Smyth Wins Another Catamaran Race

It was like old times when Randy Smyth blew back into town this week to claim the Alter Cup, one of the few catamaran sailing titles he hadn’t won.

The cup represents the United States Yacht Racing Union’s national multihull championship, and Smyth, with crewman Glen Purcell, wrapped it up Friday at Long Beach, winning for the sixth time in nine races and allowing them to sit out the 10th.

Ten regional qualifiers sailed new Prindle 18-2s. Winds were a fresh 15-18 knots most of the week.

Smyth has been America’s dominant catamaran sailor for a decade. While living in Huntington Beach, he won two Tornado world championships and an Olympic silver medal at Long Beach in ’84. Last year he closed his sail-making business and moved to Mary Esther, Fla., to concentrate on his ProSail career, which has been financially rewarding.

Placing second were Jay Glaser, Smyth’s former crewman who now sails with his wife, the former Pease Herndon. They are ranked first on the five-boat U.S. team pointing to the ’92 Olympics. They won three races this week.