While youth and women had had national, ladder-system championships for a quarter century, it was not until 1952 that a similar championship for men eighteen years and older was established during Robert N. Bavier, Jr.’s tenure as Executive Director of NAYRU. The family of Clifford D. Mallory, who revived NAYRU in 1925, provided a magnificent sterling silver tureen, purportedly from the estate of Lord Nelson but according to the hallmarks more likely executed after his death for his brother. It was immediately popular, with twenty of the twenty-three district associations competing in the inaugural match won by Cornelius Shields of the Larchmont Yacht Club. The next year, the regulations were relaxed to permit female members in the crew but not at the helm.

Notable winners were Harry C. (Buddy) Melges, Jr. of the Inland Lake Yachting Association and Zak Fanberg of Bay Waveland, both of whom have won three times in a row, while Eugene H. Wallet, III of New Orleans, Glenn Darden of the Texas Yachting Association and Michael Turner of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club who each won two straight. Scott Young of Texas has won six times, twice as crew and four times as skipper.

• Mallory Winners 
• Sportsmanship and Seamanship Trophy Winners
• Mallory Deed of Gift