Tom Blackaller
Encyclopedia
Thomas David Blackaller, Jr. (January 6, 1940 - September 7, 1989) was a world-champion American yachtsman, America's Cup
helmsman, sailmaker, and racecar competitor. He was a two-time world champion in the Star class
keelboat
, a world champion in the international Six metre class, raced in three separate America's Cup campaigns, and influenced the careers of many other sailors.
area as a child and began sailing when he was 10 years old.
keelboats. He bought his first Star boat in 1957, a chubby hull #2482, named "Spirit." Seeking a faster boat, Blackaller ordered a new boat that winter from boatmaker Carl Eichenlaub. This became boat hull #3938, which he named Good Grief! He later obtained a second, newer boat hull (#5150), retaining the boat name Good Grief! Sailing this second boat in 1968 he won his first major events, taking a Silver Star at the Western Hemisphere Spring Championship and then a second Silver Star at the North American Championship. Blackaller won district championships (5th District) in 1971 and in 1979. In 1974 and 1980 he won the Star Class world championship, receiving Gold Stars for those wins.
He became known among fellow competitors as Charlie Brown
, because he liked to clown around, and the name of his boat evoked the character of the same name from the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz.
As Blackaller became more accomplished he began competing internationally, initially in the 6-Meter class. In 1969 the St. Francis Yacht Club became involved in the Australian-American Challenge, a new international 6-Meter competition. The club bought an Olin Stephens
-designed 6-Meter named Toogooloowoo IV, originally owned by John Taylor of Australia. Renamed St. Francis, Blackaller helmed her to victory in the November 1970 challenge in Australia
, defeating the very same John Taylor and his new Stephens Six, Toogooloowoo V. The first World Cup in 6-Meters was held in Seattle in 1973, which Blackaller also won.
Blackaller's fame in yacht racing grew largely through sailing 12 Meter
s in his America's Cup
campaigns of 1980, 1983 and 1986. Blackaller came aboard as tactician for helmsman Russell Long and his defender entrant Clipper, but the boat lost out for the right to represent the New York Yacht Club
in defense of the America's Cup to Dennis Conner and Freedom. In 1983, he skippered Defender, but again lost to Dennis Conner, this time sailing Liberty, which ultimately lost the Cup to the wing keeled Australia II
. In 1986, Blackaller became skipper of USA (US-61), a very fast, experimental design with fore-and-aft rudders and a ballast pod known as "the geek." USA (US-61) was one of thirteen yachts that competed to be selected challenger for the America's Cup. She reached the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-finals, where she lost to Conner's Stars & Stripes 87
. Stars & Stripes 87 went on to win 1987 America's Cup
.
By 1988, Blackaller turned to multihull sailing. This marked his shift from quasi-amateur status to paid professional sailor. He began to campaign a Formula 40 catamaran in the $500,000 ProSail Series, which commenced August 11, 1988, in Newport, Rhode Island. The four-day regatta in Newport was the first of three national meets that year that included San Francisco, Oct. 6-9, and Miami, Dec. 8-11. (Lloyd, 1988) In the 1989 ProSail Series, he helmed his catamaran to win two races to one against Randy Smyth, reported at the time as America's top catamaran sailor. Blackaller was preparing to compete in the San Francisco race of that series at the time of his death.
RT4 in the WCAR Formula Atlantic Championship. He switched to sportscar racing in the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association
) Championship. In March 1989, he finished 25th overall in the 12 Hours of Sebring
in a Spice SE88P-Buick. He went on to drive an Argo JM19-Mazda entered by Jim Downing.
Later in 1989, Blackaller entered a Swift Engineering
DB2 Sports 2000 with Sonoma County (California)-based Pfeiffer Ridge Racing for the IMSA 300 Kilometer race to be held at nearby Sears Point Raceway (now Infineon Raceway
), on 10 September of that year.
Blackaller suffered a heart attack while practicing for that race.
, a position that helped to cover the costs of most of his racing as an amateur and quasi-amateur. He managed the North Loft in San Francisco 1973-80 and North Sails West 1980-85. He was considered one of North's most visible and audible "Tigers."
San Francisco Big Boat Series at the St. Francis Yacht Club, recounting many of these tales. The tribute was preceded by a collection of tales at the daily sailing electronic newsfeed Sailing Scuttlebutt and by posting of a dedicated website.
