Mrs. Charles Francis Adams Trophy

The Mrs. Charles Francis Adams Trophy, or Adams Cup for short, was the competition for the United States Women's Sailing Championship. The donor of the award was Francis Lovering Adams the wife of Charles Francis Adams III, former Secretary to the Navy and skipper of the 1920 America's Cup winner Resolute.[1][2][3] It had its origins in the 1924 Hodder Cup.[4] The Adams Cup was raced annually until 2011.[5] Now retired, the Mrs. Charles Francis Adams Trophy is on display in the Reading Room of the Tom Morris Library at the National Sailing Hall of Fame.

History

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Ruth Sears was the first winner of the cup followed by Lorna Whittelsley. In 1933, the competition gave birth to the Women's National Yacht Racing Association.[6][7] That organization was later headed by Adams Cup winner "Leggie" Mertz.[8]

In a sport with hundreds of different classes of boats and a national champion for each, the point of the Adams Cup was to determine an overall champion for the sport of women's sailing in the United States. First run by the Women's National Yacht Racing Association, and later organized by the U.S. Sailing Association, eliminations were held throughout the country, and the finals were raced in a different type of boat each year to eliminate any advantage a sailor from any particular class might otherwise have. Competitors sailed boats provided by the host club, and teams were required to race each boat at the event once so that nobody would have an advantage in terms of equipment, similar to high school and collegiate sailing.

As with national championships in other sports, the top three finishers received gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. The winner likewise held the Mrs. Charles Francis Adams Cup itself until the following year's champion was crowned.

Sailors from Cohasset Yacht Club won the prize first and the most number of time (9) followed by American Yacht Club who won it eight times.

Legacy

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Today, the United States Adult Sailing Championship, is open to both men and women but people still remember the Adams Cup. In 2016, Gary Jobson, then President of the National Sailing Hall of Fame, commented on the important history of the cup, “The Adams Cup inspired generations of women to participate and excel in the sport of sailboat racing. Collecting and preserving this legacy will keep that history alive.” [9]

Adams Cup Champions

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List of champions:

