Council of Sailing Associations Ladder Championships
Adult Championships Youth Championships |
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LADDER CHAMPIONSHIPS
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COUNCIL OF U.S. Junior Sailing Championship--The Sears Cup The Sears Cup was first placed in competition in 1921 by Commodore Herbert M. Sears of Eastern Yacht Club., Marblehead, MA. This emblem of Junior Sailing Championship was to be competed for annually by young people between 15 and 18 years of age, whose parents or guardians were members of Massachusetts yacht clubs. In 1922 the Massachusetts yacht club restriction was removed, and crews from Larchmont Yacht Club, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, and Cedarhurst Yacht Club were invited to compete. Eastern Yacht Club continued to conduct a series of matches for the Cup each year through 1930. In 1931 the deed of gift was changed, and the contests are now conducted under the direction of US SAILING and the Council of Sailing Organizations. By action taken in January 1951, final races for the Sears Cup can be conducted by a yacht club or sailing association located anywhere in the United States or North America. Conducted in the fleet racing format, this ladder championship begins at the club level, winners advance through the regional and area championships to the national event. All competitors, male and female, must be between 13 and 18 years of age in the calendar year of competition. U.S. Junior Sailing Championship--The Bemis Trophy The F. Gregg Bemis Trophy was donated by sailors who served as regatta officials with Mr. Bemis for junior and intercollegiate competitions. It was presented in recognition of his many contributions to yacht racing among young sailors in the United States. The competition was first held in 1975. Conducted in the fleet racing format, this ladder championship is held under the direction of US SAILING and the Council of Sailing Associations, and begins at the club level. All competitors, mail and female, must be between 13 and 18 years of age in the calendar year of competition.
U.S. Junior Sailing Championship--The Smythe Trophy Single-handed Championship The D. Verner Smythe Trophy was donated by friends of national junior sailing programs and dedicated to Mr. Smythe in appreciation for his many years of support for junior sailing activities. It was first placed in competition in 1974. Conducted in the fleet racing format, this ladder championship is held under the direction of US SAILING and the Council of Sailing Associations, and begins at the club level. All competitors, mail and female, must be between 13 and 18 years of age in the calendar year of competition.
U.S. Women's Sailing Championship--The Adams Trophy Triple-handed Championship The original Women's Sailing Championship Trophy, the Hodder Cup, was placed in competition by Commodore James R. Hodder of Boston Yacht Club in 1924. In was won by the Cohasset Yacht Club in 1925. William Upham Swan presented the Cup in honor of Mrs. Charles Francis Adams. The trophy was retired in 1929 after being won three times by the Cohasset club. In 1930 Mrs. Adams presented a cup in honor of Mrs.. Charles Francis Adams, and it too was retired in 1934 after being won three times by the Indian Harbor Yacht Club. A perpetual trophy was presented in 1935 to US SAILING (then the North American Yacht Racing Union), but it was destroyed in 1951 when the American Yacht Club in Rye, N.Y., burned down. This was replaced immediately be Henry S. Morgan, Mrs. Adams' son-in-law, the American Yacht Club and the Women's National YRA. Conducted for women skippers and crew in the fleet racing format, this ladder championship is held under the direction of US SAILING and the Council of Sailing Associations, and begins at the club level. The Willis D. Wood Runner-up Trophy is presented to the second place team and the Alexander P. Gest Trophy is awarded to the third place team.
The North American Sailing Championship--The Mallory Cup Clifford D. Mallory was the first president of NAYRU, now US SAILING. The Cup was presented by his family. The first competition was held in 1952 and won by the legendary Cornelius Shields, representing the YRA of Long Island Sound. Conducted in the fleet racing format, this ladder championship is held under the direction of US SAILING and the Council of Sailing Associations, and begins at the club level. Originally a men's event, It is now open to crews of both men and women over the age of 18 in the year of competition.
The U.S. Single-Handed Sailing Championship--The O'Day Trophy In 1962, George D. O'Day donated a trophy bearing his name to NAYRU, now US SAILING, for competition in single-handed dinghies. The first competition was sailed in Finns in Long Island Sound. In recent years, the event has been sailed in Lasers. Conducted in the fleet racing format, this ladder championship is held under the direction of US SAILING and the Council of Sailing Associations, and begins at the club level. In addition to the 10 Area winners, the championship event includes the winners of the U.S. Women's Open, the Junior Olympic Nationals, the Junior Women's Single-handed, intercollegiate and interscholastic champions and an all-military champion are invited to compete. Competitors must be at least 16 years of age in the year of competition.
The U.S. Match Racing Championship--The Prince of Wales Bowl Match racing competition for the Prince of Wales Bowl started in 1931 at the Acadia Yacht Club under the sponsorships of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. The original trophy was retired by the Vineyard Yacht Club in 1937, but in 1965 the same club restored the Prince of Wales Bowl to active competition as a perpetual trophy for interclub match racing in North America. The event begins with match racing between clubs in each of the 38 Regional Sailing Associations around the country. |