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
helmsman, sailmaker, and racecar competitor. He was a two-time world champion in the Star class
Star class
Star class could refer to:* Star-class sailboats raced in the Summer Olympic Games since 1932* GWR star-class locomotives from the 19th century.* GWR 4000 class locomotives from the early 20th century.* Stellar classification...
keelboat
Keelboat
Keelboat has two distinct meanings related to two different types of boats: one a riverine cargo-capable working boat, and the other a classification for small- to mid-sized recreational sailing yachts.-Historical keel-boats:...
, a world champion in the international Six metre class, raced in three separate America's Cup campaigns, and influenced the careers of many other sailors.
Early life
Blackaller was born January 6, 1940, in Seattle, Washington. He moved with his parents to the San Francisco BaySan Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
area as a child and began sailing when he was 10 years old.
Sailing career
Tom Blackaller initially rose to prominence sailing Star classStar class
Star class could refer to:* Star-class sailboats raced in the Summer Olympic Games since 1932* GWR star-class locomotives from the 19th century.* GWR 4000 class locomotives from the early 20th century.* Stellar classification...
keelboats. He bought his first Star boat in 1957, a chubby hull #2482, named "Spirit." Seeking a faster boat, Blackaller ordered a new boat that winter from boatmaker Carl Eichenlaub. This became boat hull #3938, which he named Good Grief! He later obtained a second, newer boat hull (#5150), retaining the boat name Good Grief! Sailing this second boat in 1968 he won his first major events, taking a Silver Star at the Western Hemisphere Spring Championship and then a second Silver Star at the North American Championship. Blackaller won district championships (5th District) in 1971 and in 1979. In 1974 and 1980 he won the Star Class world championship, receiving Gold Stars for those wins.
He became known among fellow competitors as Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown
Charles "Charlie" Brown is the protagonist in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.Charlie Brown and his creator have a common connection in that they are both the sons of barbers, but whereas Schulz's work is described as the "most shining example of the American success story", Charlie...
, because he liked to clown around, and the name of his boat evoked the character of the same name from the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz.
As Blackaller became more accomplished he began competing internationally, initially in the 6-Meter class. In 1969 the St. Francis Yacht Club became involved in the Australian-American Challenge, a new international 6-Meter competition. The club bought an Olin Stephens
Olin Stephens
Olin James Stephens II was an American yacht designer of the 20th century. Stephens was born in New York, but spent his summers with his brother Rod, learning to sail on the New England coast. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a term.Stephens' name had a long history...
-designed 6-Meter named Toogooloowoo IV, originally owned by John Taylor of Australia. Renamed St. Francis, Blackaller helmed her to victory in the November 1970 challenge in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, defeating the very same John Taylor and his new Stephens Six, Toogooloowoo V. The first World Cup in 6-Meters was held in Seattle in 1973, which Blackaller also won.
Blackaller's fame in yacht racing grew largely through sailing 12 Meter
12-metre class
The 12 Metre Class is a rating class for racing boats designed to the International rule. It enables fair competition between boats that rate in the class whilst retaining the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. The first 12 Metres were built in 1907. The 12 Metre Class was...
s in his America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
campaigns of 1980, 1983 and 1986. Blackaller came aboard as tactician for helmsman Russell Long and his defender entrant Clipper, but the boat lost out for the right to represent the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
in defense of the America's Cup to Dennis Conner and Freedom. In 1983, he skippered Defender, but again lost to Dennis Conner, this time sailing Liberty, which ultimately lost the Cup to the wing keeled Australia II
Australia II
Australia II is the Australian 12-metre-class challenge racing yacht that was launched in 1982 and won the 1983 America's Cup for the Royal Perth Yacht Club...
. In 1986, Blackaller became skipper of USA (US-61), a very fast, experimental design with fore-and-aft rudders and a ballast pod known as "the geek." USA (US-61) was one of thirteen yachts that competed to be selected challenger for the America's Cup. She reached the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-finals, where she lost to Conner's Stars & Stripes 87
Stars & Stripes 87
Stars & Stripes 87 was the 12 Meter challenge boat sailed by Dennis Conner in his bid to reclaim the America’s Cup from the Royal Perth Yacht Club of Australia in 1987.-Design and Development:...
. Stars & Stripes 87 went on to win 1987 America's Cup
1987 America's Cup
The 1987 America's Cup was the twenty-seventh challenge for the America's Cup and the first time for 132 years that it had not been defended by the New York Yacht Club....
.
By 1988, Blackaller turned to multihull sailing. This marked his shift from quasi-amateur status to paid professional sailor. He began to campaign a Formula 40 catamaran in the $500,000 ProSail Series, which commenced August 11, 1988, in Newport, Rhode Island. The four-day regatta in Newport was the first of three national meets that year that included San Francisco, Oct. 6-9, and Miami, Dec. 8-11. (Lloyd, 1988) In the 1989 ProSail Series, he helmed his catamaran to win two races to one against Randy Smyth, reported at the time as America's top catamaran sailor. Blackaller was preparing to compete in the San Francisco race of that series at the time of his death.
