ARMS‑WHITE REGATTA
Arms Trophy To Winning Skipper
White Trophy To Winning Crew
Doug and Bob Schofield, Winners of the 2002 and 2003 Arms-White Regatta
The Arms-White series is named after two sailors from the Central Long Island Sound Star fleet, John Taylor Arms and Elwood S. White. In 1937 John Arms donated the Arms Trophy and in 1942 the family of Elwood White donated the White Trophy for the winning crew of the Arms series. The series, originally known as the Noroton Race Week, was sailed out of the C.L.I.S. Fleet until 1969, and then was relocated to Mid-Conn in 1970. The historical account of the C.L.I.S. Fleet written in 1947 by Harold Nash has the following account:
NOROTON RACE WEEK
In the Winter of 1936‑37, Mr. John Taylor Arms approached Paul Smart, Commodore of the Noroton Yacht Club and Harold Nash, Fleet Secretary, with a suggestion to inaugurate an open series in the early Summer.
Mr. Arms offered to present a perpetual trophy for the event and to assist with the incidental prizes. His idea was that it should be a tuning‑up series of the three red chevron or Class C category; that it should always be held under the auspices of the C.L.I.S. with the Noroton Yacht Club as host.
This idea received the sanction of the I.S.C.Y.R.A. and was held for the first time in 1937. The series was to consist of five races ending on the Sunday before July 4th.
The response to this event was immediate and heartening. Forty‑two boats crossed the starting line, which was almost a record. Mr. Arms, whose son was then Fleet Captain for the fourth successive year, had taken a great interest in the class and hoped that the entry list would some day pass the 50 mark.
To date, this goal has not been reached. In 1939 a peak entry list of 49 was attained but, due to the war, it fell off and reached a low of 23 in 1942. Due to the rationing of gasoline and other factors, it was considered to be a patriotic duty to discontinue the series in 1943 and 1944.
Definite interest was shown by W.L.I.S. in the resumption of Noroton Race Week and one of the clubs in that district was considering an open Spring series in the event that C. L. L S. did not hold theirs.
So, for the benefit of those who lived near by and who would enjoy the contest as a diversion from war duties, the series was raced in 1945 with war bonds and savings stamps as prizes. The entry list was short but it was considered to be entirely worth while.
1946 dawned as the first year of peace when many of the boys were coming home and war restrictions were off. There were 27 starters, ten of which came from Western and Southern Long Island Sound and Great South Bay Fleets. The best C.L.I.S. could do against these invaders was a fifth place, E. W. Etchells and his wife from W.L.I.S. capturing the cup.
In 1947 the entry list jumped to 48. Noroton Race Week had returned to form and it again looks possible to reach Mr. Arms' hope of seeing 50 contestants start together. Etchells and his wife again took first honors with three firsts out of the five races.
This event has always been held in an atmosphere of informality, taking on the nature of a community house party. Entries from distant places are lodged in the dwellings of local residents; teas and supper parties are held both at the club and at private homes and a friendly spirit prevails throughout. While the best skippers fight hard for first honors, the others are glad of the opportunity to compete against such good sailors and to use the contest for the purpose Mr. Arms had in mind to tune their boats up for better performance in their local fleets during the Summer.
Some skippers have suggested that a method be devised whereby the fleet is divided into two sections. It has generally been considered, however, that the large number of boats create a thrill that can only be had in such an informal event as this. Besides being an unsatisfactory compromise in many respects, such a division would deprive some members of racing against the boats which they want most to observe. So far, this thought has not been given serious consideration.
Of the nine series held to date, Stan Ogilvy won three and Skip. Etchells two. W.L.I.S. has been able to take the cup seven times while C.L.I.S. kept it only twice. Peconic‑Gardiners Bay and Southern Long Island Sound Fleets each won a second place.
In 1942, John Hazen White offered a perpetual trophy in memory of his father, Elwood S. White, who had acted as his faithful crew for many years. This trophy was to be presented to the crew of the winning boat of the Noroton Race Week each year. Blair Kinsman, jib‑sheet tender for Paul Smart, was the first to have his name engraved on this trophy. Since then, two women, Wilma Bell and Mary Etchells, have added their names.
On the mornings of the regatta, special events such as Ladies, Junior and Crew Races were held. These added to the fun and interest of many who otherwise would have had to be content with watching or tending jib sheets.
