1924

1924 Recap
— From “The Adams Cup: A History – 1924-1988,”
Compiled by Ann Newton

Boston Yacht Club
Hull, Mass.

Mighty Mite
14′ Marconi-rigged catboat, crew of 2

Entries:

Cohasset YC:
Misses Ruth & Esther Sears

Pleon YC:
Miss Priscilla Rothwell & Miss Nancy Jaynes

Beverly YC:
Miss Alice Sherburn, Miss Rachael Jackson

Duxbury YC:
Mrs. E. S. Farnsworth, Mrs. Ralph Lawson

Hingham YC:
Miss Virginia Hodder, Miss Harriet Mason

Boston YC:
Misses Adeline T. & Gertrude Hooper

Squantum YC:
Misses Constance H. & Margery K. Russell

Cottage Park YC:
Miss Carolyn MaGee, Miss Lillian Biddon

The first women’s championship of its kind in the world was called the Massachusetts Women’s Sailing-Championship. The start of this series which was to become the Adams Cup competition was encouraged by Quincy Tucker and James R. Hodder, rear commodore of the Boston Yacht Club, who wanted his daughter to have an opportunity to compete with other women in sailing. Mr. Hodder donated the championship cup, so the race was for the Hodder Cup.

The entire series of 17 match races was run in one day, taking seven hours. It was a ladder type event with four pairs in the first flight. Two wins out of three were needed to advance to the next flight. Competitors changed boats after each race. In the first flight, Beverly beat Boston, Cohasset beat Hingham and Pleon beat Squantum in just two races. It took three races for Cottage Park to beat Duxbury. In the second flight Cohasset beat Beverly in three races, and Pleon beat Cottage Park in two. In the final flight Cohasset withdrew from the second race after hitting a mark; however, they won the championship by beating Pleon two races to one.

The course for this series was triangular. The first leg was a reach, followed by a run and a beat. Spectators were encouraged to watch from the club verandah, and the club provided announcers to identify the crews and boats. The “captains and their sailing companions” were entertained at lunch at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Lauriat and with a dance in the evening.