Recognizing the Preservation of Historic Yachts

The Pacific Class (PC) Yacht Racing Association was founded 87 years ago in 1929. This year, in conjunction with the PC Nationals hosted by San Diego Yacht Club on October 15-16, the Mystic Seaport Museum will award the PC Fleet and SDYC with the William A. Baker Award.

Founded in 1929, Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT. The award recognizes private individuals or organizations for their superior work in preserving historic yachts or recreational small craft.

Designed by George Kettenburg Jr. in 1929, the PC was the first wooden One-Design racing sloop conceived and constructed specially for Southern California waters with the largest fleet based in San Diego, CA.

The 31-foot-long sailboat has endured more than 80 years and is still in use today. Of the 84 hull numbers assigned, all but 19 are still sailing. Wings, believed to be the oldest hull in existence, is presently on display at the San Diego Maritime Museum.

This William A. Baker Award was first presented in 1989 to promote the awareness and appreciation of superb examples of One-Design classes of boats of like kind, to foster preservation and restoration, encourage more people to participate in the activity and keep the boats in use.

“This award demonstrates just how much the PC has been a part of the San Diego Yacht Club sailing and racing culture,” remarked Jim Oberg, the PC Fleet Captain. “I personally have been active in the fleet for forty years, as a crew on many of the boats in the fleet, and now enjoy, with my wife, our own piece of history, and will continue to do so.”

PC Nationals racing will take place October 15-16 in the Coronado Roads sailing area of San Diego, CA. The award will be presented after racing on October 15. Details: http://sdyc.org/calendar/events/4488/

Source: Emily Willhoft, Communications Director