Gordo Cup Was a Huge Success

GLOUCESTER DAILY TIMES, Mass., November 4, 1995 -- A wild, varied, hardy armada of 24 boats braved dire forcasts and gray skies to compete in the 2nd annual Gordo Cup last month. The field, larger than last year's, ranged from the ultra-high tech to the delightfully old-fashioned and included some of Cape Ann's best racers.

Tom Cox was the speed champion in his 42-foot trimaran Triad, which won the multi-hull division. Perennial bridesmaid Paul MacPherson, in his 20-foot Super Cat, Linda's Rival, was second.

One of the biggest surprises was the speed of the 30-foot International 210s which supplied the first three finishers in the single-hull division over longer, taller cruising boats. Eben Moulton showed superior speed in his brand-new Butch Roth of Lanesville-built boat Grace, while Jay MacLaughlan and race organizer Gordon Baird staged a two-hour duel to finish second and third.

Never more than 50 feet from each other, these two rivals were the only boats which flew spinnakers single-handedly, breaking away from a clustered pack that included Hank Bornhofft in Magic, Jack Alexander, Andrew Campbell, John Lind, Carl Ekborg, Arthur Kipper and newcomer Ken Parker.

Parker, a well-known guitar builder, showed surprising speed in his Lightning, Eddie's Axe, nabbing seventh overall. Hank Bornhofft was fourth; Endeavor, a 40-foot sloop grabbed fifth; Campbell was sixth in Sea Goose; Parker seventh; David Kenyon in his 45-foot ketch, Ceildh, was eighth; Kippen ninth in Sea Driver and Sergeant Goodchild rounded out the top 10 in his Shields, Easterner.

The conditions made for some rapid gear shifting as the wind varied from 15 to 25 knots, especially strong at the whistler outside the breakwater. At other times, boats would sail into holes on the western shore resulting in flagrant lead changes. The racing got scary out in the big swells, especially for the smaller boats, four of which retired after one go-round.

The committee was chaired by Schooner Committee President Cal Morser, expertly assisted by Susand Lind and Judy Cox and magnificently motorized in the nostalgia of Larry Dahlmer's Old Pung as the committee boat.

Bob Jones was the safety and camera boat and Kevin Govini organized the sponsorship, provided by Mount Gay Rum.

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