

Exactly one year ago, British sailor Ian In 1997, Walker and John Merricks, “We had an incredible amount of Walker got on board a class boat forwho had teamed to win the 1996 Olympicgoodwill from the class,” Covell said. the first time to team with fellow Britonsilver medal in 470s, were poised to win“We could ask people how they set the rig Mark Covell in Miami’s Bacardi Cup.the Melges 24 European Championshipsup, and they would tell you.” Each had lost his previous partnerin Italy. On their way to a celebration, Although Covell had years of experi- in tragic accidents, and neither ence as a crew in Stars, Walker had knew how the other would per- plenty to get used to as skipper in form. They finished 17thin a the new boat. fleet of 82. “The Star is a technical boat,” Fast forward to today’s Walker said. “It’s a keel boat, and opener of the 2000 Bacardi Cup I’ve sailed dinghies. The sails are on Biscayne Bay. Walker, 30, so big, you’re really overpowered. and Covell, 32, have improved You need a big guy hanging over so markedly (seventh in the Star the side to control the jib and the World Championship in Italy; maneuvers and read the compass. fourth in , Australia’s Upwind, [Covell] can’t see much Pre-Olympic regatta; first in because he’s lying in the water. last month’s Biscayne Bay Downwind, he takes over. I’ve Trophy) they will represent never sailed a boat so overpow- Great Britain in the 2000 ered and such a complicated rig.” . But over the past year, the team has finished a step or two higher in The Bacardi Cup, with sixBritish Olympic sailors Mark Covell, left, and Ian Walker practice on Biscayne Bay other Olympic-qualified teams,in preparation for the 2000 Bacardi Cup. Photo by Patrick Farrell/Herald Staff each regatta it entered, culminat- six more hopefuls, and a record ing in selection for the Olympics. fleet of more than 100 boats, is consideredtheir car rolled over, killing Merricks. Walker and Covell prefer to look toward a prime tune-up for Sydney. Fourteen months later, Covell’s skip-the future, rather than to dwell on the “This is the first event of us reallyper in the Star, Glyn Charles, was sweptdeaths of their former teammates. moving toward the Games,” Covell said.overboard during the 1998 Sydney-Hobart “It is the reason we came together, and “You could argue this is bigger than therace. Neither of the surviving teammatesit is a motivation,” Walker said. “But real- Worlds. All the best sailors come here.” knew what they would do. ly, it’s up to us to make it a success.” Two-person teams from as far away as “It was like so much unfinished busi- Covell said: “We’re certainly not sail- Croatia, Slovenia and Sweden will com-ness,” Covell said. ing just for Johnny and Glyn. From such pete in one race each day at noon through Walker said: “You have to stand backa tragic feeling of loss, it gives us a Friday aboard 22-foot keelboats on a 10 ½from it and not make decisions for atremendous boost to feel we can help to mile bay course. while. Then I realized I couldn’t do any-finish the business that Glyn had set up. The winning team will drink Bacardithing else.” First and foremost, we are racing for our- rum from the ornate, silver Trofeo Bacardi The two men got together at last year’sselves and our country.” at an awards ceremony Friday at Miami’sBacardi, studying Charles’ meticulous Coral Reef Yacht Club. notes on tuning the Star’s large sails and This article has been reprinted with Walker and Covell have come a verycomplicated rigging, and soliciting tipsthe permission of the Miami Herald. long way-not just in distance traveled-tofrom competitors, like Americans Mark the Bacardi Cup starting line. Reynolds and Tom Olsen.

StarlightStsT 1 Regatta Information

Starlights Classifieds District 12 2000 Schedule Classified information in the new Starlights magazine will be available for May 20-21 Lake Sunapee Ice Breaker Lake Sunapee, NH $50.00 USD per issue. Classifieds may May 20-21 Audi Ice Breaker National YC, Toronto be submitted the same as they have been, June 3-4 Tomahawk Regatta Lake Hopatcong, NJ via fax, mail or email. Checks should be June 10-11 AYS Open Greenwood Lake, NY made payable to: ISCYRA at the June 17-18 Rock Bottom Regatta Keuka Lake, NY Central Office, 1545 Waukegan Road, June 24-25 Scythes Trophy RCYC, Toronto Glenview, IL, 60025-2185 USA. July Centrals Regatta TBA International money order or bank check July 22-23 Canadian National ChampionshipNational YC, Toronto drawn on any U. S. bank, VISA and July 29-30 Sunapee Open Lake Sunapee, NH Mastercard accepted for payment in U.S. Aug 4-5-6 12th District Championship Lake George, NY dollar amount. Aug 12-13 NY State Championship Seneca YC, NY The deadlines are as follows: Sept 9-10 Lake George Open Lake George, NY July 1-August issue Sept 16-17 F.L.A.S.I.R Seneca YC, NY October 1-November issue Sept 23-24 Chili Regatta Seneca YC, NY

