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1940 World Championship - San Diego, CA

1940 World Championship - San Diego, CA

The following results are from George Elder's book "Forty Years Among The Stars". In common with the early Logs it is interesting to note that in his results Elder does not give the yacht numbers of the boats which participated in the World's, but only just their names. It was not until the 1950 Log that yacht numbers were included in the results. From 1950 through 1976 both yacht numbers and names were given, but starting with 1977 frequently only yacht numbers were given. The last time both yacht numbers and yacht names were given was 1989.

In later years sometimes fleet designations were omitted. In these cases some of the more obvious fleet designations were supplied. Also from time to time only last names were supplied. First names, where known, were added.

Abbreviations etc: Dsa - Disabled. Dsq - Disqualified. Dns - Did Not Start.
Wdr - Withdrew. Ch - Chairman. B - Builder. * - Defending Fleet. 0 - No points, reason not given.

1940 - OFF SAN DIEGO

Yacht# Yacht Skipper Crew Fleet
Race 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Pts.
1150 Rambunctious J. Cowie G. Cowie Los Angeles Harbor
1
6
1
2
2
83
1865 Jade R. White R. Holcomb West San Francisco
6
2
2
1
3
81
1961 Twin Star L. Pirie R. Miller Wilmette Harbor
5
3
3
3
1
80
1563 Gale H. Nye J. Vilas S. Lake Michigan
3
7
5
5
5
70
1887 Scout III M. Lehman C. Baxter Newport Harbor
4
4
1
4
7
68
1552 Cene C. Ross R. Ross Puget Sound
7
1
7
7
9
64
1975 White Cap III W. Sumner J. Watson San Diego Bay
2
5
4
0
10
55
1628 Roulette L. Dowsett J. Streeton Hawaiian Islands
9
9
10
8
4
55
1702 Fo Fo W. Picken C. Dominy Great South Bay
10
8
9
6
8
54
1921 Warlock N. Martin Mrs. Martin Santa Barbara
8
10
6
13
6
52
  Lulu W. Lewis R. Lewis Santa Monica
15
11
11
9
0
30
1908 Suzette II H. Bloomer J. Anderson L. Ontario American
11
12
12
0
11
30
1876 Kurush II C. de Cardenas M. Bustamente Habana
16
13
13
12
12
29
1331 Kuuipo III H. Uhler R. Pennhallow Waikiki
12
17
14
11
13
28
1937 Brownie A. Brown R. Wilkinson Lake Arrowhead
13
15
15
10
0
23
1755 Pagan C. Gasparich W. Luckert East San Francisco
17
14
17
14
15
18
  Stella Maris J. Smyth W. Hansen Gravesend Bay
18
16
16
16
14
15
1902 Concubine A. deMarigay B. McKinnie Nassau
14
0
0
15
0
9

Winning yacht No. 115O. B - Douglass Canoe Co. Newport Beach, California, 1935.
Ch. Meeting - Wm. Picken Jr. Ch. I.R.C. - G. A. Corry.

Regatta Report from the 1941 Star Class Log

RAMBUNCTIOUS WINS WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP
by JOSEPH C. SMYTH

Jim and Gordon Cowey are Champions of the World. They won the coveted title by consistently good sailing at the World Championship Series, held at San Diego last August.

In the opening race, sailed over a windward-leeward course in a light breeze, Rambunctious was worked into an early lead which she did not relinquish. Walter Sumner in Whitecap emerged from the pack after rounding the windward mark on the first lap, and gave the Cowie Brothers a good race for a while. They pulled farther away on the second lap, however, and finished with a comfortable lead of almost three minutes over Whitecap, which was second. Harry Nye, in Gale, was third, leading Barney Lehman's Scout by half a length. Lockwood Pirie's Twin Star, Bob White's Jade, the Ross Brothers' Cene, Dr. Martin's Warlock, Laurie Dowsett's Roulette and Bill Picken's Fo Fo, in that order, led the remainder of the fleet.

