20-Hampton O/D vs. Snipe

Jere Dennison

 

In the history of FBYC, there has always existed a friendly and healthy rivalry between the sailors of our various one-design fleets. Even back in the early days at the Urbanna Yacht Club, each fleet would self-promote to attract new sailors onto the starting line. It did not matter if these efforts were at the expense of other recognized fleets. In the mid-1940’s, both the Snipes and Hamptons were competing for new members to swell their ranks.

Henry Hutchinson, Jr. served as commodore of the Club from 1942-1944 and was instrumental in keeping the organization alive during the difficult WW II years. An avid sailor and owner of Hampton O/D #1, he served as club secretary in 1946 prior to his tragic death at age 35 due to complications from an appendectomy in 1947. Back then the club secretary created the Club Bulletin that was the precursor to the present day Log, and Henry loved to exercise his muse through the composition of poems relating to sailing and the yacht club. Each issue included his original verses but one poem, composed for the June 24, 1946 issue, truly illustrates his literary talent as he unabashedly knocks the Snipe class in favor of his own Hampton O/D class.

The Hampton Won by Henry E. Hutchinson, Jr.

When I was sailing one fine day
Came a Hampton One Design my way,
Alaying a course for Urbanna Creek,
With a yacht club burgee in her peak.

Chorus:
Hard alee, the wind blows free,
The Hampton One is the yacht for me.

She came alongside to my bow.
I said "If you’ll race, I’m ready now."
We picked a channel mark downstream,
And off we went with the wind abeam.

Chorus

Her boot top showed, and then her chine...
The whole damn bottom left the brine.
Here washboard washed, and then she luffed,
I shouted "Ahoy! Have you had enough?"

Chorus

The crew hiked out on the Hampton One,
And answered "Hell! We’ve just begun!"
She trimmed her sheets, she layed out handsome,
Then dead ahead she showed her transom.

Chorus

She crossed our bow on starboard tack,
We heard those words come flowing back
"Race in your class – you’ll have no gripe,
But don’t race a Hampton in your blooming Snipe!"

Chorus

By declaration of trust dated November 7, 1947, the Board of the Urbanna Yacht Club designated the Henry E. Hutchinson, Jr. Memorial Trophy as the club’s first perpetual award. The Hampton One was the award class from 1947 though 1959.

Fishing Bay Yacht Club
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