There is an international regatta scheduled in Gdynia, Poland, Aug. 11 WELCOME IN FRANCE to 16, 2000. All Olympic classes including the STAR. It's a great place To Great Spring Regatta to sail, on the Baltic and about 6 hrs. east of Keil. The organizers have Semaine Olympique Française a website with entry and information De Voile d'HYERES www.sail.gdynia.pl April 20-28, 2000 Tel +33.1.44.05.81.12 I.S.C.Y.R.A. 2000 Championship Fixture List Fax +33.1.47.04.90.12

World Championship Rocky River, OH 44116 USA Email: [email protected] 10-21 May 2000Annapolis, Maryland, Phone: +1 440 333 1155 USA (Races 1-6 May 14-19) Fax: +1 440 333 3136 Annapolis Yacht Club Entry Deadline: 26 July 2000 2 Compromise Street Trophée des Ducs de Annapolis, MD 21401 European Championship Phone: +1 410 263 9279 1-9 September 2000Balatonfoldvar, NEMOURS Fax: +1 410 269-8905 Hungary April 29-May 1, 2000 Email: [email protected] (Races 1-6 Sept. 3-9) Website: www.annapolisyc.com Spartacus Sailing Club SRV ANNECY Entry Deadline: 14 April 2000 Balatonfoldvar H-8623 Molo, Hungary Tel: +33.4.50.45.48.39 Phone: +36 84 340 116 Fax: +36 84 340 704 Junior European Championship Email: [email protected] 11-13 August 2000 Berlin, GermanyWebsite: www.spartacus.hu National Open Championship VSaW Yacht Club Entry Deadline: 13 August 2000 Contact: Frank Butzmann June 9-12, 2000 Phone: +49 30 805 20 06 Additional Information Fax: +49 30 805 11 56 CN NICE Spa Regatta 24-28 May North American Championship KNWV, Medemblik, Netherlands Tel: +33.4.93.89.39.78 15-19 August 2000Rocky River, Ohio, USA Kiel Week 18-25 June Fax: +33.4.93.85.45.53 (Races 1-6 August 16-19) Kieler Yacht Club, Kiel, Germany The Cleveland Yachting Club 200 Yacht Club Drive

StarlightH sT 2 Images from Bacardi Cup 2000 by Steve Schwadron

LAKE GARDA 27THCOPPA INTERNAZIONALE

ISAF RANKING

April 30th, May 1st, 2000

Last Tune up for the Worlds!!!!!!

Ph. ++39 0464 506240 Fax.++39 0464 506076 StarlightH sT 3 Central Office Report www.starclass.org