The next day was decidedly on the light weather side, and the race was not finished within the time limit. Cene was leading when the five o'clock gun was fired a signal for a general lowering of sails. It was an unfortunate ending to a well sailed race by the Ross Brothers; and even we, tail-enders, generally glad when something occurs that will give us a chance to better our positions, felt sorry to see a well-earned victory nullified.

There was an ideal breeze as the fleet got off to a good start, on a triangular course for the third race. Cene was well handled again, and, before the first mark was reached, had taken the lead, which she held to the end. She won comfortably and deservedly, and none of us begrudged her the victory after the previous day's disappointment, when, within a few minutes of the finish line, Time, with his malicious scythe, had cut down her laurels. Jade was second, and Twin Star third. They were followed in order by Scout, Whitecap, Rambunctious, Gale, Fo Fo, Roulette, et al. Rambunctious and Whitecap now were tied for first place, with 31 points each, while Cene, Jade, Twin Star, and Scout were tied for second place with 30 points each. With such talent within striking distance of the championship anything could happen.

The second race, resailed, was won by Rambunctious, one minute and nineteen seconds ahead of Jade, which led Twin Star, Whitecap, Gale, Warlock, Cene, Scout, and Fo Fo, in that order. Jade had been worked beautifully from fifth position to second, against stiff competition. Concubine, the Nassau entry, fouled Brownie, of Lake Arrowhead, during a luffing match, and, despite the entreaties of Brownie's skipper, A. S. Brown, Count Marigny lowered his jib, and followed the race as a spectator.

In the fourth race Bob White piloted Jade to a fine victory, and to a position only one point behind Rambunctious, which finished a good second. Twin Star was third in the race and third in the series at this point. Scout finished fourth, followed in quick order by Gale, Fo Fo, and Cene. They were followed by Laurie Dowsett, the young skipper from Hawaii, who handles his boat in splendid fashion, and bids fair to be a contender in future Internationals. The most unfortunate incident in this race was the withdrawal of Whitecap, which, in the starting melee, touched the stake boat. Walter Sumner quickly swung to leeward out of the way, lowered his sails, boarded a power boat, and watched his chance of a World's Championship sail by. Suzette, of the Lake Ontario American Fleet, also caressed a stake boat and withdrew.

The fifth and final race, sailed under ideal conditions, was won by Twin Star, giving her a total of 80 points. Rambunctious was second with a total of 83 points, and Jade was third with a score of 81, leaving Rambunctious with a lead of two points, and the Championship of the World.

The Cowie Brothers are good sailors, and efficient workers under all conditions. They handle their boat in masterly fashion, sail a good, clean race, and usually manage to edge their way to the front. Their boat is not a new one; she was built in 1935. They have little to say for themselves, being decidedly modest. They say that Los Angeles is an ideal spot for an International Series, being just as good as San Diego, which is saying all that need be said.

The San Diego Yacht Club handled the series in an excellent manner and is entitled to the highest praise for the efficient management of such an important event.

Harbor Day began with a get together breakfast at the club. The official Flag Ceremony was at 10 a. m.. Commodore Corry officiating. The proceedings were enlivened by the presence of the United States Naval Training Station Band. In the afternoon there were races for Stars, Starlets, Rainbows, and Flatties, at the Civic Centre. There was a brisk wind in the harbor, and the races were started after an imposing procession of boats had paraded in front of the reviewing stand. The Star event was won in decisive fashion by genial Harry Uhler and his hard-working crew, Dick Penhallow, the Hawaiian boys, in their Kuuipo, which, in the Hawaiian language, means "sweetheart." A display of fireworks in front of the clubhouse was the feature of the evening.

The annual meeting of the 1.S.C.Y.R.A. was held at the San Diego Yacht Club, and was opened by a young gentleman named George Corry, looking eminently fit. After appropriate opening remarks he turned the chair over to Bill Picken, who handled the meeting in excellent fashion. Victor Doyle was appointed Permanent Secretary for the meeting and disposed of his task in his customary efficient manner.

