2008 MCYRA Yearbook
Electronic Edition

Holden Sanford Perpetual Trophy

Holden Sanford's involvement with the Mercury Class dates back to the late 1940's when he began racing his Mercury as a member of the Lake Millerton Sailing Association, now known as the Fresno Yacht Club. Holden served as President of the class in 1960 and won the class championship in 1964 with fellow Fresno Mercury sailor, Ken Walsh, as crew at Huntington Lake. Holden's many friends in the class thought it would be a good idea to honor Holden with a perpetual trophy. Ken Gardiner, famous model maker of Newport Beach CA., was commissioned to construct a half model on a plaque of Holden's Mercury number 461. Fittingly the trophy was presented to the class, to be awarded to the winner of the fourth race of the Championship series, at a special ceremony prior to the 1994 Championship series at Huntington Lake on the thirtieth anniversary of Holden’s victory.

Past Winners

1994

Pat Bradley

1995

Pat Bradley

1996

Tracy Usher

1997

Pat Bradley

1998

Dick Clark

1999

Dick Clark

2000

Jack McAleer

2001

Doug Baird

JOHN KOENIG MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY

John Koenig was one of the founding fathers of the Mercury Class. As MCYRA President in 1953 and Class National Champion in 1954, John developed a lifelong love for the Mercury. Following his death, his wife Pat Koenig donated this a silver bowl in memory of John. The trophy is presented annually to the winner of the last race of the Championship Series.

YEA R

BOAT

SKIPPER

1974

Seven Toed Pete

David Huggins

1975

Lima Bean Machine

John Gre t h e r

1976

Contagion

Steve Gould

1977

Lima Bean Machine

John Gre t h e r

1978

Swift

Pax Davis

1979

Frenzy

Jim Bradley

1980

Old Buzzard

Pat Bradley

1981

Sea Deuce

Tracy Usher

1982

Whale Bait

Mike Polkabla

1983

Frenzy

Jim Bradley

1984

Old Buzzard

Pat Bradley

1985

Ernie

Dick Clark

1986

Italian Stallion

Chris Lanzafame

1987

Frenzy

Jim Bradley

1988

Old Buzzard

Pat Bradley

1989

Exterminator

Doug Baird

1990

Frenzy

Jim Bradley

1991

Old Buzzard

Pat Bradley

1992

Ernie

Dick Clark

1993

Ernie

Dick Clark

1994

Space Invader

Dave We s t

1995

Old Buzzard

Pat Bradley

1996

Vandal

Tracy Usher

1997

Christmas Pudding

Jack McAleer

1998

Christmas Pudding

Jack Mcaleer

1999

Strider

Doug Baird

2000

Ernie

Dick Clark

2001

Buswhacker III

Don Whelan

SANTA BARBARA MERCURY FLEET INVITATIONAL PERPETUAL TROPHY

This trophy is retained by the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. Presentation is made yearly to the skipper in the Mercury Class who is designated as winner of the Mercury Fleet in the Semana Nautica Regatta.

YEAR

BOAT

SKIPPER

1965

Radiant

Jack Nerdrum

1966

Mehitabel

Steve Gould

1967

Limey II

Don Anderson

1968

Frenzy

Doug Baird

1969

Fromf

Doug Baird

1970

Blue Mist II

Roger Roessler

1971

Mellow Yellow

Austin Lysight

1972

Contagion

Steve Gould

1973

Radiant

Jack Nerdrum

1974

Swift

Paxton Davis

1975

Contagion

Steve Gould

1976

Contagion

Steve Gould

1977

Lima Bean Machine

John Gre t h e r

1978

Melba

Dave West

1979

Funny Farm

Bill Ryon

1980

Sea Deuce

Kelly Robinson

1981

Frenzy

Kathy Kirk

1982

Italian Stallion

Chris Lanzafame

1983

Frenzy

Jim Bradley

1984

Not Held

1985

Swift

Pax Davis

1986

Bonne Chance

G.T. Koldjeski

1987

Not Held

1988

Bonne Chance

Gerald Koldjeski

1989

Not Held

1990

Pacer

Pax Davis

1991

Pacer

Pax Davis

1992

1993

Lee Sandow

STILLWATER LABOR DAY REGATTA

Since it’s inauguration in 1950, the Labor Day Regatta hosted by Stillwater Yacht Club on Carmel Bay, has been a highlight of every Mercury year. 62 Mercurys were in the starting line in 1959, an all time record. A great storm then destroyed the old pier, and the event was held in Monterey Bay in 1969-71. By 1972, despite the pull of other classes and other regattas, "Labor Day" drew 55 Mercurys, second largest record. Special thanks are due Past Commodore Matt and Mimi Jenkins for 40 years of their fabulous Log Cabin cocktail party (1952-91) which helped pull the whole class together, for donating the sterling silver permanent senior trophy and for Mimi's strong personal commitment to the rebuilding of the pier. In 1975 an annual senior championship regatta was established, followed in 1976 by a "B" division regatta. The three starting lines and three sets of trophies are unique in Mercury racing and afford appropriate recognition to important segments of the class.

OPEN DIVISION

1950

Rob Gaestel

1951

Rob Gaestel

1952

Rob Gaestel

1953

Roy Ashley

1954

Rob Gaestel

1955

Rob Gaestel

1956

Rob Gaestel

1957

Jon Konigshofer

1958

Allen Mitchell

1959

James Wo m b l e

1960

Roy Ashley

1961

Roy Ashley

1962

Pat Bradley

1963

Roy Ashley

1964

Rob Gaestel

1965

Dick Thompson

1966

Dick Thompson

1967

Tim Condon

1968

Doug Baird

1969

Ralph Buchan

1970

Harvey Kilpatrick

1971

Lee Pollard

1972

Steve Gould

1973

Steve Gould

1974

Pax Davis

1975

Pat Bradley

1976

Dick Clark

1977

Dick Clark

1978

Tracy Usher

1979

Stillman Chase

1980

Jack McAleer

1981

Tracy Usher

1982

Chris Gould

1983

Pat Bradley

1984

Pat Bradley

1985

Doug Baird

1986

Paxton Davis

1987

Eric Arndt

1988

Jim Bradley

1989

Steve Kraft

1990

Jim Bradley

1991

Jim Bradley

1992

Doug Baird

1993

Tracy Usher

1994

Tracy Usher

1995

Pat Bradley

1996

Tracy Usher

1997

Pax Davis

1998

Pax Davis

1999

Jack McAleer

2000

Pax Davis

2002

Dick Clark