World Championship deadline: 16.4, so please send any additional dues Lesson in April 14, 2000 prior to 28 April 2000 to be included in your fleet vote totals. The resolutions to REMINDER-- deadline for Worldbe voted on were printed in the February “Refresh” Championship is 14 April 2000. Even ifStarlights and are available online. you do not have all your information (boat, crew) send an entry form to the A reminder that last year STRC 29.1 Class members: During the Central Office and the regatta organizerwas changed to allow 2 entries to the Bacardi Cup and Star Class Spring with the skipper name and as much infor-World Championship if the fleet had a Championship of the Western mation as possible. Late entries are nottotal of 16 or more active boats. These Hemisphere, it came to my atten- accepted. must be 16 different boats. Boats held in tion that some members were not partnership are only counted once and able to view updated information Thank you to all fleet secretaries whocannot be counted in more than one fleet- on the website, even though it was sent their fleet dues to the Central Office.one boat, one vote. Fleet secretaries, if updated each day. One “problem” As of 15 March 2000, we are still missingyour fleet is sending 2 entries to the which is easily solved is for you to dues from 44 fleets. These fleet chartersWorld Championships using revised hit your “refresh” button when you have been suspended as of 1 March 2000.STRC 29.1, please send the Central visit the site. To reactivate your fleet, send your fleetOffice a list of the 16 boats in your fleet If you go to the site from your dues as soon as possible. These fleetsand their respective owners. Owners bookmarks or “favorites”, the page will not receive the LOG in the first mail-must be paid active members of the Star is saved in your computer (that is ing. We will do a second LOG mailing atClass. why is comes up on your screen so the end of May. quickly). That means, you may be Members, in order to keep our data- viewing old information. This Recently, fleet secretaries were sentbase accurate, please send us any address seems to happen with AOL in par- their delegate proxy form for the annualand boat changes (and who you pur- ticular. When you go to the site, meeting to be held in Annapolis at thechased the boat from) as soon as possible. either hit “Refresh” at the top of World Championship. These delegateIf you have recently obtained an email your screen, or right-click on your proxy forms must be returned to theaddress, please email us so we can add the mouse and click on “refresh.” This Central Office by 21 April 2000 if youinformation to the database. The Central will update your computer and you want your fleet to be able to vote at theOffice thanks everyone for your help. will be able to view the most recent annual meeting (reference STRC 16.2). information on the site. Membership books will close 10 days Carine Acks and Diane Dorr You may have to do this several prior to the annual meeting per STRC times throughout the day, or as often as you go to the site. This may or may not have been your individ- Advertising on Star Website Payment terms areual problem, but it will still help cash in advance,your general computer use in the Our rates are at or below the market rate for targeted marketing:either by bank wirefuture as you surf the net. $25 CPM ($25 US dollars per thousand impressions). The mini-transfer or by chargeBetsy Londrigan mum purchase is 20,000 impressions. For just $500 USD yourto Visa or MC. All company can start advertising on www.starclass.org advertisements areIf you ever have questions about subject to approvalthe website, please feel free to email by the ISCYRA, There are discounted rates for larger buys: the webmaster at : some types of adver- [email protected] -- 50,000 impressions, $20 per thousand. tising will not be -- 100,000 or more, $15 per thousand. permitted. Pre-pay- ment by check is also ISCYRA will accept both static "sponsorship" type or banneracceptable. Checks should be made payable and sent to: advertising. Key sections available immediately are: ISCYRA, Central Office -Front Page 1545 Waukegan Road -Forum Glenview, IL USA 60025. -Classifieds -Notices of Race For further information or to place your advertisement, contact the ISCYRA webmaster, Betsy Londrigan, at 217-544-6402, fax to 217-544-6416 or email to [email protected]

Starlights4 A Tribute to Frank Gordon February 9, 2000

I’m Kip Murray. I was Frank’s long-time Star crew. Gordon’s son, and I don’t think I ever tried to disabuse anyone During Frank’s Star sailing career, my mother was Frank’sof that notion. first crew. I was his last. People have asked me, “What did you and Frank talk about We sailed right up through the end of last summer—and we for 27 years on a Star boat?” Well, with his strong opinions, even managed to beat a few boats once in a while. Just last week, Frank was making plans for how we would fix up theFrank was never at a loss for words. We started sailing during boat to do even better THIS summer. Frank was always plan-the Nixon administration and Watergate—and ended during the ning for the future and hoping to make everything better. Clinton Administration and Monica. And then there was When I was little, Frank was a big, gruff man to me. But healways the subject of Robin Cook. Robin was one of Frank’s was ALWAYS there—as our family’s best friend. And, as Ifavorite people in the Lake Sunapee Star Fleet. But, for ages grew up, he became my best friend too. Robin has run the Race Committee. And, if you knew Frank, In 1972, when I got out of college, and two years after being drafted into the Army, I was drafted again—to be the crew onyou KNOW he had strong opinions about the Race Committee. Frank’s Star. Well, a year later we won the Fleet Championship, Frank was also a great scholar and great philosopher, and I and that was that. I was destined to stay on that boat as a crewlearned about his philosophy of life as well. One of the things for the next 27 years—although no one thought we would last,he shared with me was his vision of the “hereafter.” The “here- least of all me. after” to Frank was not some great beyond, but, rather, was is Those of you who have come to know and love the strength still HERE. To him, the hereafter is Dot and Sue and Nancy and of Frank’s personality and his opinions can only imagine what 27 years of being the crew on a Star boat with Frank might be like.Gail—and all his grandchildren—and the unspoiled shores of In looking back on those years, I said to Frank’s family-Dot,Lake Sunapee around Chetwood that he wants to protect forever. Sue, Nancy and Gail—the other night—“Well, “I’d like to say So, in Frank’s eyes, WE are the hereafter, and we have a big it was always a pleasure . . . Let’s just say it was always anjob ahead of us to manage things the way Frank would want us experience.” In all seriousness, it really was a wonderful, life-to. And you KNOW his spirit is still among us—with his very shaping experience that I won’t even try to describe. strong opinions about what we’re doing. And you know also— Frank and I were together so often and for so long at Star regattas from Sunapee to Toronto to Lake George and thehe’s never wrong! Bahamas that many people assumed I was Frank’s son. Let me just say that it was and is a real honor to be considered Frank By Kip Murray Memories of John Allen By Susie Pegel

