1981 World Championship - Marblehead, MA, USA
The following results are from the Star Logs. Starting with 1977 frequently only yacht numbers were given. The last time both yacht numbers and yacht names were given was 1989. In later years sometimes, fleet designations were omitted. In these cases some of the more obvious fleet designations were supplied. Also from time to time only last names were supplied. First names, where known, were added.
Results
Place No. Skipper Crew Fleet Daily Places Pts. 1 6498 Alexander Hagen Vincent Hoesch Gluecksburger 1 7 5 3 5 6 37.4 2 6281 Peter Wright Todd Cozzens S. L. Michigan 7 4 1 dsq 10 2 40 3 6560 Bill Buchan Jr Ron Anderson Puget Sound 2 3 12 11 20 3 49.4 4 6450 Tom Blackaller David Shaw WSFB 3 23 3 6 13 4 50.1 5 6687 Bo Binkhorst Rob Douze Holland 5 5 4 24 dsq 10 74 6 6432 Andy Menkart Steve Calder Boston Harbor dns 13 9 5 26 1 76 7 6573 Giorgio Gorla Alfio Peraboni Lario 4 6 34 2 16 26 76.7 8 6566 Uwe von Below Wolf Sellig Gluecksburger 16 32 25 4 12 7 92 9 6437 Albino Fravezzi Oscar Dalvit South Garda 23 8 6 dsq 14 13 93.7 10 6415 S. Wennerstrom Sture Christensson Biscayne Bay 27 2 33 15 17 9 95 11 6388 John Dane Fred May New Orleans 8 41 19 19 1 33 103 12 6680 Vincent Brun Hugo Schreiner San Diego Bay 10 9 16 7 dsq 39 111 13 6496 Joachim Griese Jurgen Homeyer Kieler 14 29 60 9 2 34 113 14 6470 Jochen Schwarz Ulrich Seeberger Starnbergersee 11 31 8 30 15 45 125 15 6463 Peter O'Donnell Richard Coxon Pittwater 28 10 22 26 dnf 11 127 16 6464 Tryg LiljestrandBengt Andersson Los Angeles Hbr 21 39 13 1 43 40 137 17 6575 Barton Beek Bill Munster Los Angeles Hbr 12 24 11 12 dsq 48 137 18 6738 Buddy Melges Andreas Josenhans S. L. Michigan 22 49 2 dnf 7 32 137 19 6056 John Boyce Pete Milliken Norfolk Broads 31 30 10 dsq 4 37 140 20 6665 Aldo Migliaccio Donato Pagliarulo Napoli 39 45 32 14 8 20 143 21 6547 Stefan Winberg Stefan Sundquist Stockholm 13 43 17 dnf 3 41 143.7 22 6674 Eduardo Farre Alberto Zanetti Olivos 56 11 23 61 9 15 144 23 6667 John King Marcos Temke Copacabana 34 18 14 25 24 36 145 24 6209 Colin Bate Phil Smidmone Pittwater dns 20 15 25 18 50 153 25 6567 Heinz Nixdorf Josef Pieper Moehnesse 18 68 18 28 44 22 160 26 6730 Peter Scheel Camilo Carvalho Sao Paulo 19 21 7 40 dsq 43 160 27 6651 Hans Wallen Henrik Dubois Kattegat 15 1 dsq 8 dsq 29 161 28 6505 Ch. Corbishley Doug Weatherby Ithaca 47 44 20 13 45 12 164 29 6200 Harry W. Walker David Perry Sandpiper Bay 57 16 28 59 19 18 168 30 6253 Mats Johansson Ingemar Jansson Onsala 37 22 21 53 25 35 170 31 6532 Joe Zambella Leo Dawson Boston Harbor 6 33 40 46 21 64 175.7 32 6544 Gastao Brun Steven Bakker Rio de Janeiro 29 82 52 10 27 28 176 33 6719 Paul Riley Jr Bill Butz Jr S. L. Michigan 50 26 53 36 11 23 176 34 6429 Mark Reynolds Ed Trevelyan San Diego Bay 9 75 dnf 27 6 30 176.7 35 6700 Rob Maine III Terry Bowman S. L. Michigan 38 25 37 34 dsq 14 178 36 6708 William Parks Greg Cook S. L. Michigan 26 17 dnf 43 42 24 182 37 6770 Bill Gerard Billy Matson Santa Barbara 55 53 43 32 21 5 183 38 5563 Alex Smigelski Chuck Tripp Lake Hopatcong 20 27 48 22 36 dnf 183 39 6280 William Allen Bill Kinell Gull Lake 17 12 44 dnf 34 49 186 40 6644 Shawn Killeen Conrad Kuebel New Orleans 43 35 36 21 33 dns 198 41 6414 J.M. MacCauslandJ.A. MacCausland Jr Cooper River 32 