History of Babs/Magic #111

Posted in: 1930s, Our Fleet
By Ted Weihe
Oct 3, 2009 - 4:57:25 PM

History and Race Record of Babs/Magic #111 (likely originally called Defender)

On November 8, 2008, Ted Weihe of the Chesapeake 20 Association acquired Babs/Magic from Don Hedler.  Magic is one of three, Mower-designed Chesapeake 20s and was built by the Cap’n Dick Hartge in about 1937 according to Vern Gingell, the second owner of Vanity.  Vanity is the first Mower designed 20 built by John Gregory, and the second, is Carlsark (now Gay Lady), owned by the Crandall family.

Magic has a pointer bow, lower freeboard, arched deck at the head of the centerboard and narrower cockpit than more traditional, Hartge built 20s.  Magic has riveted cedar planks, and some bolts, unlike any other C-20.   According to our records, Babs/Magic was originally known as Defender since Defender and Babs have the same sail number #111.  Cap’n Dick raced Defender in 1937 and Jack Zimmer in 1938 and many years later.  Vanity had sail # 101.

Babs/Magic has a successful race record.  She was built in 1936 or 37.  She was originally built for and owned by Jack Zimmer who named her after his daughter, Barbara.  His son, Jack Zimmer lives in St. Michaels and earlier at Caulk Point in Galesville.  Later, she was owned by Boonie Harding.  Babs won the 1939 WRSC Summer Series, and finished fifth in the 1940 WRSC Summer Series.  In 1941, Babs tied for second at the WRSC Annual regatta; finished second at the Indian Landing Regatta; third at the Annapolis Regatta; and fourth at the President’s Cup.  She was third at the 1945 WRSA Annual Regatta.    

Babs was bought and restored in 1959 by Buddy Hartge who renamed her Att-A-Way and represented the Rock Hall Yacht Club at the time.  The new name comes from bowling or as he said, “you gotta make the bowling ball go “ataway” to get a strike.  In 1963, she finished third at the WRSC Annual Regatta; second at Indian Landing; and third for the overall Chesapeake Bay High Point Award.  Buddy Hartge finished third at the 1964 WRSC Annual Regatta.  She was sold to Bill Gay who renamed her Attagay and was raced on and off from 1969 until 1980.  She was third at the Hartge Series in 1970, first in the 1971 WRSC summer series, fifth out of 13 at the WRSC annual regatta in 1974, fourth in the Margaret Hoffman race to Annapolis in 1975, and fifth at the WRSC Annual Regatta in 1975.  She was in middle of the fleet during various regattas in the 1980s.  She was sailed less as Bill and Grace Gay became regular race committee managers for the 20 fleet.    She was sold to Maryland Harmon in 1990 and renamed Magic.  She was only raced occasionally during the 90s.  Magic was eventually given to Don Hedler in a dispute over some pavement work on her home.  He raced her twice at the Oxford and West River Annual regattas in 1993 which is her last recorded races.  Subsequently, Magic had been left in an open field, but is in relatively good shape, needs a new bottom, and overall restoration.   She is currently being restored by Alex De Tessieres.

Race Record

Babs      #111                      Jack Zimmer won WRSC Summer Series in 1939

                                                Jack Zimmer finished 5th in WRSC Summer Series in 1940

                                                Jack Zimmer tied for second at 1941 WRSC Annual Regatta

Oscar Hartge was second at Indian Landing Regatta, August 25, 1941, and fourth in Presidents Cup, 1941

Jack Zimmer of Arlington finished 3rd at Annapolis Regatta, June 11-13, 1941

                                                Vernon Gingell finished 3rd, 1945 WRSC Annual Regatta  

Att-A-Way #111                Buddy Hartge is third in WRSC Annual Regatta in 1963, second at Indian Landing Regatta and third in High Point for 1963

                                                Buddy Hartge was third in WRSC Annual Regatta in 1964

                                                Maryland Todd Harmon was second in Margaret Hoffman Race in 1965

 

Attagay                #111                     Bill Gay was sixth in Margaret Hoffman Race in 1969

                                                Billy Gay was fifth in Dick Hartge Series, Sept. 21 and 28, 1969

                                                W. Gay was 5th in Hartge Series, Sept. 20 and 27, 1970

                                                Gay was second in 1971 WRSC Summer Series

                                                Owned by Billy Gay and raced by Carroll Smith to 12th in 74 Golden Regatta

                                                Billy Gay finished 5th in WRSC Annual Regatta, 1974

                                                Finished 2nd in 1970 WRSC Summer Series

                                                Finished 4th in Harding-Gay Series in July 10, 1971

                                                Billy Gay was first in WRSC Summer Series (7 races) for 1971

                                                Billy Gay was 4th in Margaret Hoffman Race in 1975

                                                Billy Gay was 5th in WRSC Annual Regatta, 1975

                                                Raced by D. Zang in 1991

Billy Gay in Hoffman Race in 1980, coming in 5th, also raced summer series and Hartge Series. Also 79 summer series,

Magic    #111                      Dick Hartge and Shady Side Regattas by Marilyn Harmon in 1990

                                                Hartge Series, 12th in 83, summer series in 81, 6th in 81 Hoffman Race

                                                First in 1991 WRSC Annual Regatta (out of 14), raced by Delbert Zang

                                                Seventh at St Michaels Regatta in 1992 by Marilyn Harmon

Ninth in Oxford Regatta and eight at WRSC Annual Regatta by Don Hedler in 1995