Ted's notes on Carl

March 4, 2000 MEMORANDUM

TO: Officers, Directors, and Counselors of Honor, U.S.Sailing

FROM: Ted Livingston, Bellingham Yacht Club, Washington;

Senior Race Officer, U.S.Sailing Past Chairman, ICYRA Hall of Fame Selection Committee

SUBJECT: Recommendation for the 2000 Nathaneal G. Herreshoff Award:

Carl M. Eichenlaub, Jr., San Diego Yacht Club

Carl Eichenlaub is Boatwright of the U.S.Sailing Team, and even now is preparing to accompany the team to Sydney, Australia. Beginning at Kingston, in 1976 (and including the aborted 1980 games), this will make his seventh consecutive appointment to the position of U.S.Olympic Boatwright. Additionally, he has served at six Pan American Games, two Goodwill Games, and five Pre-Olympic Regattas.

Why is he the perennial choice for this demanding task? Simply, because there is no one better! Like "Cap'n Nat" Herreshoff, Carl continually demonstrates the ability to plan and quickly execute anything that needs to be built, repaired, or improved.

Stories of his legendary resourcefulness and skill are myriad. Here are just three examples: two from early days and one "hot off the press".

(1) At Kingston, in 1976, the Finns used aluminum masts for the first time. Rivets holding the sail track to the bendy aluminum spars tended to work themselves loose enough to flunk the mast flotation test. After pondering the problem for a few minutes, Carl jumped on his bike and headed for a gasoline station. Coming back, he poured boiling water and a can of radiator leak-stop into a mast. Everyone gathered around watching the mixture dripping out around the rivets. The dripping slowed, slowed some more, and finally stopped. "Voila!" The test was passed—and there followed a massive run on stop-leak at Kingston gas stations!

(2) When Dennis Conner was practicing, off San Diego, for the 1980 America's Cup, his two aluminum 12s were coming home on a Friday afternoon after practice. With both crews talking back and forth across the water, no one noticed that one boat was heading straight for the bell buoy. Crunch! The bow telescoped aft to the forestay. Back at the club, Dennis telephoned Eichenlaub Marine. "I've got a little problem, Carl, and some big sponsors are flying in for a sail on Monday. We really need to get it fixed before then." Carl agreed to hustle over for a look, but became suspicious when Dennis added, "Better bring your chain saw!" Sure enough— by Monday morning the new bow had been fabricated, welded on, faired, and painted— ready to sail!

(3) At the Pre-Olympic Regatta, in Sydney, last fall, Paul Foerster started the 470 series far down in the fleet. Carl went over the boat with a fine-tooth comb. Meticulously measuring the rudder and centerboard "blades", he found both to be ever-so-slightly misaligned with one another and with the centerline of the hull. The problem was corrected and, from the next morning, Foerster's boat speed had improved enough to help him to a second place finish in the series!

As a sailor, Eichenlaub began his racing career in 1946 as a junior at Mission Bay Yacht Club, San Diego. By 1952~having progressed through Skimmers, International 14s, and college sailing at San Diego State—he was selected to represent the Southwest in the first-ever Mallory Cup Regatta. "Corny" Shields, who won the event, was so impressed by the lad from California that, for the rest of his life, he never failed to send Carl a Christmas greeting.

As a builder: Carl turned "pro" while still in college, setting up shop at the same Shelter Island yard that bears his name today. Whole fleets of Sabot Dinghies were spawned there, and, before long, he had developed a reputation for truly world-class Snipes, Lightnings, and Stars. Switching adroitly from wood to more modem materials and techniques, Carl built Ganbare, High Roler, Swiftsure, Champagne (Admiral's Cup winner for Germany), and Marlou (Australian survivor-all in one piece-of the Fastnet). His own three aluminum boats named Cadenza have kept pace with the steady improvements in design and technology.

As a One-Design racer: Carl's name is best known in the Lightning Class; he won the "Worlds" in 1960, and, over the last forty years, probably has set the class record for overland mileage traveling to regattas with a Lightning in tow.

As an Offshore Racer: At least one of the Cadenzas has shown her colorful graphics at SORC, most of the Mexican races, Transpac, and Ken wood Cup. His favorite regatta is the St. Francis Yacht Club's Big Boat Series. In 1997—after twenty years of annual trekking up the coast from San Diego-Carl and crew scored a popular win in their class, and brought home the prestigious Richard Rheem Trophy.

As an America's Cup Volunteer: Though never a member of a particular syndicate, his advice and assistance have been sought by many. During San Diego Yacht Club's two AC Class defense efforts for "the Cup", he served faithfully as stake boat coordinator. Cadenza herself was out on the course-at the Weather Mark-all day, every race day of the Trials and Finals, for a total of more than 200 days. Eichenlaub, himself, was aboard for all but ten of those days.

As a Man of Music: Since his years in the San Diego High School Band, Carl has carefully maintained a balance between his love of sailing and a passion for symphonic music. He is one of the best-known bassoonists in the area and has regularly practiced and performed with three or more local orchestras. He carries a "second" bassoon on longer ocean races. After a stressful time (such as bouncing around at the masthead jury-rigging a spinnaker bail), he will go below and play some music "to calm the troops".

As our Olympic Boatwright: Primarily, it is Eichenlaub's commitment to the spirit and practical aspects of the Olympic Games that has made his name known around the world. His "shipyard in a container" not only keeps the U.S.Team's boats ready for each day's racing, but also attracts—like bees to nectar—competitors and maintenance people from many countries. His vast knowledge of the measurement rules, scantlings, and tolerances—as well as his "been there and done that" experience, plus the best equipped shop at the venue- means that he is constantly surrounded by people looking for advice and assistance, wanting a great "sea story", or just wishing to swap "trading pins".

Among the trophies and souvenirs that fill Carl and Jean's Victorian home, none is more important than the carefully mounted collection of hundreds of these Olympic "trading \ pins". They symbolize the quiet and genuine friendliness Carl exudes as he goes about his work serving the U.S.Team and, at the same time, promoting respect and appreciation for Olympians of all nations.

Summary: As a builder, as a racer, as a musician, as a raconteur of tall tales, and as an "Ambassador to the Olympic Games", Carl has received many honors and awards. But perhaps his greatest satisfaction is the knowledge that, for more than half a century, he has enjoyed sailing, and has shared that enjoyment with countless "backyard boatbuilders", young crewmen (Dennis Conner among them), college sailors, "old salts", and even kings.

In my opinion—and especially in this Olympic year—Carl M. Eichenlaub, Jr. is eminently worthy of consideration for U.S. Sailing's top honor, The Nathanial G. Herreshoff Award.

Resume of Participation as Boatwright, U.S. Sailing Team

1976: Olympic Games, Montreal

1979: Pan American Games, Puerto Rico

1980: Olympic Games, Moscow (aborted)

1983: Pan American Games, Venezuela

1984: Olympic Games, Los Angeles

1986: Goodwill Games, Estonia, USSR

1987: Pan American Games, Michigan City, Indiana

1988: Olympic Games, Seoul, Korea

1990: Goodwill Games, Seattle

1991: Pan American Games, Havanna, Cuba

1992: Olympic Games, Barcelona, Spain

1995: Pan American Games, Argentina

1996: Olympic Games, Atlanta

1999: Pan American Games, Winnipeg, Canada

2000: Olympic Games, Sydney, Australia

(Plus five on-site Pre-Olympic Regattas, 1983,'87,'91,'95, and '99)

(Although nomination time, officially, is not until August, I am planting seeds now, which hopefully, will germinate and grow into a rich harvest at voting time. I would welcome indications of your intent to nominate and/or vote for Carl, together with any comments you might wish to make, by e-mail, fax, or letter. Thank you very much.)

Note to Editor: This little memoir and the enclosed copy of my March 4 memo of I recommendation may be of use to you, as you prepare your material regarding Carl's receipt, on October 14, of the Herreshoff Award for 2,000. Ted L.

Carl's Introduction to Yacht Racing-1946

Carl Eichenlaub and I first met in the summer of '46 at Mission Bay Yacht Club, San Diego.

I had returned from World War II in February, and resumed my studies at San Diego State that very morning! I assured family and friends that I would take the summer off to sail and body-surf-to "readjust to civilian life". When that word got around the club, I soon found myself lined up as the volunteer Junior Sailing Instructor.

Carl Eichenlaub was first to sign up for the class and first to arrive every morning. Like me-six years earlier-he was fifteen years old, came from a supportive but non-sailing family, had built his own boat, and broke upon the sailing scene pretty much on his own.

In those days, everyone in the Junior Program was expected to buy, borrow, or build his or her own boat. There were no two boats alike in the Junior Fleet, that summer, but Carl's boat was different from all the rest: it had a tiny cabin! When he opened the double doors, it became immediately apparent why he had named her "Inner Sanctum". The creaking of the hinges sounded exactly like the lead-in for the radio series "Inner Sanctum Mysteries."

