Southern California Yachting Association MIDWINTER REGATTA — Notice of Race — February 14th & 15th, 2004 Information (562) 433-7426 • www.scya.org Sponsored by A Short History of the Midwinters Regatta By Rod Simenz The SCYA Midwinters Regatta history is packed with legendary sailors and their boats from the early days to the present. In 1928, SCYA and the LA Junior Chamber of Commerce teamed up to sponsor the first Midwinters which was promoted as an example of the sports “paradise” that Southern California offered in the winter. As hoped, the event attracted boats from the Great Lakes, Atlantic Coast and the rest of the Pacific Coast, and some of the best known yachtsmen in America, including Clifford Mallory, John Alden and Herbert Stone, editor of Yachting. Yachtsmen continued to come west for these regattas until the war years. Star Impact. In 1930 Frank Borzage deeded a perpetual trophy which is still awarded to the winner of the Star class at the Midwinters. Borzage was then an aspiring film director who gained fame with A Farewell to Arms, Anna Karenina and Stage Door Canteen. Hook Beardslee was the first winner of the Borzage trophy. Beardslee went on to win the Star Worlds back to back in 1934 and 1935. The complete list of the Borzage trophy winners is presented in this NOR as a tribute to these top competitors in the only one-design class that has sailed in every Midwinter Regatta held. This distinguished group of skippers has posted numerous victories in the Star Olympics, Star Worlds and the America’s Cup as well as in scores of other one-design class championships. Depression and War. The Depression years were a difficult time for the yacht clubs but the Midwinters went on until the war years blacked them out. The regattas were resumed in 1946, the first year the Naples Sabots raced. The class quickly grew to huge numbers and it was still the largest class raced 57 years later in 2003. The next largest class over the years is probably the Laser, which put 78 boats in “A” class alone on the line at the Midwinters in1976 and was won that year by John Bertrand, St. Francis Yacht Club. Midwinters and the Weather. Southern California weather in February does not always live up to the LA Chamber of Commerce expecta- tions. Racing conditions have ranged from a near hurricane in 1935 to other years of dead calm; impenetrable fog or driving rain; but of course also many days sailed in glorious sunshine and warm breezes. That’s exactly the weather they had in 1947 when Ed Witte won OR, nosing out Humphey Bogart in Santana. In good weather or bad, one of the most dominant sailors at the Midwinters during the fifties was George Fleitz. In one stretch he won every race he sailed in this regatta for three years straight. Midwinters then typically drew 200 to 300 entries. SCYA celebrated its 25th Jubilee Midwinters with mild weather in 1954. Actress Mitzi Gaynor was chosen as queen of the regatta. The Advent of Fiberglass. The Sixties brought fiberglass boats and rapid growth in one-design classes at the Midwinters. The Cal 40’s made their first appearance in 1964 and placed 1, 2 and 3 in OR. By the next year they had their own class and by 1967 the Midwinters featured 996 entries with an amazing 20 one-design classes over 25ft. That year OR class “A” saw Cornelius Brunzeel’s Stormvogel, Jim Michael’s Baruna, Jim Kilroy’s Kialoa II, Peter Davis’s Orient and Jack Baillie’s Newsboy on the line with nine other boats. Newsboy won. The Elder family placed 2nd in their 10 meter, Landfall. Los Angeles Harbor was the only venue for many years. The first expansion added Alamitos Bay. 1973 saw the addition of racing at Marina del Rey and King Harbor. In 1977 entries reached a record 1,200. New venues continued to be added through the years until races were being held from Santa Barbara to San Diego and as far east as Arizona and Nevada. Some changes in venue and classes occur from year to year to keep current with class interest, but typically 25 or more host clubs and 100 classes participate in the Midwinters By the Numbers. The history of Midwinter entries clearly shows the gain in popularity of sailboat racing. From 1930 to 1960 an approximate total of 17,000 skippers and crew took part in the Midwinters. During the next thirty years, the total number of skipper and crew participants grew to an estimated 75,000 or more. Regattas don’t just happen, so through the years many people have staffed the Midwinters Regatta committee to handle planning, coordination, publicity, trophies, etc. and host clubs have provided race committees, protest committees and hospitality, which adds a significant number of people to the total participants. The tradition is clear, the SCYA Midwinter Regattas have done a bang-up job in opening the racing season for the past 74 years. Let’s keep that tradition going. Get out and