37 dsq 42 32 25 198 42 6364 Ian Ford Geoffery Davidson Sydney 45 62 41 39 28 16 199 43 6356 R. Roellenbleg Deter Wuerdig Starnbergersee 35 64 30 33 60 21 209 44 6315 Stephen Gould John Mann WSFB 24 15 dsq 29 dsq 54 237 45 6302 George Thomas Don Harris C. Lake Erie 33 42 50 47 38 dnf 240 46 6576 Ben Staartjes Ko van den Berg Holland 25 46 dsq 18 dsq 38 242 47 6581 Patrick DeBarrosManuel Ricciardi Cascais 53 36 35 53 35 dnf 242 48 6637 Steve Andrews John Raymont Huntington Bay 46 72 27 37 dsq 31 243 49 6466 Dave McCalley Mike Barney Los Angeles Hbr 42 59 38 54 23 61 246 50 6556 Knight Coolidge Dale Hoffman S. L. Michigan dnf 65 26 38 dnf 8 252 51 6530 Peter Costa David O'Brien Boston Harbor 36 58 45 16 dsq 69 254 52 6357 Bob Westcott John McManus Senaca Lake 51 66 68 56 31 27 261 53 6579 P. Migliaccio Antonio Bottini Napoli 64 19 54 44 dsq 52 263 54 6732 A. Osterwalder Juergen Maly Rapperswil 44 48 47 dsq 51 44 264 55 5989 T. Lippincott Dick Martin Eastern Shore M 40 51 63 dnf 39 42 265 56 5716 S. Prinsenberg D. Prinsenberg Lake Ontario, C 41 56 39 41 dsq 58 265 57 6397 Chuck Lamphere Robert Lamphere S. L. Michigan 49 14 70 35 dsq 72 270 58 6657 Justo Frazer Hector Longarela Olivos 30 50 49 57 dsq 55 271 59 6605 Dierk Thomsen Wulf Mehner Gluecksburger 52 40 46 49 dsq 59 276 60 6701 Peter D. SiemsenTorben S. Grael Copacabana dsq 47 dsq 23 29 63 277 61 6468 Dave Cook Robert Cook Lake Sunapee 54 54 51 50 47 65 286 62 6661 Robert Seltzer Charles Hurlbut S. Lake Erie 48 55 42 64 52 62 289 63 6636 Tom Adams William Richard Wilmette Harbor dnf 52 59 17 dsq 47 290 64 6236 Andy Ivey Jim Nichol Lake Sunapee 61 77 61 69 54 19 294 65 6333 John Grether Tracy Usher Santa Barbara 62 63 57 31 dsq 51 294 66 5927 Jack Button John Button Mid Connecticut dnf 38 31 68 57 71 295 67 5787 Gary MacDonald David Winkler Boston Harbor 58 28 dnf 51 dsq 46 298 68 6310 David Robinson John Robinson Lake Sunapee dnf 73 65 65 50 17 300 69 6203 John Hackman Don Alexander Solent 63 71 58 63 30 57 301 70 6557 Frank Zagarino Frank Egger Biscayne Bay dnf 34 29 45 dnf dns 308 71 5940 William Kieser Hans Bucher Carter Lake 66 78 69 55 40 53 313 72 6057 William Farrar John Sibander Lake Hopatcong dnf 69 24 61 55 75 314 73 6521 Thorsten Cook Mark Dolan CLIS dnf 67 67 48 41 66 319 74 5924 Dave Gaillard Jack Levendahl Chesapeake Bay 59 79 55 71 49 56 320 75 6077 Dave Ivey Jon Blom Lake Sunapee dnf 57 72 67 53 67 346 76 6476 Werner Holtze Regina Holtze Cayuga Lake 67 76 56 66 58 70 347 77 6175 F. de Abreu Galba Filho Sao Paulo 60 60 dsq dsq 37 dnf 357 78 6735 Tom Drew-Bear Robert Franza Caracas 65 61 64 70 dsq 68 358 79 5647 Hilary Smart John Huntsman Cape Ann 68 70 dns 58 dsq 60 371 80 6336 At Atkinson Thor Kieser Continental D. 69 dsq 71 73 56 73 372 81 5467 John R. McGann John C. McGann Continental D. 70 74 66 74 dnf 74 388 82 5496 Steve Kling Rolf Zeisler West Shore M 71 80 dnf 75 59 76 391 83 6739 Luis Bustelo Santiago Gonzalez Olivos dnf 84 dns 72 48 dnf 404 84 6320 Gerry Cayne Dick Atkinson East River dnf 81 62 62 dsq dnf 405
Regatta Report
By Ernie Hanmer (From the 1982 Star Class Log)
On Alex’s boat Bucephalus, # 6498, the traveler was placed on the transom. His was one of the early boats to do so. It wouldn’t be another 10 years until people started to eliminate the traveler altogether.
