1954 World Championship - Cascais, Portugal
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.
1954 - AT CASCAIS
Skipper Crew Yacht Fleet Daily Finish Pts.
C. de Cardenas de Cardenas Jr Kurush V Habana 1 1 1 2 1 169
D. Knowles S. Farrington Gem II Nassau 6 5 2 3 4 155
A. Straulino N. Rode Merope II *Se-Ve-Taranto 2 4 4 10 5 150
C. W. Lyon Jr O. P. Merrill Vega IV Barnegat Bay 8 2 6 4 7 148
A. de Cardenas J. de Cardenas Kurush IV Marianao 5 3 11 5 3 148
D. Bello J. Tito Fanece Cascais 3 16 3 1 12 146
W. Parks R. Halperin Citation S. Lake Michigan 15 9 5 8 2 136
T. Nordio L. Sangulin Asterope Trieste 9 6 7 14 11 128
J. Fiuza J. Gorinho Espedarte II Lisbon 7 8 8 11 16 126
P. Fischer Baron v.Stempel Paka VI Hambury 16 10 13 9 10 117
P. Chancerel M. Parent Gam II Seine 4 Wdr 9 7 6 116
D. Salats G. Barnao Nuvola Rossa Lario 19 19 12 13 8 104
M. Rivelli R. Camardella Faneca Formia 12 11 21 12 17 102
J. Pontual A. Torres Xodo IV Guanabara Dsq 22 16 6 9 87
F. Mercier G. Pisani Vega VII Villefranche 23 23 14 24 13 78
M. J. Gautier J. L. Domerc Katia II Safi 17 26 20 15 19 78
J. Peytel G. deMontebello Myra II Paris 20 20 19 17 23 76
S. Carlsson O. Carlsson Mari Rasta 28 Dsq 15 16 14 67
Y. Lorion J. Hanin Aloha VI Algiers 13 12 17 - - 63
C. Ulmer C. R. Ulmer Scylla East River 14 21 27 Wdr 15 63
L. Roboredo D. Roboredo Luti Porto 18 21 24 21 25 62
A. Cosentino N. Stella Merope Ischia 11 7 26 Dsq Wdr 61
C. Boselli D. Massa Anna I Alto Lario 21 28 29 18 18 61
P. Hansohm D. Dotzer Petrea II Kiel 22 15 10 Wdr Dns 58
P. H. Smart P. G. Smart Melody C. Long Island Sound 29 13 Wdr 20 22 56
E. Mendonca E. Cruz Candide Vila Franca 10 17 22 Wdr - 56
S. H. N. Tay Y. Aillou Gamm Casablanca 25 18 Wdr 22 21 54
J. Mitchell Mrs. Mitchell Twinkle Solent 24 27 30 19 24 51
M. Neiva V. Demaison Rig II Rio de Janeiro 26 24 23 Dsq 20 47
Lotar deDruet A. Ravazano Pilantra D. Federal 30 14 18 Wdr Wdr 43
Roux-Delimal A. deBokay Damoiselle II Arcachon 27 29 28 23 27 41
Prince Bira G. Dagonnot Tichiboo Cannes 33 Wdr 25 Wdr 26 21
C. Metral Mme. F. Thieck Itrane Rabat 31 Wdr Wdr 25 - 14
R. Taylor O. Ricupero Frisette S. Olivos 32 Wdr - - - 3
Winning yacht No. 3376. B - Old Greenwich Boat Works, 1953.
Ch. Meeting - Paul Smart. Ch. I.R.C. - Beppe Croce.
Regatta Report
The World's Championship having been held in Europe for three consecutive years, it had to leave the continent after 1954. Habana and Nassau were practically tied on aggregate points, or to be more exact, de Cardenas and Knowles were tied. An entry from the U.S. might take it with an outright win, but that seemed unlikely. Lippincott took quite a beating in '52 and the best U.S. entry only placed eleventh in '53. That an African, Australian or South American skipper could win outright was not even considered.
What actually happened, and I guess everyone knows it by now, was that Charlie de Cardenas at long last achieved his life's ambition and won a gold Star. Charlie competed in his first World's Championship twenty-five years ago. He has not entered every year during that quarter of a century, but he has been in more World's Championships than any other Star member. Sharing the honors, of course, was his oldest boy, Carlos, Jr. The latter made his debut as crew in the event twelve years ago, when he was only knee high to a marlin spike.
Charlie had no intention of messing around with any aggregate point nonsense. He just went out and did it up brown with four firsts and one second, coming within a single point of a perfect score. And there indeed you do have a record, for no one has ever done it before. Our international president's victory was without a doubt the most popular of all victories. It was also one of the greatest things that could have happened for the class. Fair, fat and over fifty, Charlie proved that the younger element can be beaten. It should lift the morale of many an old timer, who was becoming discouraged. Furthermore Charlie is a Simon pure. It will stop all that nonsensical talk about only those being connected in the sail or boat building business being able to win. Charlie was wined and dined all over Europe and if he ever survives the reception planned by Habana it will be a wonder.
Before I forget, Durward Knowles was runner-up and Agostino Straulino placed third. I have been told by President Smart that the courses could not have been better and the races were run perfectly. Our European brothers outdid themselves for three years in efficient management and lavish entertainment. Those fellows came to the U.S.A. for many years. They probably felt that the odds were overwhelmingly against them because there were so many American fleets entered. It was high time that they held the World's Championship for the time limit allowed by the rules. The event was much more international in character than in the past, because of the many fleets from countries that were within a reasonable distance.
The record breaking entry of 1951 was not approached, but that is unimportant. There was no longer the feeling that two fleet entries from a given country should team up and help each other. Nothing in my humble opinion could have been more beneficial for the Star class than those three years. This brings us up-to-date, with fabulous Habana to look forward to in 1955 and with a greater fraternal feeling existing throughout the I.S.C.Y.R.A. than ever before.
- Report by George Elder
