A nostalgic post from SA by Sleddog on 1950's SoCal Sailing---

I grew up in these special times in SoCal thanks to Dad Washburn who commissioned and had built a 50' Sloop in Sweden that I sailed on since birth. Sleddog sums up 99.9% of the players of this era-- special stuff--



Read on:

For those who remember, S.Cal had a vigorous ocean racing fleet in the 1950's. For your nostalgic pleasure I include some of their names I remember. These were the days of varnished spinnaker poles, overhangs, South Coast winches, red lead bottom paint, kenyons, RDF's, and NALU II's chickens. HILARIA never had an engine, and SALLY was the prettiest 10 meter in the world. Feel free to add to the list:

ALTAMAR, ANTIGUA, AKAHI, ATTORANTE (go Burke!), ANDALE, AMORITA, TEMPEST, KITTEN, ESCAPADE, CHOLITA, VALENTINE, CHUBBY, CAROUSEL, COTTON BLOSSOM, BUTCHER BOY, BARLOVENTO, CHERRIO

Alex Irving, Barney Huber, George Griffith, Ash Bown, Peggy Slater, George Fleitz, Clark Sweet, Chuck Ullman,

DASHER, DANCER, VIXEN, MADCAP, MARA, CASSANDRA, HOLIDAY, COQUILLE, CALIFIA, GALATEA, JINKER, GAMIN, KIRAWAN, GOOD NEWS, BONNIE DOONE, KELPIE, FREEDOM, HILARIA, JADA, KIALOA, KAMALII, BAGATELLE, LEGEND, FLYING SCOTCHMAN (Lapworth's first design), LEDA, MORNING STAR, NAM SANG, NOVIA DEL MAR,

Gene Wells, Fred Smales, Willard Bell, Gabe Giannini, Jack Hedden, George Sturgis, Prent Fulmour, Dick Steele, Peter Grant,

ODYSSEY, NALU II, FLYING CLOUD, MARIE AMELIE, ORIENT, QUEEN MAB, HUSSY, REBEL, STARLIGHT, SEA DRIFT, SANTANA, SERENA, SOLILIQUY, SERENADE, STAGHOUND,, ISLANDER, SIRIUS, SPARKLE, SALLY, WINDWARD, WHITE CAPS, WESTWARD HO, LANDFALL, PIONEER, DOUBLE EAGLE, PURITAN, SILOUETTE, TANTALUS, L'APACHE, SEA WITCH, WOOLHARA (honorary powerboat), BRANTA

Not a spade rudder yet to be seen.

ALERT, MICKEY, LARK, FLAMBOUYANT, SALUDA, QUEST, VIXEN, NARRAGANSETT, SUNDA, CRITERION, ROLAND VON BREMEN, BONGO, DEBRA, CHIRIQUI, DIABLO, CELEBES, NORDLYS, QUEST, FAIR WEATHER, MAI TAI, SKYLARK, GULLMAR, TYPEE, GROOTE BEER, SANDPIPER,

K-38's, PCC's, K-40's, L/36's, Cal 32's, Newporter Ketches, PBY's, Ohlson 35's, Owens Cutters

Skip Caulkins, Carl Chapman, Rolly Kalayjian, Bill Lapworth, Bob Barneson, Gordon Curtis. Paul Cook, Gerry Driscoll, Bob Dickson.

Marina del Rey hadn't been dug, and Dana Point was still the best point break on the Coast.

For all those beautiful bows, and stern wakes that went before, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

~sleddog