The 1928 March Races - Part 3

The 1928 March Races - Part 2

 

The 1928 March Races - Part 1

O.K. 6 meter history and trivia geeks, here we go with an article that probably only exists in a few libraries on the West Coast. As you will read, the inimitable US 29 'Lanai', one of Clinton Crane's masterworks, dominates the racing and leads the charge for the East Coast, the sailors of which drag home a veritable Comstock Lode of silver. I'll be spare in my commentary and simply post the articles that appeared in the aftermath. I'm certain there was other coverage in The Rudder and perhaps Yachting, but I don't have those magazines, so Pacific Coast Yachting and Pacific Motor Boat will be our last words on the subject.

The 1928 March races in Los Angeles, final notice

With all of the build up and hype, here's the last word before it all began. Pacific Coast Yachting gives us the final preview. As you can see from the entry list, we have 9 sixes entered; 3 from the East, 3 from San Francisco, and 3 from the Los Angeles area. On page 2 we have a nice profile shot of the brand new US 45 'Harpoon'. The R boats still have a very impressive 12 boat entry list, including future 6 meter owner Tommy Lee with his R 11 'Pirate'.

 

 

Pacific Motor Boat also gives a preview before the starting gun fires, though their information does not appear to be as accurate. Perhaps their lead time to press was longer? 

 



The Log of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club

Knowing that a serious set of East Coast sailors were headed for California for the 1928 March racing, the members of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club wanted to make sure there was some competition. As documented below, a dedicated syndicate commissioned the famous Norwegian designer and builder Johan Anker to create a competitive boat similar to recent Seawanhaka Cup winner, N 27 'Noreg'. The result was the lovely US 37 'Synnove', seen here being unloaded from  the S. S. 'George Washington' at Los Angeles on February 23, 1928. Along with the brand new Potter design 'Harpoon', launched less than 2 weeks before, the Southern California sailors felt they had a least a fighting chance against the experienced and savvy Eastern contingent. Only 2 days later the American-Hawaii liner S. S. 'Minnesotan' deposited the 3 boats from the East; US 29 'Lanai', US 32 'Priscilla', and US 33 'Clytie, as well as the R boat 'Live Yankee'. San Francisco sailor Arthur Rouseau had now aquired S 2 'May Be', and Stuart Haldorn another Estlander design, D 34 Ay Ay Ay. Now there were 9 sixes entered for the races and soon we'll see how it all shook out.

 

Of special note with the acquisition of 'Synnove' is the force behind all of this effort, who goes unnamed in this and other articles. He is Dr. Albert Soiland, a naturalized Norwegian, which reveals one of the reasons Anker was chosen over Estlander for the design and the origins of the name 'Synnove', which in the Norwegian language translates to Sun Gift.

 

 

Harpoon - a West Coast 6

The more I learn about it, the more I realize that 1927 was a big year for the sixes in North America. Big international regattas, lots of new and some radical designs on both coasts. Big media exposure, great sailors and sailing.

The article below appeared in the November 1927 issue of Pacific Coast Yachting and shows a six like no other - US 45 'Harpoon.' With her blunt bow and truncated stern counter she resembles boats which came much later.

 



Here is the notice of her imminent launch on February 11, 1928. Further below is a photo of her maiden sail alongside another Potter design, the R boat 'Friendship', as well a member of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet keeping watch in the background.

 



Even more build up for the March races...

Herewith we find yet another article stirring interest in the upcoming races off of Los Angeles for several classes, including the R boats, 6 meters and Star class. This piece was published in the December 1927 edition of Pacific Coast Yachting and states an important fact - the upcoming March races would be the first time that fleets from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts would meet on the race course at a western venue. The article includes mentions of a Nicolas Potter 6 metre design in progress at Wilmington Boatworks. This is the unusual 'Harpoon', which I will profile in the near future. One interesting note is that the article's writer is ignorant of the fact that San Francisco terror Arthur Rousseau has recently purchased the Scandinavian Gold Cup winner 'May Be' from Sven Salen. This bold acquisition will change the equation in the West. Stay tuned.

A special bonus for readers who have made it this far. The article's descriptions of the L. Francis Herreshoff  'R' boat 'Live Yankee' certainly begs the posting of a photo of this strange creature. The close-up shot below comes courtesy of Scott Rohrer and shows Live Yankee at the docks of the Tacoma Yacht Club in 1944. The boat was sold to Chicago in 1946 and was later broken up in the mid-60's.