 The George R.
Hinman Trophy is one of US SAILING's most prestigious championships.
US SAILING’s first national team race championship was held in 1981. It grew
out of a regatta initiated by Sailing World magazine and was so successful that it
was adopted by US SAILING.
The trophy was donated in recognition of
George R.
Hinman’s many years of service and contributions to yachting. He was a member of the
crew that won the second championship for the Sears Cup, a top ranking sailor in the
International One-Design Class and for many years in the forefront of Long Island Sound
frostbite dinghy racing. He sailed many ocean races and took part in the America’s
Cup in various capacities as helmsman, syndicate manager and chairman of the
America’s Cup (selection) Committee. A former President of NAYRU
(now US SAILING), he also was a Vice
President of the International Yacht Racing Union (now ISAF).
The U.S. Team Racing Championship is raced in three-boat/six-person teams.
It has enjoyed several formats. Initially, 12-18 teams were selected based on resumes. Soon it became so popular that it
was changed to a ladder event in the hope of encouraging more local team
racing. Ladder events require a lot of time for the winning team which
conflicts with busy work schedules of the younger people who typically
sail the Hinman. As a result, the format was changed to an 'invitation
based upon team resume' event.
When
Gary Bodie became Chairman of the US SAILING Team Racing Championship Committee
in 1992, he
restored the popularity of the event making it the hottest event in the
country for the post-collegiate group of sailors. Brad Dellenbaugh became
Chairman in 1996. As a keen competitor and college coach, Brad contributed
wise insight into the fun aspects of the Hinman
and enhanced its prestige worldwide. Brad bid to host the Team Race
Worlds in 1998 in Miami and ran a brilliantly successful regatta with
Gary Bodie as Race Committee chairman. Brad and Gary continue to be strong
advocates of team racing worldwide and are supporting the bid to include
team racing in a future Olympics. Betsy Altman became the Chairman of the
event in 2000 and in 2004, Gavin O'Hare became Chair..
You will
recognize the names of Hinman
participants and winners. They are the best and brightest of our younger
sailors. Kevin
Hall and Zach Leonard have sailed on four winning teams and Mike Zani and Megan Bohlen on
three. The list of competitors is studded with stars such as Terry McLaughlin (Canada),
Peter Isler, Steve Benjamin, Dave Ullman, Dave and Brad Dellenbaugh, John
Kolius, Ed Adams
– to name a few. Recently, we had a discussion about the first
umpires. We think the first umpired event was in 1990 at Encinal YC, Alameda, CA, where USTRA was formed, and the event went away
from being a ladder qualification regatta. This was likely the
first Hinman under Gary Bodie's chairmanship. He remembers that he
tried to be both an umpire and regatta organizer, and quickly learned
that was a big mistake. Newport RI and Hyannis came next, both
umpired. Gary is almost certain that the Hinman he hosted at USNA in
Annapolis previous to his chairmanship was not umpired. And, he is
certain that the Hinman he competed in at San Francisco YC in Belvedere
previous to that was not umpired. He remembers waiting around for
protest decisions.... the last time that happened at a Hinman.
Section
of Competitors and Regatta Sites
The U.S. Team Racing Championship attracts the best
team racers in the country. There are no automatic qualifiers but the
winner of the U.K. Wilson Trophy team racing
regatta and winners
of the ISSA and ICYRA Team Racing Championships are encouraged to apply.
Up to 24 teams will be selected and local teams are encouraged to
apply. The winner of the
championship is encouraged to apply to the Wilson Trophy, as
well.
In
even numbered years, the Hinman
serves as the U.S. selection trials for the ISAF World Team Racing
Championship that is held in the following odd number year. The
qualifiers are generally held in the middle of the country so that teams
can fly from either coast to participate. The qualifiers
alternate from the Midwest region to the gulf coast southern area. In odd
numbered years, the Hinman is run
alternately on the east and west coast and attempts are made to move the
regatta around those regions to encourage participation. Winners qualify
for the Wilson Trophy to be held in the following even number year.
If you are interested in hosting and running
the U.S. Team Racing Championship, please contact
Gavin
O'Hare, Chair.
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