In a cliff hanger that wasn't decided until near the end of the final race, Alexander Hagen and Vincent Hoesch of West Germany finally pulled it out to win the 1981 Star Class World Championship in September at Marblehead, Massachusetts. In a variety of conditions from drifters to blasters the 84 entries got the full treatment. There was too much of a lot of things: tidal currents, shifting winds, broken masts, long days on the water and Stars that broke their mooring strings merrily careening through a crowded anchorage. All this was mixed with a marvelously organized program arranged by the members and friends of Eastern Yacht Club at Marblehead. The Eastern ranks among the oldest and most prestigious clubs. One hundred ten years of history includes America's Cup involvement and all the rest of the best of yachting.
There is no Star Fleet currently sailing out of Marblehead; but from the beginning of measurement September 14 through the final race Saturday September 26 the club and its facilities were entirely devoted to the Stars. One would have thought they never did anything else, so well were they organized. The measurement went smoothly, with the usual problems with sails, rudders, etc., and then to the end of the pier and a final drop off the edge of the world into the harbor and off to a mooring for the week. No haul outs, and almost no complaining about it.
The tune-up race Friday Sept. 18th gave the contestants and the race committee a chance to get acquainted with each other and with their own problems. Naturally the wind died to a drifter so no conclusion was reached.
Saturday greeted us with a gale of wind and pouring rain for the flag raising ceremony in front of the club, overlooking the harbor. Welcoming remarks by Eastern Yacht Club Commodore Stephen Connolly and Star Class President Malin Burnham were followed by a telegram from Senator Edward Kennedy addressed "Dear Don" to Don Blodgett, Regatta Chairman, expressing regrets at missing the ceremony.
The Marblehead Artillery in full Revolutionary battledress sloshed to their cannon and fired a couple of rounds from the three pounder. I probably imagined the sound of breaking glass across the half mile wide harbor. A Dixieland band played as the flags of the various nations represented were raised. In spite of the weather, it was a colorful enjoyable opening ceremony followed by a chowder buffet in the clubhouse. A well attended and spirited annual meeting of the Class was held later
First Race
Sunday, September 20, the day of the first race, saw the wind continue to blow fresh about twenty five knots at the start. Binkhorst of Holland drew first blood, leading the race at the first mark, with Joe Zambella, a local entry from Boston next, followed closely by Melges, the 1978-79 Champ, Blackaller the 1980 Champ, and Barton Beek. On the reach Melges and Blackaller moved into the lead with Binkhorst dropping to third and Buchan and Peter Wright fourth and fifth. On the next reach a whole new set of heroes appeared at the leeward mark with Alex Hagen in the lead, Dane, Gorla, Brun and Beek in the first five spots.
The wind moderated just a little, and Hagen held on to win narrowly over Buchan and Blackaller, Gorla 4th and Binkhorst 5th, Zambella and Wright 6th and 7th. Hagen and his crew Vincent Hoesch are not the giants supposedly required for Star sailing in a breeze but nevertheless showed the form that was to win them the series. The heavy air took its toll with five masts over the side and a boom broken. Melges rolled to weather on the run, stabbed the ocean with the whisker pole exploding his jib, and couldn't keep up to windward without it, dropping to the twenties.
After the race a cocktail party was held at the club along with a genuine lobster and clam bake to everyone's delight.
Second Race
Another beautiful day with less wind, 10-15 kts. from the west and cold. Yesterday's damage was all repaired. It was a beautiful start with Melges at the pin end just about a boat length more beautiful than the race committee would allow, so he had to restart and never recovered. Hans Wallen and Henrik DuBois went right for a big lead on the first leg while most of the fleet went left and left they were, in the dust. Blackaller was only able to recover to 20th. Wallen sailing beautifully held on to win the race over Stig Wennerstrom with Buchan and Wright 3rd and 4th, Binkhorst, Gorla and Hagen close behind. Buchan now leads the series with Hagen 2nd, Gorla, Binkhorst and Wright all close for the first five places.
Next day blew a gale. A number of Stars came adrift from their moorings and banged their way through the harbor until the club launches could rescue them and return them to their mooring, tied with genuine rope this time. That night one of the highlights of the week was the cocktail party and trophy presentation at the Peabody Museum in nearby Salem. Even without witches, it was a barnburner of a party. Many past world champions showed up and were introduced, including Arthur Knapp who donated some of his memorabilia to the Star Class including his original 1930 Gold Star.
