Schooner revival hac do you get you when you throw together schooners of all shapes and sizes, neluding one with « nude erew2'The Ameries’ Schooner Cup is perhaps more fun than ever. ‘The fist race wast much of 2 race."The ica’ Schooner Cup developed out Son Diego on May Day 1985. The Dutch tops schooner La Fielante was s0 ach fastes than the theee-masted shrimper Relation, thatthe later shortened the course ky a mile just to make it Look close In 1986 the schooner Dantes chal- lenge the schooner Bagive ina match race bereen Alden designs. Before long, the fledgling Kona Kai International Yacht Club formed the Americas Schooner Cup, cages to capitalize on this suden interes in sehcones Maka coveage was crocmous for both match race, Suddenly the sehoones, argu- bly the most beautiful and admired sailing rig in history, was making new friends and An Bf ceechsrare bermernachione ? aly fans in this Souther California city The Schooner Cup grew to become the largest 20ti-century gathering of schooners on the West Coast. By 1989 the Schooner Cup had 29 boats competing, coming from ports in Mexico, (Canada, and all points in berween,The charmer range fine the 15-fice Pie I The Coc 0 the 145-foor Californian ‘There were fimous ones and not 30 fans. These was Valdyrien,a nudist charter schoo ner; the celebrated workbont Spite Africa was ‘here, and even the impeccable Miva. Hotly contested rivalries grew within the leet —Danvtls vs. Baghtera, Kelpie ws. Astor, Duties. 8. Rose of Sharon. «sailor with schooner ny rigged his spore submarine with a fore-and-aftsilplan just 0 he would be allowed in the schooner dress parade of boats Am enormous old uspidor was found in the obby of the Kona Kai Club filled with cigarette butts and plastic flowers and ‘was turned into the Schooner Cup Trophy. The next year someone sole the smal’, dented okt wep. A ransom nove was delivered to the yacht club demanding the directors ‘of the club agree to full restoration ‘of the cup, and conection of mis spelled text within 30 days,or ele they would never see their cup aga, ‘Tewas all in good in, and played ‘out well inthe local newspapers, Aside from the occasional grumbling on the racecourse about handicaps, the boots were there and excitement wasin the ar But over the years the yacht club changed ownership, friendly schooner rivalries Decame fl lown feu al partici pation (and funding) dimmed like an od light bulb, Whatever the reasons, the America Schooner Cup din- ed away unt a few years ago when the Silver Gate Yacht Club agroed to take over the Schooner Cup. Popular cruising sitors Pal and Susan Mitchell formerly of the schooner IWbite Glen, ate keeping ‘Dauntless sll fu and by above. The Schooner Amazing Grace ‘evel Inthe blustery conditons off San ego right Denn Conner dives his ecedly restored Fane to sscond pace nthe ‘Schooner Cup, op. Bob Giese nots their current boat at Silver Gare Yacht Chub.“We coulda’ help ourselves” sid Susan Mitchell of thei impulse to bring the event back to Bi, and to play with schooners agin, ‘The new Americas Schooner Cup is ‘open to all boats, and ie played out in one day The trophy goes to the frst boat to finish on corrected time, with additional trophies for fist, second and thin ples in cach clas “Twelve schoonecs participated thie year {in Apel, and more than $10,000 was raised for the Navy and Marine Comps Relicé Society charity. le was a misty, overcast day, bur the course was perfect for schooners, with los of opportunity ro reach, their mast fective (and vial) point of sl Schoonees reached out of the Sen Diego Bay and back, creating an exci ing finish for spectator on sea and laa Winds were light inside the harbor bu Freshened to 12 knot once past the Pe d Loma headla ‘The Schooner Cup went to Byron Chamberlains Rose of Sharon, a Stasling Burgess design. Deanis Conner’ B.B. fee Gre place, just eight seconds behind Rese of Sharon. The Alden schooner Curlew ess in thitd place. Winners ofthe B Flees in onder of finish, Mischief, Amezing Gr and Witch, ‘The oldest participating boat was 102-yest-old Perse, which won an ave Most Bristol Schooner. The Most Diss Poet award wont tothe Hugh Anglema Aesign La Volpe. Joe Ditler