NORTH AMERICAN SIX METER CHAMPION
SHIP 1967
by Hans-Otto Giese
For
the fifth time this regatta was held in our Northwest waters, and for the second time in Bellingham Bay where
we first held it in 1955 with 15 entries. Since our Maybe VII had
won the Globe & Mail Trophy, emblematic of the championship, last time in
Tacoma in 1964, with 3 firsts yet, her skipper had the right to select this
year’s site and he did not hesitate to choose Bellingham, where the races were
then held under the joint sponsorship of Seattle Corinthian Yacht Club (CYC)
and Bellingham Yacht Club, again during the week preceding Labor Day, beginning
Sunday, August 27, 1967.
Great
care was taken to make this a really good regatta, particularly since we now
have 18 sixes on Puget Sound and 7 more in British Columbia. They include practically all the “name boats” of the world, from the twenties to the present, which
are still in racing commission. We actually had 22 starters, and it was a big
and spectacular field of these superb yachts, all in perfect shape and very
well sailed, indeed.
Brent
Nichols as Regatta Chairman did all the ground work over the preceding half
year with its many details. Dan Olson of BYC was again Race Chairman, and Carl
Hostetter was chosen as Race & Regatta Judge. No better racing organization
ever existed, everybody and everything worked.
The
yachts arrived Saturday from all directions and by various means, including a
tugboat and a number of mother-ships. BYC provided fine, individually assigned
moorages along its main dock, as well as storage facilities. A measuring-bee
found only 3 spinnakers and one genoa exceeding the complicated 6m formula and
restrictions. Just a little cold war.
The first start Sunday noon in a fresh SW breeze
was quite spectacular and hair-raising since a number of the well known and experienced bargers were pushed over the
line, but only because they belatedly realized that the white flag marking the starting line was flown from the stern of the committee boat lying in the wind, and not from her bow. This was actually
the only flaw in the whole
regatta, and there was then no more of
such good, clean, wholesome fun because the sharp noses of these five-ton racers scare even otherwise stoic race
committee members and photographers into hasty evasive action. However, there was nary a bump. Skillful sailors indeed; by
inches. And happy ones as manifested by the loud laughter in response to
certain shouts of initially timid but righteous souls.
We
sailed a triangular course once around, and then windward-leeward, with a short
windward leg back up to the starting line, not quite 12 miles. The windward
mark was a bell buoy off Post Point, where the flood tide made things
interesting and created ever changing tactical situations while tacking up the
shore. Then came a run down into the bay, and a reach towards town. It was a
fine first race and presented a most beautiful sight. As usual Maybe won, Eros
(SYC) was second, Goose (CYC) third. Buzzy III of Maple Bay fourth and Exit
(CYC) fifth. The previous North American Champions, Saga, Alarm and Buzzy II,
lagged a bit behind these more modern yachts.
The
next day was calm and smoky from the forest fires. No wind in the morning, none
at noon, and no breeze to speak of until some cats-paws about 4 o’clock
indicated a Westerly. So all boats went out into the bay, the officials on the
Committee Boat (white flag at the bow!) sighted, measured, planted buoys, and
conferred and conferred, and it looked like a race was possible, but it pooped
after the preparatory gun, and all went home, praising Carl and his committee
for their sensible decision, even though it could wreck the schedule. We drank
their health, and watusied.
Then
came Tuesday with a wonderful strong breeze to preserve Bellingham’s reputation,
making not only two remaining individual races possible that day, but a first
team race besides, as scheduled. Again on the windward leg up the shore, the
lead and the position of these 22 racers changed constantly. One bad tack, and
one could lose 10 boats immediately, and they were hard to catch again. Lessons
were learned. Even with the spinnakers
there was much jockeying and some really wonderful and hard competition all
over the bay. Buzzy III won this one, to everyone’s delight, Maybe was second,
Eros third, Exit fourth and Lulu CYC fifth. The Champion was not deteriorating,
but sailing conservatively, which was approvingly recognized by all.
Nervousness reigned, however.
The
last race was even more beautiful. The starting line was perfect again, and it
made no difference where one started, but no port-tackers in this business.
Exit ran completely away with this one, Buzzy II, now SYC, was second, and
Maybe third – and thus again North American Six Meter champion, closely
followed in the series by Exit, Eros, Buzzy III and Goose. In all three races
there was only one protest and there were four voluntary withdrawals or
technical fouls in the frequently very close racing. Sportsmanship was of the
best. Here are the complete results:
