support they’ve received from RYC and its lnembership inhelping them to ably represent the fine RYC tradition.A special debt of gratitude is owed to RYC’s HelenIngerson, whose tireless efforts in the organizing, executingand officiating for this prestigious event have added much tothe success of the Richardson Cup whether it be on behalf ofRYC, LYRA, or the <strong>Yacht</strong> Racing Union of the Great Lakes.From left: aoey Tomaselli, Keith Burhans, Mark Fischer, ChuckBauerschmidt and Bob FischerADAMS CUPThe Mrs. Charles Francis Adams Trophy is a perpetualtrophy for the purpose "of promoting the sport ofyachting by encouraging proficiency in seamanship andconduct in sail yacht racing on the part ofOPTI’S RULEIn early August 1996, RYC hosted the United StatesOptimist Dinghy Association (USODA) National CllampionshipRegatta. There were 257 competitors from 10 states and sixcountries who raced in four fleets: Red, Blue, White and Green.At the time, it was the largest one-design regatta of any kind everheld in the USA.The <strong>Rochester</strong> Canoe <strong>Club</strong> and the Newport <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>assisted RYC with this large event by running the Green Fleet(beginners) racing on hTondequoit Bay. There were 22competitors who enjoyed great racing on the cahner waters ofthe bay.The Red, Blue and White fleets raced in light to medium airon Lake Ontario. The 235-boat fleet was split four ways, witheach group racing each of the other groups. There were severalgeneral recalls, most likely caused by more than a hundred boatson the starting line. After two days of racing, the plan was toestablish Gold and Silver Divisions, and run more races for thechampionship. A major glitch in the scoring system delayed theproper split into these divisions, causing the last scheduled clay ofracing to be canceled. Final regatta results were based on thefirst five races held.The challenges for this regatta committee were similar toothers; fund raising, housing, awards, registration, boat storage/launching/hauling. Howevm, this regatta had the additionalchallenges of extensive on-the-water safety, entertainment andfeeding of 257 young competitors, and dealing with severalhundred sailing equivalents to "soccer morns and dads."Women from RYC have continued since our centennialyear in 1977 to be interested and supportive of the AdamsCup and have competed at the local, LYRA, Area E andnational levels. Frank Shulnway and Helen Ingerson haveed at several local and national Adams trophy events.Our <strong>Club</strong> hosted this competition in 1996. Shumwayloaned 10 sonars. Helen Ingerson was the principal~r and worked with an all-volunteer race committee.housed all 10 crews. Two crews from RYCin the Area E trials for these finals. RYC hosted thein 1976 in Solings.Cory Sertl won the Adams Cup in 1985 prior to her RYCThe sight of 235 Optimist Dinghies sailing back and t’orth toIn 1993, Helen Ingerson, with Deborah Koop, Jill the race course on the Genesee River was a delight to behold.and Christine Schwenker as crew competed in the The Optimist is an excellent starting boat t’or young sailors,hosted by Eastern YC, and raced out of Marblehead in ages six to 15. Originally designed to be built from a single 4X8e Atlantic after winning Area E, eliminating the crews from piece of marine plywood, Optis are raced worldwide, withYC and Bayview YC from Detroit. Helen has more than 300,000 boats registered in more than 100 countries.of the trustees of the cup for over 25 years. As with many clubs, RYC uses the Optimist for its junior sailIn 1999, Debbie Koop plus crew in Lightnings won the program. Several members also own this hot little box racer.elimination and represented RYC in Milwaukee.111
at RY(v, hereE~ lips,COlllpcalea i_lFser\edback I)" W Card "avisitor! ,ict~w,settledA~<strong>Club</strong> ttRYC t,racinghot boand fluonl\ RJirdesb,ndone ilrigger~was shwas i-)~1Up or down?112Photo by Fran CruikshankTHE TON THINGopti Fun ,.-onLilton bo,Back when the International Ofl~hore Rule (IOR) was therule of choice there were celtain increments of the complexformula that resulted in a sort of level rating scheme so boats ofthe same calculated speed couM race together with no timeowed. Quarter-half-three quarter-1 and 2-ton classes were allrepresented by active racing offshore boats. From IZrankConnard’s San Juan 24 quarter-former (to which he refused toadd any auxiliary power), and Steve Haarstick’s Daedehts, toHenry Williams’ aluminum two-tonner Susan B. Anthom’, RYCsupported her share.Most probably, Henry Williams has raced more miles thanany other skipl~er has in RYC history, from several Mackinacs iand Lake Erie races to the Newport to Bermuda races. Most ofIris racing was done in "’tonners,’" Susan B. Anlltonv, DorothyGale, and Audrey 7h’o. Gunther Buerman with his Eclilzse in thehalf-ton class was successful racine on the East Coast durin,, the7()S and 8()s.None of the tonners were more successful than WalryPolidor’s Kirby designed 30-feet overall Wihl Card. A WestSystem wooden beauty crafted by Stu Sill was light enough thatwithout its keel two people could hetl the hull. Tarry eliminated allbad dreams about through-lmll fittings by designing a hol!owsupport strut for the propeller shaft that served as the seawaterinlet for cooling the enaine. With pr( perk allasI Wihf Cardmeasured in at 21.7 IOR or hal f-ton.The North American Half Ton Chan]pionships were heldIclimb~"’protealld aF(big bh:gt~O~AIFreemLYRAtheir Itto wellthe Or,with tlMichilto the ]and A~straiglthe Gunumb(Vellkle~Jon tkfew P,¢
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