The Shortened Version of the History of the Golden Gobbler Trophy

The Golden Gobbler trophy has been in existence only 8 years, but has come to an illustrious status in our racing community. It began its present life in 2001, salvaged from one of Victoria's dumpsters by the race sponsors, the Turkey Head Sailing Association, and presented to a racer (Larry Ellis) whose name was pulled from a hat (there had been too little wind to complete the 2 boat race).

The following year the weather Gods looked down on the Golden Gobbler and the same fortune came about, once again a name was pulled from a hat (Bill Soderlind) and the trophy was given for luck, not skill. But soon after the presentation, the Gobbler disappeared - apparently kidnapped, not  to return for several months. There were those who thought they knew the culprit, but the hostage returned carrying with him his own  trophy, a photo album showing he had been all over the globe, from lounging in Hawaii to skiing in the Alps.

But 2003 was full of excitement for the Gobbler. This year he was presented for skill, to the first place boat rather than for luck, and Bill Soderlind claimed his prize. But this year Mr. Soderlind was seen from time to time with the trophy chained and handcuffed to his body - no repeat of the kidnapping would occur.

And good fortune followed him again in 2004 as once more he was awarded for skill not luck, when Ron Hendricks won the bird. At sometime (it may have been years earlier) a song was written to honor the bird, whereupon it is told that many were asked to vacate a local inn somewhere in Victoria because they were singing too vigorously in honoring the bird.  And thanks to Ron, off he went to Hawaii (among other places), to lounge in the sun, adding more photos to his album.

2005 proved blustery with 25 knot winds for the race over and 30 knot winds for the trip back. The 2 hours, one minute and 31 seconds corrected time for the winner is no doubt a record to last for years. And the winner was Bill Soderlind, who (with crew Mike Kalahar) now basically "owns" the trophy having won it three of its five years. But it should be noted that once again. within a week, the trophy was missing.

2006 was the year for Ron Hendricks to repeat his victory, then in 2007 Rick Porter won it in Civita.

But one might think 2008 provided a new "low" for the trophy. In the four boat race, the smallest (and slowest rated) boat took the lead from the very beginning at the end of Ediz Hook and was easily first to finish, beating the only other boat to finish (Gone With The Wind) as well as two others.  Derek Platt, skipper of Skena, was being congratulated at the customs dock, when it was revealed that he had not been aware the race had actually started, and he was motoring the entire distance. Only Derek ..... So  Ron in Gone With The Wind was the only skipper to actually take his boat sailing  the full distance, but at the awards ceremony he "rexcused" himself from claiming the bird since he is the fleet captain, so instead he awarded it to Derek Platt with "special commendation for creative use of 2200 rpm."