George D. O'Day Trophy
Singlehanded racing in North America originally involved for the most part
the occasional sailor competing in the Olympics. It received a boost when
ex-collegiate sailor, John Marvin, won a bronze medal in the 1956 Olympic
Games and the Finn was introduced on a broad scale in North America.
In 1962, friends of George D. O’Day
dedicated a USYRU (now US SAILING) trophy in his name for a national
singlehanded championship. O’Day
was well known to sailors through his company manufacturing small boats,
including a unique version of the Finn, as well as helmsman of the gold
medal winning 5.5 Metre in 1960 at Naples, Italy.
A ladder series event starting at the
club level, The U.S. Singlehanded Championship for the O’Day Trophy is
now also open to men and women representing the Intercollegiate Sailing
Association, Interscholastic Sailing Association (High School sailing),
Youth Championship, and Military.. First sailed on Long Island Sound in
the Finn Class, the championship was won by Peter J. Barrett who, if he
had not lightly touched with his shoulder the rudder of a starboard tack
boat he was ducking in the fifth race, which only he was aware of, would
have won a Gold medal (rather than Silver) in the Finn at the 1964 Olympic
Games. Two-time winners were Gordon (Gordy) Bowers, Jr. of the Minnetonka
Yacht Club, Robert (Robbie) E. Doyle of Marblehead, MA, Shawn Kempton of
Ocean Gate, NJ and Brodie Cobb of Dallas, TX.
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Peter Barrett, the first winner of the
O'Day Trophy in 1962, also competed in three Olympic Games, winning medals
in two:
1964 Silver Finn
Tokyo, Japan
1968 Gold
Star Acapulco, Mexico
Fair play and honesty were more
important to Peter than medals. Peter's only handicap was his
eyesight. When his thick glasses were doused with saltwater, in the
heavy weather he reveled in, sailing was a special challenge. In the
1964 Tokyo Olympics, just after the start of Finn race five, Peter tacked
onto port, ducking sterns. He felt his shoulder lightly touch
the rudder of a starboard tacker but neither the helmsman nor the
other competitors noticed.
Even though only Peter was aware of
the contact, he retired from the race. Staying clear of the fleet,
he sailed to the weather mark, arriving 50 yards ahead of the first
official competitor. Peter was awarded the silver medal, but final
results confirmed that he placed in the top five in the fifth race, he
would have easily won the gold.
Peter loved competition, sailing, his
family, friends, and life. His big grin and nodding head were there
for all whether he beat you or you beat him. With his high standards
of fair play and honesty, and his exceptional toughness and sailing skill,
it is easy to understand the ultimate compliment of North Sails founder,
Lowell North, "Peter Barrett is the best person I have ever known."
Trophy donated in
memory of Peter J. Barrett
by Harken, Inc.
April 22, 2002
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