Motorsports involvement
In addition to his sailing career, Tom Blackaller also raced cars. In the early 1980s he drove a RaltRalt
RALT was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the RALT name...
RT4 in the WCAR Formula Atlantic Championship. He switched to sportscar racing in the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
) Championship. In March 1989, he finished 25th overall in the 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
in a Spice SE88P-Buick. He went on to drive an Argo JM19-Mazda entered by Jim Downing.
Later in 1989, Blackaller entered a Swift Engineering
Swift Engineering
Swift Engineering is an American engineering firm, most notable for producing racing cars for a variety of open-wheel racing series, including Champ Car World Series, Formula Atlantic, and Formula Nippon.-History:...
DB2 Sports 2000 with Sonoma County (California)-based Pfeiffer Ridge Racing for the IMSA 300 Kilometer race to be held at nearby Sears Point Raceway (now Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
), on 10 September of that year.
Blackaller suffered a heart attack while practicing for that race.
Sailmaking career
Blackaller worked as a sailmaker for Lowell NorthLowell North
Lowell North is an American sailor and Olympic Gold Medalist, born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where he received a gold medal in the star class with the boat North Star, together with Peter Barrett.He received a bronze medal in the dragon...
, a position that helped to cover the costs of most of his racing as an amateur and quasi-amateur. He managed the North Loft in San Francisco 1973-80 and North Sails West 1980-85. He was considered one of North's most visible and audible "Tigers."
Colorful personality
What made Blackaller so widely known was his extremely colorful, opinionated, free-wheeling, and mischievous personality. Blackaller stories were so prevalent and enjoyed that web pages sprang up following his death to share them. On September 9, 2009, occasioned by the 20th anniversary of his death, a tribute was held by his friends and colleagues at the RolexRolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
San Francisco Big Boat Series at the St. Francis Yacht Club, recounting many of these tales. The tribute was preceded by a collection of tales at the daily sailing electronic newsfeed Sailing Scuttlebutt and by posting of a dedicated website.
Death
On Thursday, September 7, 1989, Blackaller was practicing for the IMSA 300 Kilometer race to be held on September 10 at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma County when he suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his car. The car slowed, and watchers described that it "parked itself gently" in the safety fencing surrounding the track with minimal damage. Rescuers found Blackaller unconscious. He was immediately transferred by helicopter to Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, California, where he later was pronounced dead.Family
Blackaller was survived by his wife, Christine; his daughters, Lisa and Brooke, both of San Francisco; his father, Thomas Sr. of Berkeley, Calif., and two sisters, Nancy Hardie of Kirkland, Wash., and Lois Wolfe of Santa Cruz, Calif.Blackaller Buoy
Following Blackaller's death, members of the St. Francis Yacht Club decided to establish one of their permanent racing marks as the "Blackaller Buoy." It is a buoy that forms an official racecourse mark for yacht racing on San Francisco Bay. The Yacht Racing Association of San Francisco Bay lists it as mark number 16. The buoy is a yellow column-shaped buoy labeled in black letters "Blackaller," 0.2 nautical mile (0.3704 km) east of San Francisco's Fort Point. Contemporaries cited his colorful personality along with his demonstrated racing acumen as central to his impact on sailing. YRA Mark 16 was designated the Thomas D. Blackaller Jr. Memorial Buoy by the YRA Board of Directors, and its maintenance is funded by the Thomas D. Blackaller Jr. Fund.External links
- Bolles, David and Skip Allen, "Remembering Tom Blackaller" Star Class Association Website, June 29, 2003.
- Latitude 38, Central Bay Marks.
- Lloyd, Barbara, "Tom Blackaller, 49, Competitor in America's Cup", New York Times, September 8, 1989.
- Lloyd, Barbara, "Yachting Catamarans in Racing Series", New York Times, August 8, 1988.
- Motorsport Memorial "Tom Blackaller".
- Remembering Blackaller website.
- Roberts, Rich, "Competition Was Enough For Him", Los Angeles Times, September 14, 1989.
- Scuttlebutt, Blackaller page.
- Scuttlebutt, Blackaller forum.
- Sailing World, "Tom Blackaller, Lowell North's First Rockstar Tiger", April 24, 2002.
- Street, Tim, "Modern Six-Metre’s Newsletter No. 1", International Six-Metre Association, December 13, 2005.