The event is renamed the Walker Cup for Harry Walker, Star Class Rear Commodore, who passed away last fall.

Harry Walker Sails on with Walker Cup
By Connie Bischoff In the Star Class District 20, the popular Biscayne Trophy Regatta hosted by Coral Reef Yacht Club has been replaced with the Walker Cup. It honors CRYC Member Harry Walker who passed away this Fall. Harry, our past Star Class Rear Commodore, was an enthusiastic Star sailor for 71 years. As we all know, Harry never stopped sailing. At the age of 87, he won the top Exalted Grand Master award and finished 18th overall out of 39 boats in the 2008 Zagarino Star Masters.

In 1983, Harry won the South American Championship with crew Dave Perry in Puerto Azul, Venezuela. He earned his Silver Star and took home a keeper trophy, a spectacular silver globe with the continents etched on the surface. The globe is mounted on an ornate silver Dolphin on top of a wooden base. Of all the trophies won in a lifetime of yacht racing, this was Harry’s favorite. For the Walker Cup, Harry's widow, Thea Walker, donated the beloved trophy to Star District 20 and Coral Reef Yacht Club where it will reside in the trophy case.

Thirty two Star boats competed in the first Walker Cup Regatta on January 24 and 25. The sailing on Saturday was “Miami perfect” with lots of sun, a bright blue sky and winds varying from 10 to 12 knots. On Sunday, Regatta PRO Rich Raymond wisely kept the Stars onshore as he explored Biscayne Bay searching for wind. That allowed the celebration of the new Walker Cup to begin a bit earlier than usual.

The top winners were Peter O’Leary and Tim Goodbody from Cork, Ireland. California’s Jim Buckingham and Eric Lidecis from the Newport Harbor Fleet took 2nd with Rick Merriman from Lake Hopatcong Fleet, New Jersey and Phil Trinter from Southern Lake Erie Fleet, Ohio in 3rd. The top Master team was from Canada with Brian Cramer as skipper and Taylor Bjorn as crew.