"Inner Sanctum" was a 16 foot plywood sloop, Carl built from plans for "Petrel", which appeared in the same library book I had grown up with: "How to Build Twenty Boats." She was definitely more of a "cruiser" than a "racer" but perfect for Carl's first summer of salt-water sailing.

The widely divergent boats were gathered into a very informal Arbitrary Handicap Fleet. Based on past performance, the handicaps had to be tweaked a little each night so as neither to discourage slow learners nor encourage budding sea-lawyers. At summer's end, I was disturbed that, while Carl had taken to racing like a duck to water, he had not won a single race. I felt obliged to do something special for the season finale— something that would be absolutely fair, but would give Carl an additional opportunity to "show his stuff"

For that last race, I announced a short course of two beats with a run in between.

"Is that all?" came the complaint

"Yes", I replied, "but on the run, before you round the leeward mark, you must catch a fish. . . And the prize for the winner will be a complimentary fish dinner for two , courtesy of "The Frog in the Pond Restaurant."

Carl's victory next day—his first win as skipper— was akin to that of the schooner-yacht "America" at Cowes in 1851: there was no second!

Carl invited me to be his guest at dinner, and he's been "showing his stuff' ever since! Ted Livingston, Bellingham, Washington 10/13/00

Ted Livingston April 14, 2001

What's in a Name?

Carl and I have been friends for 55 years. He was a member of my Junior Sailing Class at Mission Bay Yacht Club in 1946, and he has come a long way since then! Over these years, we have maintained close contact.

If there's one thing I've learned about Carl, it's the importance he places on names; he even has names for inanimate objects, like Lorraine, the big mobile crane, or Evin, the trusty old Evinrude outboard engine. And there's a story behind every name!

Carl's first boat on Mission Bay was a 16-foot plywood sloop that he had built himself. She had a tiny cabin with doors that squeaked much like the big door in the radio-show "Inner Sanctum Mysteries". Obviously, by Carl's whimsical logic, the boat should be named Inner Sanctum.

The next year's boat was a one-design, Skimmer #72, which was renamed Zombie, the inevitable sequel to Inner Sanctum. She proved to be an excellent "trainer" for the highly competitive Skimmer Class.

In 1948, Skimmer superstar Leon Bothell began hankering for a Starboat, and offered Carl the opportunity to purchase his legendary Skimmer #63, Curlew. With a rapidly-developing Carl at the tiller, Carl Senior as crew—and no change in the boat's name—they won the class championship! Carl was on his way!

In 1949, new worlds opened to Carl and his recently-completed Inter­national 14, Catorce, which means "14" in Spanish-a positive gesture toward his Spanish class at San Diego High. Catorce electrified Southern California, and Carl was named skipper of the SCYA team that would sail in the first-ever Mallory Cup Regatta to be held at Mystic Seaport in 1950.

1950 also marked his 20th birthday, his entry into second year at San Diego State, as well as the establishment of Eichenlaub Marine on Shelter Island.

During the next decade, Eichenlaub Marine turned out scores of Sabots, Stars, Minesweepers for the Korean War, and winning Lightnings. Of the latter group, we best remember Bull, the boat with which Carl and crew won the 1960 Lightning Class International Championship.

He never owned a Starboat of his own, but he built no less than five World Champions! When Bill Ficker won at Rio de Janeiro, Carl's yard gained an informal but highly popular slogan: "Any slob can win with an Eichenlaub!!"

In the '60s, new materials proved their value, and Carl chose aluminum as his favored medium. That is also the time in which the family got into larger boats. First, they bought a used Ericson 32 and Carl announced that since it was a family project, the family would choose her name.

Around the kitchen table, Betty Sue, Brian, and their Mom all made attractive suggestions, all of which Carl rejected. "Well then, if you don't like any of our ideas, how about something really far out. How about Hassenpheffer, German for Rabbit Stew??" Carl's delighted reply? "Perfect!!!

Finally, after about twenty-five years in business, the name Cadenza came into the picture, a name given to each of a succession of three aluminum ocean-racers. (Some "yuppies" still think it's a misspelling of the word 'credenza", the name of a side table used in home or office.

For those of you, who may not know, "cadenza' is a musical term, from Carl's other life—the life of a symphony bassoonist. After a particularly stressful time in a long race, he may go below and play some music on an old bassoon--"to calm the troops—and himself. Actually a cadenza is a short—sometimes ad-lib--interlude between movements of a longer composition, which allows a virtuoso soloist the opportunity to show the audience what he can do.

For more than a half century, boats of many names and many classes, have been platforms from which Carl-the virtuoso-has shown us what he can do!

Sail On, Cadenza, Sail On and On!