The racing teams of the University of Washington Yacht Club established the UW as the top sailing school in the region wining numerous regional titles and placing high in national competitions during the 1960s. This Northwest Regional Intercollegiate trophy was presented by the Corinthian Yacht Club. Many of the competitions were held at their Leschi site on Lake Washington. UW wins were 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1969. The University of British Columbia developed a strong program too and won all the other races except 1968 which Western Washington won.
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| Husky sloops struggle in light winds, July 9, 1964 UW Daily |
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May 15, 1964 UW Daily
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Husky followed by Penguin
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The membership grew steadily in the club’s second decade.
Dues income increased from less then $2000 to almost $12000 from 1956 to 1966 according to a report submitted to the ASUW
The increased income made it possible to buy more boats to expand from the six Huskies and six Penguins. A loan of $1500 from the ASUW made it possible to buy two more Penguins in 1960. The initiation fee charged to new members was used to pay off the loans. Another loan of $2700 in 1961 was used to purchase even more Penguins so that the fleet doubled in size. In 1964 the next loan of $2700 went to adding two 19 foot Lightnings.
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July 14, 1960 UW Daily
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Penguins on Lake Washington, Dec. 10, 1958 UW Daily
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In the January 14,1964 issue, a UW Daily reporter described sailing on the new Lightning.
The Canoe House continued to be the location of the club in the 1960s. Boats were stored inside and winched down the ramp to the water. Eventually more docks were built and the new boats could be moored outside.
To get students excited about sailing the club offered a free day of sailing at the beginning of each quarter. The April 4,1964 event is described in the Daily.
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March 11, 1964 UW Daily
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Yacht Club Launches Drizzly Rites of Spring
Four days of brilliant spring weather last week and then the deluge. The University Yacht Club’s Saturday Open House, held by the boatsmen to show the rest of the campus what fun sailing can be was swamped by the vagaries of Seattle’s weather. Undaunted, hearty souls took advantage of the free rides any way.
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April 7, 1964 UW Daily
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Union Bay looked different in the 1960s because of the Montlake Landfill.
Webster Point on Union Bay is in the distance.
This is a still from a film made at the University dump in 1964.
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The horseshoe shape is Husky Stadium. In 1964 when the dump closed, the land fill was not far from the KB docks. Ralph Jackson remembered how it smelled bad in summer when sailing on Union Bay. Norm Ahlquist said he could smell where the wind was coming from.
In membership drives a boat was moved up to campus and the spinnaker hoisted to increase interest.
In membership drives a boat was moved up to campus and the spinnaker hoisted to increase interest.
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April 4, 1963 UW Daily
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The UW Daily increased coverage of Yacht Club events and meetings. The club was meeting daily at the HUB for lunch in the early 1960s.
The Daily reporter often tried to write a humorous headline.
Sailing ‘Yachts of Fun’ Say UW Boating Fans
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Sept. 29, 1960 UW Daily
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October 9,1963 UW Daily
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April 13, 1960 UW Daily
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Sailing provided opportunities for newspaper photographers to hone their craft.
May 25,1960 UW Daily
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Towing them to races was a hassle.
1963 Tyee yearbook
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September 29, 1960 UW Daily
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University of Washington Bulletin 1964-1965
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The graduation requirements in the 60s included PE activities. Sailing was taught by the department as an activity and those who enjoyed the experience joined the Yacht Club.
Ralph Jackson commented about the PE class when he described the Tech boat they sailed: “A story from the old timers says that the P.E. department had a sailing program using Tech dinghies and their students were told to sit in the middle of the boat for safety. Apparently our club members took great delight in sailing circles around them while hiked out annoying their instructors.
Norm Ahlquist added: “The instructor was very paranoid about wind and they would be coming in while we were launching Penguins or Huskies.
The Daily tried to report about what it was like to learn to sail in the club.
May 3, 1963 UW Daily Boating Fans Hoist Sails
One new sailing enthusiast, John McDonald, took out the boat for a gentle cruise on Lake Washington last week. Shortly after embarking on the day’s journey to points unknown, the sails of his boat caught a large gust of wind and capsized, throwing him and his female companion into the muck and mire of Lake Washington.
Unfortunately, McDonald had not ventured far enough onto the lake, and when his boat capsized he was only a few yards off shore. The mast on his boat dipped under the surface, and there it stayed imbedded in the mud and in six feet of water.
McDonald finally summoned other boating enthusiasts, and a combined effort managed to get the sail boat righted again.
Other than the one mishap, the Yacht Club has kept their activities well under control.
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Oct. 11, 1961 UW Daily
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The reporter for the Daily who wrote about the other sailers who capsized was a little mixed up. It is a long trip in the rescue boat from the Canoe House to Elliot Bay.
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February 20, 1963 UW Daily
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The longest struggle for the club was to be funded as a minor sport.
Gary Syverson, Jeff Ingman, and Dr. Maurice Rattray preparing to compete in the Men’s North American Sailing Championships at Balboa, California, September 10-15.
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August 9, 1962 UW Daily
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Dr. Rattray was the advisor and coach for most of the 1960s. He lobbied the administration to fund sailing competition.
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May 28,1964 UW Daily
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Many people got their start in sailing at the University in the 1960s.
Racing Cruising
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June 30, 1960 UW Daily
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Lightening used for Snooz-N-Cruise, 1964 Tyee
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Tom Bradner sailed a Finn in the Olympic trials.
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1964 Tyee
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