race or help run the races as Midwinters celebrates its 75th year in 2004. Winners- Frank Borzage Midwinter Perpetual Trophy- Star Class 1936 - Bob Ziegler 1956 - Malin Burnham 1972 - Dennis Conner 1988 - Mark Reynolds 1938 - Myron Lehman 1957 - Chick Rollins 1973 - Evan Daily 1989 - Jack Dollahite 1939 - Bill Baxter 1958 - Lowell North 1974 - Evan Daily 1990 - Doug Smith 1940 - Myron Lehman 1959 - Lowell North 1975 - Chuck Driscoll 1991 - Stephen Gould 1941 - Jim Cowie 1960 - Lowell North 1976 - Charles Beek 1992 - Lee Kellerhouse 1942 - W. Severence, Jr. 1961 - Don Elder 1977 - Dave Peterson 1993 - Ben Mitchell 1946 - Jim Cowie 1962 - Don Elder 1978 - Chris Colby 1994 - Ben Mitchell 1947 - Lowell North 1963 - John Rumsey 1979 - Bob McNeil 1995 - Ben Mitchell 1948 - Gerald Driscoll 1964 - Tom Blackaller 1980 - Trig Liljestrand 1996 - Ben Mitchell 1949 - Jake Moser 1965 - Malin Burnham 1981 - Bill Gerard 1997 - Smith/ Moore 1950 - Frank Wyatt 1966 - Don Beaver 1982 - John Driscoll 1998 - Eric Doyle 1951 - Bill Ficker 1967 - Lowell North 1983 - Vince Brun 1999 - Eric Doyle 1930 - Hook Beardslee 1952 - Lowell North 1968 - Don Trask 1984 - Mark Reynolds 2000 - Kyle Henehan 1931 - MacCrage 1953 - Harry Bourgeois 1969 - Don Trask 1985 - Trig Liljestrand 2001 - Vince Brun 1932 - Bill Lyon 1954 - Bill Ficker 1970 - Peter Wison 1986 - Mark Reynolds 2002 - Robbie Haines 1933 - Bill Lyon 1955 - Dick Hahn 1971 - Dennis Conner 1987 - Vince Brun 2003 - George Szabo The 75th Annual SCYA Midwinter Regatta Presented by the Southern California Yachting Association February 14th and 15th, 2004* RACE NOTICE AND GENERAL INFORMATION * Certain classes and fleets will sail on other dates, as indicated in this Notice. 1.0 The regatta is open to all boats belonging to member yacht clubs of the Southern California Yachting Association, other yacht clubs, US Windsurfing Association, American Model Yacht Association and other recognized associations. 1.1 The racing will be conducted by designated host yacht clubs and organizations located in Southern California and Arizona areas listed in this Notice. 2.0 The regatta will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing 2001-2004, the rules of each class concerned, and the sailing instructions of the host club. 3.0 Classes invited to race are listed in this notice and include one-design, handicap, model boats and windsurfing. Classes not listed in this Notice may apply to the Chairman for assignment to a host club. At least three entries are required to establish a class. 3.1 One-design and handicap classes are requested to have an official representative at the host club before or during registration to resolve any matters concerning the class. 3.2 Boats racing in PHRF handicap classes must have a valid certificate. Out-of-the-area boats may obtain a guest certificate from the PHRF office, 562-438-6712. 4.0 Registration may be made by mail to the host club, or in person, before the close of registration listed in this Notice. The entry fee shall be payable to SCYA and collected by the host club at the time of registration. Entry forms as included in this Notice must be complete. Model boat organizations may use their own entry forms. 4.1 Fees depend upon the size of the boat, and will be discounted as listed below for current members of US SAILING. Non-members will be afforded an opportunity to join US Sailing at the time of registration. 4.2 The fees will be: LOA of the boat: Less than 10 ft. 10 to 19.9 ft. 20 ft. and Over Regular Fee $12.00 $18.00 $23.00 US SAILING Member $11.00 $17.00 $22.00 Model Boats $8.00 5.0 Sailing instructions will be published by the host clubs or organizations, and will be available at the time of registration or in advance as determined by the host club. 6.0 The host clubs establish their own registration deadlines and starting times as listed in this Notice of Race. 7.0 Trophies will be awarded at the host clubs as soon as possible after the final race, according to the following schedule: Entries 3 to 5 6 to 8 9 to 15 16 to 20 21 up Trophies 1 2 3 4 5 Trophies not claimed within 60 days shall be forfeited. 8.0 The host clubs will handle arrangements for moorings, shore facilities and social events. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA YACHTING ASSOCIATION Commodore .......................................................... Jerry Montgomery, ABYC ....................................................... 562-427-3116 Vice Commodore ................................................... Tom Kennedy, SMWYC......................................................... 323-257-5948 Rear Commodore.......................................................Mary Bacon, BCYC ............................................................ 562-592-3764 MIDWINTER REGATTA COMMITTEE General Chairman .....................................................