The U.S. Multihull Championship was conceived by the Multihull Council in the spring of 1985 as a service to multihull racing sailors.
It is intended to determine a U.S. national multihull champion and is sailed annually in various types of multihulls.
The perpetual trophy was presented and named the Alter Trophy in 1986 in honor of Hobie Alter, Sr. and his extraordinary promotion of one-design multihull sailing and racing programs. The U.S. Multihull Championship for the Hobie Alter Trophy has become one of the nation’s major sailing championships, having featured world champions from numerous classes, Olympic medalists and several national champions from the multihull ranks.
In 2004 the Trophy name was changed from “the Alter Cup” to “The Hobie Alter Cup”.
To maintain the integrity of the trophy, it will remain on display or in safe quarters at the National Governing Body of the sport – U.S. Sailing Association
Previous Award Recipients
- 2023 – Bruce Mahoney – A Class – Standard Rig
- 2022 – Lars Guck, Olin Guck – Formula 18
- 2021 – Tom Whitehurst – Formula Wave
- 2019 – Matt Bounds – Hobie 14
- 2018 – Randy Smyth – Weta Trimaran
- 2017 – Phil Collins – Hobie 17
- 2016 – Ken Marshack, Valarie Pioszak – Hobie 18
- 2015 – Michael Easton, Tripp Burd – Formula 18
- 2014 – Lars Guk – A Cat
- 2013 – Enrique Figueroa, Carla Malatrasi – Hobie 16
- 2012 – Sarah Newberry, Kenny Pierce – Formula 16
- 2011 – Matt Struble, Damon Lacasella – Viper F16
- 2010 – Pete Melvin, Nat Shaver – C2 F18
- 2009 – John Casey, John Williams – Viper F16
- 2008 – Nigel Pitt, Alex Shafer – F18
- 2007 – John Casey, John Williams – Blade F16
- 2006 – Robbie Daniel, Hunter Stunzi – Nacra 20 spi
- 2005 – Greg Thomas, Jacques Bernier – Hobie Tiger spi
- 2004 – Mike Montague, Kathy Ward Hobie – 16 no spi
- 2003 – Matt Struble, W.F. Oliver Javelin – F18HT spi
- 2002 – Matt Struble, Domonique Martin – Hobie Tiger spi
- 2001 – Matt Struble, Mike Kletke – Inter 20 spi
- 1999-2000 – Keith Christensen, Shala Youngerman – Hobie 20
- 1998-1999 – Randy Smyth, Keith Notary – Nacra 6.0na
- 1997-1998 – Pete Melvin, Roger Jenkins – Hobie 20
- 1996 – Jeff Newsome, Sandra Tartaglino – Inter 18
- 1995 – Randy Smyth, Jason Sneed – Hobie 20
- 1994 – Bob Curry, Kirk Newkirk – Mystere 6.0
- 1993 – Randy Smyth, Bert Rice – Nacra 5.5
- 1992 – Lake Tahoe, CA Larry Suter, Nick Scandone – Hobie 20
- 1991 – Carlton Tucker, Sean Donnelly – Prindle 19
- 1990 – Randy Smyth, Glenn Purcell – Prindle 18-2
- 1989 – Alan Egusa, Paul Parizeau – Hobie 21
- 1988 – Carlton Tucker, Mary Alice Tucker – Hobie 18
- 1987 – Carlton Tucker, Jarrett Melvin – Nacra 5.7