Past Winners
2018 8013 L. Barth C. Easley LG
2017 8490 J.A. MacCausland Guy Avellon CR
2016 8358 B. Sternberg J. Revkin CLIS
2015 8328 T. Hornos J. Revkin BH
2014 8291 W. Swigart B. Fatih CLIS
2013 7728 Pete Cusick D. Plominski CLIS
2012 8395 J.A. MacCausland T. Raynor CR
2011 8395 J.A. MacCausland T. Raynor CR
2010 8395 J.A. MacCausland K. Murphy CR
2009 8186 Erin J.A. MacCausland K. Murphy CR
2008 Palmer L.S. P. McChesney K. Gardner AN
2007 8186 Erin J.A. MacCausland Robert Schofield CR
2006 8186 Erin J.A. MacCausland K. Murphy CR
2005 8186 Erin J.A. MacCausland K. Murphy CR
2004 8186 Erin J.A. MacCausland Brian Fatih CR
2003 8131 Doug Schofield Robert Schofield AN
2002 7876 Betsy Ross Doug Schofield Robert Schofield AN
2001 7988 Peter Bromby Martin Siese Iso/BER
2000 8024 Erin J.A. MacCausland George Iverson CR
1999 7847 Rosebud Cafe John Safford Joe Chambers CA
1998 7862 J.A. MacCausland Kevin Murphy CR
1997 7862 J.A. MacCausland George Iverson CR
1996 7782 Joe Zambella Sokolich BH
1995 7773 J.A. MacCausland Robert MacCausland CR
1994 7681 J.A. MacCausland Robert MacCausland CR
1993 7468 Ron Sandstrom Dave O'Brien BH
1992 7261 J.A. MacCausland Bresh CR
1991 7468 Ron Sandstrom Jeff Bresnahan BH
1990 7409 J.A. MacCausland Todd Raynor CR
1989 7127 Andrew Menkart Chris Rogers WS
1988 Danger Jack Button John Densmore Mid
1987 Zig Zag Frank Zagarino Bob Lippincott BisB
1986 6378 Ed Adams Tom Olsen NB
1985 6963 Ed Adams Tom Olsen NB
1984 Renegade J.A. MacCausland Robert MacCausland CR
1983 Morning Star Whit Batchelor Wooodside Mid
1982 6052 Schaefer City Jack Lombard Bob Lombard Mid
1981 Golden Eagle J.A. MacCausland Ricky. Pepiak CR
1980 Rampage Steve Andrews Louise Andrews HB
1979 Angel Clare Peter Conrad Allan Romfeldt Mid
1978 Snowflake James Allsopp Beek AN
1977 Jitters James Allsopp Allsopp CB
1976 Arriba Peter Beam Phillip Beam SLIS
1975 Rampage Steve Andrews Louise Andrews HB
1974 C.R. Farquhar Michael Flynn George Flynn ELIS
1973 One Over Par Russell Bogie Alexanderson SLG
1972 Moody Blue Steven Haarstick A. Lippincott Ith
1971 Guacharo Peter Beam Phillip Beam SLIS
1970 Raison D'Etre Whit Batchelor McGivny Mid
1969 Blue Moon Steven Haarstick Horton Ith
1968 Heather Bill Lynn McWorter WLIS
1967 Cymbal E. Chester Peet Mary Peet WLIS
1966 Diablo Richard Gordon Mirk Mid
1965 Envy Kevin Jaffe Wilson CLIS
1964 Storm Bruce Gaillard WLIS
1963 4340 Aquarius Mead Batchelor Sumner Mid
1962 Shanty Skip Etchells Mary Etchells CLIS
1961 4125 Shandon Skip Etchells Gilchrist CLIS
1960 3869 Sirene Ken Smith Swanton HB
1959 2700 Flame Stan Ogilvy Stueck WLIS
1958 3340 Kismet Mead Batchelor Tufts Mid
1953 2700 Flame Stan Ogilvy Bill Lynn WLIS
1952 October Bob Smith Bud Smith CLIS
1951 2700 Flame Stan Ogilvy Johnson WLIS
1950 2125 Shillalah Skip Etchells Mary Etchells CLIS
1949 Wahini Patrick O'Gorman Donaldson WLIS
1948 2125 Shillalah John White Skip Etchells WLIS
1947 2125 Shillalah Skip Etchells Mary Etchells WLIS
1946 2125 Shillalah Skip Etchells Mary Etchells WLIS
1945 Wahini Arthur Knapp Wilma Bell CLIS
1942 1310 Melody Paul Smart Blair Kinsman CLIS
1941 1951 Phryne Maxwell WLIS
1940 1776 Spirit Stan Ogilvy WLIS
1939 1750 Reileen W. McHugh CLIS
1938 626 Jay Stan Ogilvy WLIS
1937 626 Jay Stan Ogilvy WLIS
Steve and Louise Andrews holding the Arms (Steve) and White (Louise) trophies after they won them in 1975. They won the series again in 1980.
