Boat Name: Ah Si Si

Sail: USA 110

Year Built: 1979

Designer: Doug Peterson

Builder: New Orleans Marine

Owner: David Chatham

History: Built for a San Francisco Bay Area syndicate headed by Malin Burnham to compete in the 1979 World Cup held in Seattle. Mr. Burnham, a Star World Champion, was a helmsman for the 12 meter Enterprise in the 1977 America’s Cup. The boat's name is a reference to San Francisco's namesake, St Francis if Assisi. Ah Si Si's first major regatta was the 1979 U.S. National Championship, which was sailed in Seattle 2 weeks prior to the 1979 World Cup. Mr. Burnham and Ah Si Si placed 5th of 15 and qualified (Top 12 finishers) to take part in the World Cup. There were 25 entries and some pretty hot sailors – Tom Blackaller, Ted Turner, Pelle Pettersen, the Bassani brothers, and Malin Burnham. The regatta took place in mid-September and there wasn’t any wind in the first 2 days. The third day was good to Ah, Si, Si – she won. For the rest of the regatta she was in the top 10, but not on the podium at the end. Her final placing was 6th place out of 25. A few days after the World Cup Mr Burnham entered Ah, Si, Si in the American-Australian Challenge Cup on San Francisco Bay. The 1979 event was the 5th running of this match race challenge series and Mr Burnham was eliminated from the Defender series, winning twice, but losing 3 times in the 4 boat round robin. Ah, Si, Si stayed in California for the 1981 season skippered by Dennis Durgan, who was connected to several Dennis Conner 12 meter efforts. Ah Si Si placed well in both the Cal Cup – 3rd – and the US Nationals – 3rd. The boat then went to Europe and eventually spent an extended stay in Sweden, first under Kai Siik, then several other owners. Her most recent international appearance was at the 2005 World Cup held in Sandhamn, after which she was sold to an owner in La Ciotat, France on the Med. She was restored, with much repair to her deck, and painted a beautiful Star & Stripes blue.
UPDATE: June 19, 2015 - Ah Si Si to rejoin the North American Fleet on Puget Sound. She is on her way across the Atlantic, then through the Panama Canal and on to Port of Tacoma. Expected on Puget Sound in late Summer 2015.