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Dolphin 24s established a great racing record on the Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC) racing circuit from the very beginning. Much of this racing was on the east coast, and among the premier regattas were those run by the Off Soundings Club (OSC) based in eastern CT. This club hosts 2 regattas a year, a 2 race Spring Series raced from Watch Hill, RI out to and around the waters of Block Island, and a 2 race Fall Series raced from New London, CT out to and around the waters of Montauk and Gardiners Bay, NY. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s routinely 200 or more boats in several classes competed in these regattas. One of the largest, and most cometitive classes in these regattas was Class B which included the MORC boats. Boats racing under MORC were initially limited to 24' overall, later increased to 30' LOA.
In 1957 Trina, Shaw 24 #1, designed by Bill Shaw, a breakthrough design that won her first 17 races, won the Charles J. Koch Trophy awarded to the yacht in Class B that had the best overall results in the combined 4 race Series. To give some idea of the level of competition America's Cup skipper Bob Bavier, Jr (Constellation, 1964) won this award in 1956 and 1958 with Memory, his xxxx.
George O'Day, a contemporary of Bob Bavier, Jr, noting the outstanding race record of Trina, told Olin Stephens that the new 'Junior Ocean Racer' that S&S would design for his company should be along the lines of Trina. Bill Shaw was on that S&S design team - and arguably the Dolphin 24 is a direct decendent of Trina. Click here to see Olin Stephen's covering memo of that phone conversation.
Dolphin 24s won the Charles J. Koch Trophy 11 times from 1965 to 1980. Here is the list.
1965 Shaman, Stan Barnes
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