Third Race
Tuesday's gale postponed the third race until Wednesday when the weather improved a little. It was a cold grey day, with rain off and on throughout the race, wind north 15-18 knots, and a rough sea. Peter Wright, with Todd Cozzens aboard, led all the way, increasing his lead on each leg. On the last beat a major wind shift to the left upset the applecart. Hans Wallen, winner of the second race, nosed out Wright only to learn that he had been disqualified for a premature start, along with six others who failed to return and restart. Thirteen were over early in this race and six came back.
Wright's win gave him a narrow lead over Hagen, Buchan and Binkhorst at the halfway point in the series. Melges, second in this race, and Blackaller right behind him both were in the right place to profit from the shift. Binkhorst was fourth and Hagen fifth and while Buchan fell to 12th, all were placed well enough to stay close in the scoring.
Fourth Race
Thursday the 22nd was an overcast grey day, with shifty winds east to north expected to back into the northwest. The start was postponed for a couple of hours waiting for the wind to settle down long enough to get a line set and a race started. Finally it got under way with wind in the north, and contrary to predictions it veered about 30 during the race, clearing up to a pretty end sunny day with the wind at 12-15 kts.
Trygve Liljestrand got the jump on the fleet and was never headed, playing the veering winds perfectly. Italy's Gorla was second, with Hagen hanging in for third. Uwe von Below was fourth and Andy Menkart and Blackaller fifth and sixth. Peter Wright was seventh but ran into foul trouble today which would turn out to cost him the Gold Star. This night, while the jury was hearing five protests, the Bacardi people did their thing with the outboard motors they call blenders making all sorts of fruit and rum concoctions to the increasing crescendo of the delighted participants.
Fifth Race
Still a day behind, we attempted to continue on Friday, but misfortune piled up against us. A current was carrying the boats toward the starting line and the winds were variable making a line, square to the wind at both ends of its half mile length, impossible. The first start was aborted with 16 premature starters, the second try had a few more and on the third attempt, 37 were identified as over early. Then the wind died for three hours. Finally five minutes before it was too late to start a race, the fourth attempt of the day was a disaster. 49 boats were called over early, fourteen returning to restart properly. Of the 35 disqualified, 15 were reinstated as a result of requests for redress, which were granted for satisfying the jury they had properly restarted including John Dane who won the race.
Aside from the mess at the start it was a fast race in a nice breeze and a beautiful day. Of the contenders for the series only Hagen and Wright were in the money. Presumably without foresight, the regatta entertainment schedule did not include a party that night so that the jury could decide a record twenty?one protests. By midnight it was all resolved, scores posted and everyone ready for the finale on Saturday.
Sixth Race
Saturday's final race, scheduled for a 10:30 start, was delayed until 12:15 waiting for the very light air to pick up. In the interim we were treated to a large school of whales cruising through the fleet. The breeze settled in a little and the start got off beautifully, all clear, all close, in about 5-7 kts, from the SW. Buchan led at the first mark followed by Menkart and Binkhorst, Wright 4th and Hagen. At the end of the painfully slow first round the wind had backed to south and the windward mark was shifted accordingly, Buchan still leading with Menkart 2nd and Wright moved to third, Hagen still 7th. At the second weather mark Wright had moved to second.
The air continued to fade and at the last leeward mark, with a weather leg to go there remained 43 minutes of the 3 1/2 hour time limit. Menkart was leading, Wright second, Buchan and Blackaller third and fourth, Bill Gerard fifth, and Hagen now sixth. If Hagen and Wright hold their positions, Hagen wins the Gold; but, if Wright can catch Menkart, he can win it. Half way up the final leg it appeared all was for naught as the fickle wind faded and the clock ticked on. Then the fitful air steadied in a bit and the boats got moving well. Menkart held off Wright's challenge, to win with only nine minutes of the time limit remaining; each of the following places stood guard over their position, covering carefully, and no changes occurred: Buchan 3rd, Blackaller 4th, Gerard 5th, and the new World Champion Hagen, sixth, to win over Chicago's Peter Wright by less than 3 points.
Alex (left) and Vincent (center) receiving the World’s Trophy from Malin Burnham at Marblehead
The final banquet that night was a gala affair in the tent outside the Eastern Yacht Club, with some adventurous soul running around the roof of the tent like a circus acrobat in a safety net. The speeches were made, the thank yous announced and trophies awarded. We had not witnessed the slickest racing in Star Class history, but the Eastern Yacht Club and the people of Marblehead were marvelous hosts.
