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Human Interest
This Article Last Updated: Dec 9th, 2013 - 13:00:44
Boat builder, great sailor, musician, train enthusiast, Blue Bird owner and story teller extraordinaire
Carl Eichenlaub was Boatwright of the U.S.Sailing Team, Beginning at Kingston, in 1976 (and including the aborted 1980 games), Sydney in 2000 made his seventh consecutive appointment to the position of U.S.Olympic Boatwright. Additionally, he served at six Pan American Games, two Goodwill Games, and five Pre-Olympic Regattas.
As a sailor, Eichenlaub began his racing career in 1946 as a junior at Mission Bay Yacht Club, San Diego. By 1952~having progressed through Skimmers, International 14s, and college sailing at San Diego State—he was selected to represent the Southwest in the first-ever Mallory Cup Regatta. "Corny" Shields, who won the event, was so impressed by the lad from California that, for the rest of his life, he never failed to send Carl a Christmas greeting.
As a builder: Carl turned "pro" while still in college, setting up shop at the same Shelter Island yard that bears his name today. Whole fleets of Sabot Dinghies were spawned there, and, before long, he had developed a reputation for truly world-class Snipes, Lightnings, and Stars. Switching adroitly from wood to more modern materials and techniques, Carl built "Ganbare", "High Roler", "Swiftsure", "Champagne" (Admiral's Cup winner for Germany), and "Marlou" (Australian survivor - all in one piece-of the Fastnet). His own three aluminum boats named "Cadenza" kept pace with the steady improvements in design and technology.
As a One-Design racer: Carl's name is best known in the Lightning Class; he won the "Worlds" in 1960, and, over the last forty years, probably set the class record for overland mileage traveling to regattas with a Lightning in tow.
As an Offshore Racer: At least one of the "Cadenzas" had shown her colorful graphics at SORC, most of the Mexican races, Transpac, and Ken wood Cup. His favorite regatta was the St. Francis Yacht Club's Big Boat Series. In 1997, after twenty years of annual trekking up the coast from San Diego, Carl and crew scored a popular win in their class, and brought home the prestigious Richard Rheem Trophy.
As an America's Cup Volunteer: Though never a member of a particular syndicate, his advice and assistance have been sought by many. During San Diego Yacht Club's two AC Class defense efforts for "the Cup", he served faithfully as stake boat coordinator. "Cadenza" herself was out on the course, at the Weather Mark, all day, every race day of the Trials and Finals, for a total of more than 200 days. Eichenlaub, himself, was aboard for all but ten of those days.
 | | Eichenlaub as a young man | As a Man of Music: Since his years in the San Diego High School Band, Carl carefully maintained a balance between his love of sailing and a passion for symphonic music. He was one of the best known bassoonists in the area and regularly practiced and performed with three or more local orchestras. He carried a "second" bassoon on longer ocean races. After a stressful time (such as bouncing around at the masthead jury-rigging a spinnaker bail), he would go below and play some music "to calm the troops".
Article on Eichenlaub from the U-T San Diego
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