Year Club Team
2011 Buccaneer Yacht Club Amy Kleinschrodt, Sara Hall, Kara Kimbrell
2010 Wawasee Yacht Club Debbie Probst, Joyce Spring, Monica Jones
2009 Buccaneer Yacht Club Amy Kleinschrodt,Sara Hall, Ashley Hall
2008 San Francisco Yacht Club Vicki Sodaro, Stephanie Wondolleck, Emily French, Katie Maxim
2007 Chicago Yacht Club Betsy Altman, Nancy Heffernan, Vickie Matthews, Marie Hansson
2006 San Francisco Yacht Club Vicki Sodaro Stephanie Wondolleck Karina Vogen Shelton Emily French
2005 Deep Creek Yacht Club Joni Palmer, Meredith Dodd, Carrie Carpenter
2004 Rush Creek Yacht Club Kathy Irwin, Kerri Cunningham, Nataleigh Vann, Wendy Vann
2003 Deep Creek Yacht Club Joni Palmer, Meredith Dodd, and Carrie Carpenter
2002 San Francisco Yacht Club Vicki Sodaro, Stephanie Wondolleck, Pamela Healy, Jodi Lee Drewery
2001 Cancelled
Patriots Cup
Chandler's Landing Yacht Club Barbara Hawn, Linda McDavitt, Cynthia Beorner, Carolyn Wilsford
2000 San Diego Yacht Club Mary Brigden-Snow, Julie Mitchell, Pam Gregory, Stacey Szabo
1999 Palisades, NY Joan Hurban, Judy Hanlon, Cindy Cox
1998 Oakland, CA Stephanie Wondolleck - San Rafael, Vicki Sodaro - Tiburon, Karina Vogen
1997 Mobile, AL Amy Kleinschrodt, Jackie Gorski, Sara Hall
1996 Boston Sailing Center Elaine Parshall, Sally Lane, Mary Coch, Colleen Crawley
1995 Eastern Yacht Club Dru Slattery, Martha Quigley Dillon, Linda Epstein, Ellie Schnabel
1994 Ida Lewis Yacht Club Becky Wilson, Lisa Merrifield, Trice Kilroy, Alix Barton
1993 Manhasset Bay Yacht Club Beth Danilek, Sue Miller, Janet Grapengeter, Nancy Pearson
1992 Buffalo Canoe Club Jody Swanson, Cory Sertl, Abby Ruhlman
1991 Newport Yacht Club Betsy Alison, Betsy McClintock, Marshall Lawson
1990 Newport Yacht Club Betsy Alison, Kristan McClintock, Liz Merrifield, Nancy Hood
1989 Buffalo Canoe Club Jody Swanson, Jill Swanson, Kathryn Ritchie
1988 Seattle Yacht Club Carol Buchan, Cheryl Lanzinger, Libby Johnson, Jean Trucano
1987 Seattle Yacht Club Carol Buchan, Cheryl Lanzinger, Libby Johnson, Jean Trucano
1986 South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association Cathy Chrisman, Ann Boyd, Carolyn Griffith, Janet Scarborough
1985 Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association Cory Fisher, Dina Horwitz, Ramsey Murray, Joan Watts
1984 Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association Betsy Gelenitis, Ellen Reago, Linda Toboada, Patti Jeske
1983 Vermilion Boat Club Heidi Backus, Gretchen B. Loper, Amy B. Riddle, Susan B. Potter
1982 Vermilion Boat Club Heidi Backus, Gretchen B. Loper, Amy B. Riddle
1981 Charleston Yacht Club Ann Boyd Sloger, Carolyn Simmons, Cathy Chrisman, Janet Scarborough
1980 Bay-Waveland Yacht Club Judy McKinney, Charlotte Gordon, Amy Chapman
1979 St. Petersburg Yacht Club Allison Jolly, Susan Blaketer, Janice Robertson, Sue Reischmann
1978 Ida Lewis Yacht Club Bonnie Shore, Yvonne Burns, Bea Grimmitt, Nancy Kaull
1977 Bay-Waveland Yacht Club Cindy Stieffel, Amy Chapman, Judy McKinney
1976 Galveston Bay, CA Ellen Gerloff, Ruthie Maudlin, Jane Baldridge, Rita Matthews
1975 Pettipaug Yacht Club Cindy S. Batchelor, Nan Hull, Carmen Wetmore, Cara Worthington
1974 Beachwood Yacht Club Deborah Freeman, Lynn Campbell, Jennifer Valdes
1973 Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club Timothea Larr, Sheila McCurdy, Beegie Miller
1972 Dinghy Club Sally Lindsay, Alix Smullin, Nancy Hearne
1971 Duxbury Yacht Club Sylvia Shethar Everdell, Pamela O'Day, Mrs. Horace Sawyer, Jr., Daphne Fogg
1970 Mantoloking Yacht Club Jan O'Malley, Patricia O'Malley, Connie Blaise
1969 Mantoloking Yacht Club Jan O'Malley, Patricia O'Malley, Jacqueline Hart
1968 Monmouth Boat Club June Methot, Bette Power, Dede Heron
1967 Indian Harbor Yacht Club Mrs. W.H. Foulk, Jr., Mrs. Albert G. Preston, Jr., Mrs. A. Whittemore, Sue Ann Shay
1966 Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle Jerie Clark, Mary Anne Easter, Renate McVitti
1965 Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club Timothea Larr, Sarah Glenn Meyer, Patience Outerbridge
1964 Lake Geneva Yacht Club Jane Pegel, Marnie Frank, Nancy Frank
1963 American Yacht Club Allegra Knapp Mertz, Lois Shethar Smith, Betty Duncan, Lucia Elmore