John Allen was the person who measuring and transporting boats involved me in the Star Class. In thefrom the shippers to the Chicago Yacht spring of 1985, I was living in Detroit,Club. In 1988, I joined the Wilmette Michigan and the Gull Lake Tulip TimeHarbor Fleet with my own boat, #6860. Tune-up was approaching. I wondered ifWhen I won the District Championship anyone would be so kind as to loan me afor the second time in 1995 at Lake boat for the regatta, even though I hadSpringfield, I dedicated my win to Mr. never before set foot in a Star. WhoAllen, who was in the hospital at the time. should step forward? John Allen. I was also privileged to serve under Mr. Mr. Allen not only brought his boatAllen on the 1996 Star North American over from Wilmette Harbor in Chicago,regatta committee. Illinois, but completely rigged it for me My mother curses the day John Allen and let me use his sails and his faithfullent me his boat, because 15 years later I crew, Mr. Ahlquist. I didn’t have theam still sailing and my mother has spent vaguest idea what I was doing, but man-enormous amounts of money to try and aged to place 5thoverall. I still have akeep me competitive in the class. And to picture of us standing in front of “Misty”think it all started with “Misty” back at with our wooden shoe trophies. Gull Lake. Thank you John Allen for In 1987 I helped Mr. Allen during theyour generosity. Star Worlds in Chicago with boat

1st 2000 Bacardi Cup 1st 2000 South Americans 1st 2000 Brown Star 1st 2000 Darke de Mattos 1st, 2nd 1999 Worlds Breakaway from the Pack! 1st, 2nd 1999 Bacardi Cup 1st 1999 North Americans 1st 1999 Kris Kringle Regatta With the sails that have won 1999 Worlds, North 1st, 2nd 1999 Atlant. Coast Masters Americans, Bacardi Cup and now the 2000 Bacardi Cup. 1st, 2nd, 3rd 1999 San Diego Fleet 1st 1999 Swiss Championship 1st 1999 Rostige Regatta st 1 1999 Labor Day Regatta In a fleet packed solid with our competitor's sails, Ross 1st, 2nd, 3rd 1999 Black Star Regatta Macdonald and Kai Bjorn proved again that North Sails 1st 1999 Santa Barbara Lipton are your best choice when the competition really heats up. 1st 1999 San Diego Bay Fleet Winning the Bacardi Cup for the second consecutive year, 1st, 2nd 1999 Newport Harbor Fleet Ross and Kai proved what others already know... If you 2nd 1999 Europeans really want to go fast in the Star you have to go North! 1st 1999 German Champs st 1 1999 District 3 Give us a call today to make your break from the pack! 2nd 1999 District 5 1st, 2nd 1999 District 6 2000 Bacardi Cup Champions Ross Macdonald and Kai Bjorn 1st 1999 District 12 1st 1999 District 13 2nd* 1999 Pre-Olympic Sydney 1st, 2nd 1999 King of Spain San Diego Denmark Germany 1st, 2nd 1999 Rollins Bowl Vince Brun/Eric Doyle Theis Palm Thomas Jungblut 1st 1999 Trofeo Burlamacco Rodrigo Meireles 45 39 20 4090 49 40 745 77 78 st nd 619 226-1415 F: 619 224-7018 F: 45 39 20 4412 F: 49 40 745 88 62 1, 2 1999 SCYA Midwinters [email protected] [email protected]@de.northsails.com www.northsailsod.com Bacardi Cup 2000 Results

