Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame: Bill Ficker

Terrance Phillips

“You don’t have to win the America’s Cup to be considered a good

sailor, you already have to be a good sailor to be considered for crewing

aboard a boat in the America’s Cup,” said Newport’s most celebrated

sailor, William P. Ficker.

In 1970, William “Bill” Ficker grasped hold of sailing’s “Holy Grail,”

skippering a 12-meter boat named Intrepid. He won the America’s Cup

representing the New York Yacht Club.

Originally from Pomona, Ficker became a permanent Newport resident in

1957 after countless summer and weekend visits with his parents. He

graduated from the University of California with a degree in architecture

where he also won the Pacific Coast and Intercollegiate championships.

However, Ficker’s first introduction to sailing began in 1941 when he

joined a Sabot racing program run next to the Beek pier.

“In those days, the Star was the boat. Everyone wanted to race that

class, so when I graduated from high school in 1941, my Dad presented me

with a new Star,” said Ficker with his permanently etched ear-to-ear

smile.

In 1958, he won the Star World Championship, just one feather in a

sailing cap that also includes wins in the Congressional Cup in 1974,

Southern Ocean Racing Conference in 1972, and the Admiral’s Cup Team in

1973. There are many others, which could fill this entire page.

In addition to his skippering prowess, Ficker is an accomplished

architect.

The Ficker Group has designed the $55 million Orange County correctional

facility, the engineering research laboratory for UCI, many retail

shopping malls, the Tustin and Irvine Auto Centers and is currently

designing an auto mall in Helena, Montana. He is considered an expert in

solving unique design problems.

Ficker has written extensively on the effects of the urban environment on

merchandising and selling and is a consultant to the Segerstrom family

and South Coast Plaza.

Ficker is the consummate gentleman, that of course is when he is on the

land. On the water, he’s a warrior, a titan, a cunning strategist and one

of the world’s most respected racing sailors.

He was the first sailor in yachting history to have won the three most

coveted trophies in yachting: the International Star World Championship,

the Congressional Cup and the America’s Cup. He is a member of the

Intercollegiate Hall of Fame.

Ficker is the past director of the North American Yacht Racing Union,

Staff Commodore of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, a senior judge for the

U.S. Yacht Racing Union and International Yacht Racing Union and was

instrumental in setting parameters for the new America’s Cup boats.

He was a member of the America’s Cup defense committee in 1995 and has

contributed to countless technological contributions for a variety of

racing boats.

Ficker also has set the stage for a growing identity most commonly

associated with Michael Jordan, ala the shaved head. Considering the

strategic and strong preparation skills that Ficker is known for, perhaps

he did this to prevent “drag” while racing on the water.

William “Bill” Ficker, Newport’s most celebrated sailor, now a member of

the Daily Pilot’s Sports Hall of Fame, celebrating the Millennium.