1. How were you introduced to sailing?

I started in a Savannah Yacht Club program sailing in Penguins in 1949. Ted Turner was in the same Savannah Yacht Club class. We were 9 and 10. Parents bought the boats and SYC sponsored the Junior Sailing Program. There were 12 Penquins, and the Teachers were members. When I look back, I am amazed at how much time those guys put into teaching us.

2. What inspired you to race in the America's Cup?

The America's Cup started back in 1958. They had not been sailing during World War II, and it was in all of the Yachting News. It was the World Series of Sailing so it was the pinnacle you wanted to reach. Ted bought a 12 Meter, American Eagle in 1969, and we sailed her for three years, ocean racing the SORC, Annapolis-Newport, Bermuda Race, etc. In 1971, we were the trial horse for the Australian Challenger-Dame Patti-Sir Jim Hardy's boat, and it was the first time we had actually competed 12 Meter against 12 Meter. Back then there was no Louis Vuitton Cup. There was a Challenger of Record. The Challenger of Record ran the Elimination trials. Intrepid skippered by Bill Ficker won the right to defend in 1971. When the Cup was over, another country would challenge and they would be the Challenger of Record. It was a friendly competition between Clubs. NYYC as the Defending club would run a series, but all had to be members of that club at that time. Courageous won in 1974 and 1977. In 1974, we were on Mariner. Bob Bavier sailed Courageous in the Defender trials against Intrepid again.

3. Please tell us about the preparation you did for the America's Cup.

The Preparation we did for the Cup - We had sailed American Eagle, a 12 meter, for 3 years since 1969. We would start in March of the Year of the Cup. We practiced for a couple of months and went into the June trials. The whole thing took about 8 months unlike 3 years nowadays for boat campaigns. We mostly just sailed the boats getting the sail-handling routines down.

In 1974, Mariner, the boat we were on was supposed to be the hot boat, but it was slow, and the NYYC selected Courageous. In 1977, we were on Courageous which was supposed to be the trial horse for Independence with Ted Hood. Courageous was faster than Independence so the Syndicate quit making sails for Courageous because they favored the Independence crew. We were the second team boat. Enterprise, sailed by Lowell North, was the other Syndicate and Intrepid was the second team boat for them. In June, we won all the races on Courageous. In July, our sails were getting old and tired. By the end of July, our supporters from Fort Worth got us new sails and we started to win again. We never gave up.

4. Besides winning, what was the most memorable moment during the America's Cup? 

We were behind in an important race. On the last windward leg we got into a tacking duel with Enterprise - a 30-tack

duel. We ground them down and beat them by a few seconds in the trials to be the Defender. In the Cup the most exciting part was the first cross to see who was faster and we were faster against Australia owned by Alan Bond and skippered by Nowell Robbins.

5. How has the America's Cup changed since you raced in it and what do you believe are the driving factors of these changes?

The Cup has gone from an amateur sport to a professional sport. People are trying to make money off it now. It was

a Corinthian Sport back then, no sponsors, no ads on sails, no exorbitant crew pay. Greed has taken over. Our total budget in 1977 for the 2 boats was 5 million dollars vs 150 million dollars today. We were the last of the Amateurs.

6. Besides getting to race in the America's Cup, does the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup get a lifetime supply of Louis Vuitton bags? (this question was just for fun.)

No, not that I know of - we did not have a Louis Vuitton Cup. We didn't get anything but a Rolex watch for

winning the America's Cup.

7. What advice would you give to SCYC's up and coming sailors regarding preparing/posturing for events such as the America's Cup, the Olympics, etc?

1. You have to have the desire to do it.

2. You have to have the time.

3. You have to train hard and be involved in lots of competition, sail in college, try to get connected to Big Boat campaigns, race as much as you can, and try to race with others who have the same goals.

8. What did you think about this year's America's Cup?

Bunky didn't answer this one, but he watched it every morning, and enjoyed getting it online. I think he thought that it was more exciting than it has been, but that the monetary expense was oppressive.

The SCYC would like to thank Bunky and Andrea Helfrich for providing this insightful interview for our enjoyment.