In the evening, the opening banquet was held at the U. S. Grant Hotel, where the diners were addressed by Commodore Corry and prominent city officials. Next day the racing began, and from then on skippers and crews were busy trying to reduce the tantalizing gap between their optimism and the actual performance of their boats. But you know how boats are.

Each boat was given a finishing gun in the last race. By that time, it was a strange sound to some of us, who had not come within earshot of a gun since we had strapped the boat on the trailer back home. As the tow boats brought the Stars toward the clubhouse, a procession was formed, led by the Bonham Brothers' Boys' Band. On arrival at the club house the Cowie brothers were given a traditional ducking by their admirers. And here let us give the two boat captains a hand. One boat was assigned to each pair of Stars, and they handled their charges with exceptional care, and intelligent judgment. And they rooted loyally for them even when it was evident, they were not in the running. I know.

The final banquet was held at the Hotel del Coronado, on the beautiful Island of Coronado and the prizes were awarded by Commodore Corry. Each participating skipper and crew was awarded a plaque with the I.S.C.Y.R.A. insignia, something that we all will treasure. There was plenty of good-natured ribbing as the Commodore introduced skippers and crews individually to the assemblage. Harry Uhler told via microphone how his crew, Dick Penhallow, in a commendable hurry to grab the all-important kelp stick, mistook the Pacific Ocean for the cock-pit, and without waiting to recover his sense of proportion, plunged into the larger of the two, where, if he didn't find a kelp stick, at least he found kelp; and, after all, what good is one without the other? It seemed a fair question. To you, who have not trailed to, in, and from the Series, as I have done, a kelp stick is an innocent looking device used on the better side of this continent, for the purpose of knocking seaweed, or kelp, off your keel-or else.

Dick, in turn, explained the pardonable mistake, in excellent Hawaiian, I hope; and it was a fine tribute to his eloquence that we, who did not understand a word. were thoroughly convinced that Dick's confusion might have been any man's mistake. Cliff Smith was then introduced as a very bashful fellow, who probably would not talk for love or money, but might consider the proposition for a drink, which, when you come to think of it, is something. Without benefit of the first two he proceeded to steal the show with a rapid fire of wit that had the place in a continuous uproar. All in all, it was a pleasurable and memorable evening in a beautiful setting; for the Hotel del Coronado, on the picturesque Island of Coronado, is truly a delightful place.

It is the unanimous opinion of the visiting skippers and crews that San Diego is an ideal place for an important series. The Yacht Club is excellently located. Its officials and members are courteous, helpful, and intelligent, and there is an unmistakable atmosphere of genuine friendliness that seems to reach its fullest emphasis in the West. The climate is all that could be desired. The weather is usually clear after the morning cloudiness, which may sometimes last until ten o'clock. There is generally a nice sailing breeze, which seldom reaches the uncomfortable stage.

The success of the Series is due in large measures to the splendid Race Committee: Commodore Corry, Charles Kelly, Cliff Smith, Gus Lorber, and Leo Benzini. The cooperation of the Coast Guard was at all times excellent and complete; and the conscientious watchfulness of the boys in the stake boats, Art O'Keefe, Charles Allen, and Tom Scripps, rounded out a well-placed array of talent that left nothing to be desired. The haul out system of the club is excellent, and the genial custodian, Capt. Favorite, aptly named, was always ready to put you overboard or get you out on a moment's notice. "Sure enough''!

San Diego, in its quiet, unpretentious way, was perfect.

'Tis not the end, though white sails now are furled,
And all the cherished things are put away.
For this, the cleanest sport in all the world,
'Tis but the night that comes before the day.
And so, though darkness elsewhere has descended,
The wish for brighter days is not in vain.
May we not hope the strife will soon be ended,
And white sails dot the seven seas again.

(From "White Sails," by J. C. Smyth)

#1150 Rambunctious

1940 World Champions Jim and Gordon Cowie

j. cowie world championship