Macdonald Bjorn 1115315121 55Staartjes Vandenberg 629439225573252 Walker Covell 212186623 56Costa Costa 629447485145253 Ploeg Trujillo 358511425 Pickel Auracher 4336631127 57VanWagnen Beckwith 493951645874261 Brun Dorgan 3315913230 58Rumsey Dolan 459494564823266 Beashel Giles 18213721034 59Rotermund Kramer 519482465334266 Hoesch Fendt 157121012645 Doyle Olsen 14494147746 60Oldak Smith 544869806236269 Mansfield Brien 86612241648 61Jenkins Bacon 605461527848275 0MacCauslandTrinter 191442612958 Bromby White 122162219462 62Zambella Sokolich 419470366666279 2Reynolds Liljedahl 1313916181364 63Bonanni Anosov 615760654655279 3Johansson Moller 102342342565 64Lehnert Menning 579565496449284 4Brady Gale 682011202065 5Vessella Fatih 129214342268 65Rowan Burgess 685950597454292 6Marazzi Marazzi 212429209579 66Freeman Ceaser 954072825942295 7Hagen Witt 1721738102781 8Sustronk Nyhof 2018273322390 67Sperry Sperry 439459556969295 9Watt Wurm 6317219272994 68Baylis Wells 309444349494296 0Davidson Davidson 2711453514895 69Woods Donnelly 699462447051297 1SchoonmakerRogers 312025133219108 2Diaz Strube 16942615847112 70Farrar Pitts 946066585757299 3Ilgenstein Boguhn 531914184715113 71Bortoli Coppo 746178506156304 4Kelly Holowesko 233315271635114 5Morris Terhaar 252119214531117 72Buckley Schofield 669476675638304 6Butzmann Peters 92823402930119 73Bainton Welling 955158782894309 7Lanza Avellon 372968247764122 74Cavicchi Davis 665864607363311 8Neeleman Schrier 59510731521124 9Buchan Leppert 79438432512125 75Falcone Falcone 944232796794314 0Zanetti Englehardt 321643253028131 76Teitge Korejsza 945554877658331 1Simoneschi Marenco 291056379417149 2ScheinecuenNehammer 942518305240165 77Chiarella Carlson 705479817162338 3Mitja Evgenij 394137312343171 78Bainton Christenson 745987628176352 4George Peters 383024572661175 79Walker Warren 766367767572353 5Allen Upton 344911543153178 6Loos Chromecek 423730943732178 80Cutler Anderson 786577778068367 7Kellerhouse Schreiner 644522293550181 81MacDonald Leonidov 959441756894372 8McNeil Baltins 262663326039183 9Krook Thelamder 245371231767184 82Andrews Rogers 686485898571373 0Lowe Higgs 352731514394187 83Parotta Karr 716681888775382 1WennerstromFjell 283474614224189 84Marazzi Eizberger 599480837294388 2Beek Hafer 585253176514194 3Ulbrich Storrs 563248944018194 85Bolles Bolles 816884848979396 4Meyer Hannemann 223657455437194 86Thomsen Thomsen 796483868394397 5Kohlhas Weber` 363128664460199 6Finch Scott 443546423394200 87Crocket Unsworth 949488697978408 7McCarthy McCarthy 504435393865206 88Haggerty Rands 779486708294410 8Herrmann Raynor 554317634159215 89Collins Gibbs 769473858494413 9Vanderhoff Perkins 475033415046217 0Sherwood Avis 523849476333219 90Pro Culber 729494718894421 1Foster Lawler 464740683952224 91Keen Gallek 949475728694421 2Schwarz Seeberger 949434531941241 3Bierman Skinner 484655744944242 92Prandini Leary 949494949470446 4Stegmeier Stegmeier 409552283695251 93Zagarino Yakavenko 949494949477453

StarlightH sT 7