1962 Noroton Yacht Club Susan W. Sinclair, Alexandra W. Falconer, Carolyn McCurdy
1961 Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club Timothea Larr, Sarah Glenn Meyer, Deborah Smith Read
1960 Delray Beach (FL) Yacht Club Pat Duane, Nancie Pearce, Rose Marie Altemus
1959 American Yacht Club Allegra Knapp Mertz, Roseamund Corwin, Betty Duncan, Cindy Matthews
1958 American Yacht Club Nancy Underhill, Roseamund Corwin, Gwendolyn Everett
1957 Chicago Yacht Club Jane Pegel, Michael Sennot Roche, Judy Gale Nye
1956 Fort Worth Boat Club Glenn Hill Lattimore, Diane McFarland, Rose Rector, Jane Mooney
1955 Manhasset Bay Yacht Club Toni Monetti, Chris Drake, Frances Macy, Jill Thompson
1954 American Yacht Club Allegra Knapp Mertz, Beverly Compton, Ellen Kelly
1953 Riverside Yacht Club Judy Webb, Barbara Sheldon, Sandra Gill, Jill Avers
1952 Manhasset Bay Yacht Club Pat Hinman, Toni Monetti, Gwen Van Hagen, Mrs. George R. Hinman
1951 Seal Harbor Yacht Club Jane Smith, Molly Shaw, Polly Hessenbrunch, Anne Rockefeller
1950 American Yacht Club Allegra Knapp Mertz, Roseamund Corwin, Carol Walter, Beverly Compton
1949 Portland Yacht Club Jane McL. Smith, Jane Hughes, Dana Smith, Martha Soule
1948 Larchmont Yacht Club Aileen Bryan, Grace Emmons, Margot Gotte, JoAnne Sandborn
1947 American Yacht Club Syvia Shethar Everdell, Roseamund Corwin, Lois Shethar, Allegra Knapp Mertz
1946 Edgartown Yacht Club Virginia Weston Besse, Adelaide Wolstanholme, Honora Haynes, Mary Edmonds
1941 Riverside Yacht Club Lois McIntyre, Mrs. Frederick T. Allen, Charlotte Mayer, Mrs. Carlton Marsh
1940 American Yacht Club Sylvia Shethar, Roseamund Corwin, Elizabeth Richards
1939 American Yacht Club Sylvia Shethar, Gwendolyn Shethar, Roseamund Corwin, Elizabeth Richards
1938 Cohasset Yacht Club Francis McElwain, Katherin Johnson Fisher, Joan Chapin Waters, Barbara Benson
1937 Cohasset Yacht Club Francis McElwain, Katherine Johnson, Francis Williams, Joan Chapin Waters
1936 Cohasset Yacht Club Francis McElwain, Katherine Johnson, Joan Chapin
1935 Cohasset Yacht Club Francis McElwain, Katherine Johnson, Francis Williams
1934 Indian Harbor Yacht Club Lorna Whittelsey, Myrtle Whittelsey, Mrs. DuBois, Kitty Kunhardt
1933 Cohasset Yacht Club Ruth Sears, Katherine Johnson, Francis Williams
1932 Edgartown Yacht Club Clara Dinsmore, Jeanne Sargent, Dorothy Morrell
1931 Indian Harbor Yacht Club Lorna Whittelsey, Helen Willis, Myrtle Whittelsey
1930 Indian Harbor Yacht Club Lorna Whittelsey, Helen Willis, Myrtle Whittelsey
1929 Cohasset Yacht Club Frances Williams, Fanny C. Howmans, Peggy Little
1928 Indian Harbor Yacht Club Lorna Whittelsey, Helen Wills, Edith Wills
1927 Indian Harbor Yacht Club Lorna Whittelsey, Helen Wills, Edith Wills
1926 Cohasset Yacht Club Jessie Bancroft, Catherine Reid, Helen Swain
1925 Cohasset Yacht Club Ruth Sears, Ester Sears
1924 Cohasset Yacht Club Ruth Sears, Ester Sears

References

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  1. ^ Jack Ramsay (July 28, 1937). "Spars, Sails and Gadgets, National Women's Sailing Championships Set for American Y. C. Starting Sept. 8". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 17.
  2. ^ "By Way of Mention". The New York Sun. July 10, 1940. p. 21.
  3. ^ Guido Cribari (August 30, 1955). "Sports Once Over Weekly, Title Sail at Rye". Ossining, New York: Citizen Register.
  4. ^ "US Sailing Adams Cup Qualifications". St. Francis Yacht Club. June 13, 2007. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  5. ^ "A Gathering of Adams Cup History". Scuttlebutt Sailing News. May 22, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  6. ^ "Yachting Title to Miss Sears, Cohasset Girl Takes National Crown and the Mrs. Charles F. Adam Cup". The New York Sun. New York. September 9, 1933. p. 39.
  7. ^ "Housewives Do Their Thing at Newport, Women Man the Sails in Adams Cup". Buffalo Courier Express. Buffalo. August 29, 1978. p. 32.
  8. ^ "Leading Lady Sailor Sparks HRYRA Fete". Citizen Register. Ossining, New York. December 1, 1956. p. 9.
  9. ^ "Preserving Adams Cup Stories". Scuttlebutt Sailing News. May 9, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
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