The Tiller Trophy

July 4th at 1600 (NOTE TIME CHANGE)

Summary:

This event was first run in 1991. The perpetual trophy, a large tiller in the Club Room, was donated to the MYC by Tom Townsend. The event is a 'ladder' style event with match racing in Optimist Dinghies. Basically, it is a junior versus senior event. Pairs of Juniors match race each other and pairs of seniors match race each other. Contenders are eliminated along the way. The final race then pits the winning Senior against the winning Junior for the title.

Prizes:	Perpetual Trophy:	Tiller Trophy (actual yacht tiller)
	Keepers:	'Winner' and 'Runner Up' trophies are presented to the two finalists
	Awards are made the day of the event.

Course:	The starting line is between a person on the MYC float and a red buoy set across the channel. Another red buoy is set for a rounding mark.

History:

The most unusual trophy, by far, to be found among the many awards of the Manchester Yacht Club Racing program is the Tiller Trophy. An actual tiller, it stands on its base over five feet high. The plate reads "Emblematic of Superior Helmsmanship in Match Racing". Its origin was functional as the working tiller for the 55' Centerboard Ketch, yacht "Alice". She was owned by Henry Howard, a noted yachtsman, who is credited with initiating "pleasure cruising" in 1892. His trips from Marblehead to Halifax at that time were in contrast to the typical voyages of "commercial intent". He also played a significant role in the establishment of international races in the early 1900's, including those for Sonder Class boats. Inspired in his grandfather's enjoyment of racing and cruising, our own Tom Townsend has continued both traditions. Tom acquired the tiller and donated it to MYC in 1990, establishing the Tiller Trophy Race. Paradoxically, this race between MYC Juniors and Seniors in boats of equal speed (often Optimists and/or Megabytes), is undoubtedly the most "for fun" of our races, yet it often attracts and honors some of our finest Junior sailors.