Class History
In December 1970, members of the first Tanzer 16 fleet to be formed in the U.S.
met at their headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. to found the National Class organization
for this Canadian built one-design sailboat. Needham C. (Hap) Crowe, who had performed
all of the spadework in getting a Constitution, By-Laws and Specifications from
the Canadian group, who were also in the process of formation, was elected Secretary-Treasurer.
The Association's objectives were stated simply to promote family day sailing and
class racing under uniform rules and to prevent design changes which affected the
sailing characteristics of the boat. Further, the organization would assist in the
formation of fleets wherever three or more owners sail together in a geographical
area, and to organize regional and national regattas where members of more than
one fleet can compete.
Two unofficial National Regattas were held. One in 1969 at Oriental, N.C., with
5 boats participating and the 1970 series at Lake Waccamaw, N.C., with 17 boats.
This site, home of Fleet No. 2, was used for the first U.S. Nationals run under
the auspices of the new Class Association. Eighteen boats competed, including the
secretary for the sister Canadian Association who drove down from Montreal. Hap
Crowe became the first "official" U.S. Champion.
1972 was a spurt in membership and Class sanctioned events. The first annual New
England Regional Championship was held at Falmouth, Mass., and the first North Carolina
Championship at Oriental, N.C. The U.S. Nationals, held again at Lake Waccamaw,
found 29 competing boats which included three from Canada and one from Pennsylvania.
1973 gave evidence of class growth and greater class awareness with increased participation
at regional events and several traveling racers. The North Carolina State Championship
had 29 entries at Oriental, N.C. The second annual New England Regional Championship
brought five visitors to the host waters of Vineyard Sound for a total of 21 starts
out of the host Falmouth Y.C. The U.S. Nationals, held for the first time at New
Bern, N.C., with Fleet #1 as hosts, found entries from Kentucky and Canada to swell
the starting line to 29.
1974 produced the concept of geographic district leadership and a reorganization
of the Executive structure. District Governors, elected by their fleets, now serve
on the Board of Directors to represent regional interests and to organize interfleet
activities. The office of Commodore was also established which allows the immediate
past President to provide continuity for plans made during his term of office.
1975 saw entries at the first mid Atlantic District Championship hold at Kerr Lake,
home waters for Fleet #1. The New England District Championship replaced the NE
Regional Championship and was won by a Canadian, a first for a U.S. Class sanctioned
regatta. The association also began documenting rigging and maintenance ideas for
the class membership. Some of the tips are included in this handbook.
1976 was the first year that the U.S. Nationals were held outside: of North Carolina.
Entries came from Canada, many New England states and North Carolina to provide
on the starting line the largest U.S. Nationals to date. The success of the 1976
Nationals has caused the officers to look into moving future Nationals to different
areas of the country. This also was the first year full Class Association memberships
were given to all owners of new Tanzer 16's. Since that time, the Nationals have
been held in both New Bern, N.C., and again in Falmouth, Mass. The 1979 U.S. Nationals
were held in the shadow of the Edenton, N.C., Tanzer plant.
In 1979, the Class Association made an effort to put the administrative duties under
the guidance of an Executive Secretary. Although this plan was not successful, the
Class Association remained committed to providing full and prompt service to its
members.
1982 saw the merger of the Canadian and United States class associations into one
international organization serving Tanzer 16 sailors worldwide. The new international
Tanzer 16 Class Association is still headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina near
Fleets #1 and #2, which are the nucleus of Tanzer 16 activity.
The cessation of production of Tanzer 16s in early 1986 and the subsequent demise
of Tanzer Industries into receivership later that year threatened the continuity
of our boat. Since the Tanzer 16 is too good a sailboat to allow to fade away, The
Tanzer 16 Resurrection Committee was formed in the fall of 1986 for the purpose
of continuing the manufacture of the boat. The Resurrection Committee was led by
co-chairmen George Smart and Pete Thorn, and included Ken Whitt, Lawrence Miller,
Matt Fleming, Bennett Perry and Bob Macklen. Through the efforts of this committee,
the Class Association was able to raise the money necessary to purchase the trademark,
molds, and rights to manufacture the Tanzer 16. With the sale of all new boats there
shall be a new revenue source to the Class Association that shall be used to promote
the Tanzer 16.
In the summer of 1987, the Class Association acquired the molds and the rights of
manufacture for the Tanzer 16, and is currently negotiating with Frank and Rhoda
Meldau, Raleigh area boat builders known for their high quality Isotope catamarans,
to build Tanzer 16s. Hopefully, this exciting new development will result in a bright
future for our boat. The Tanzer 16 Class can now join the ranks of other one-design
class associations that own and control their boat, such as the Lightning, Snipe
and Interlake.