Allegra Mertz Explained

Allegra Mertz
Birth Name:Allegra Knapp
Nickname:Leggie
Birth Date:1913
Death Date:July 9, 1989

Allegra ("Leggie") Knapp Brickell Mertz (1913-1989) was a four-time United States' women's national sailing champion and the first women to receive the Nathaneal G. Herreshoff Trophy from US Sailing.

Sailing history

Mertz grew up sailing[1] and a 1954 Sports Illustrated article describes her tenacity and how she encouraged junior sailors.[2] Mertz won regattas in a range of boats including the Moth class,[3] the 210 class,[4] [5] and the Etchells class where she split helm duties with her husband James Mertz.[6] In the International One Design class she won the first IOD trophy in 1937, a silver seashell that is now given as the 'Allegra Trophy' for 2nd place at the IOD World Championship.[7]

Knapp was a four-time winner of the Mrs. Charles Francis Adams Trophy (1950, 1954, 1959, and 1963),[8] which placed her as the United States' women's national sailing champion in those years. She also won the Syce Cup trophy for the women's Long Island Sound championship eight times.[9] [10] [11] Her first win came in 1938 where she sailed with her sister-in-law Dorothy Knapp, Sarah Baylis, and the 13 year old Aileen Shields who was the youngest competitor of the event.[12]

Knapp was a longtime president of the Women's North American Sailing Committee.[13] [14] In 1954 she founded the International Blue Jay Association[15] and was Blue Jay class association president for 24 years. Her husband was also a commodore of the American Yacht Club.

Awards and honors

Mertz was the 1963 US Sailor of the Year[16] and in 1966 was the first woman to win the Nathaneal G. Herreshoff Trophy from US Sailing for "outstanding contribution to the sport of sailing" who highlighted both her contributions as a competitor and administrator, and for encouraging women in sailing.[17] [18] She was named to the International One Design World Class Association hall of fame.

As of 2021, the Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy is awarded each year to the winning women's match racing team in the United States.[19] Mertz is a nominee to join the National Sailing Hall of Fame.[20]

Personal life

Knapp married James Bain Brickell in 1937[21] and they had one son, James Brickell.[22] She later married James M. Mertz and they had a daughter, Allegra Mertz.

Notes and References

  1. News: 1989-07-10. Allegra K. Mertz, 76, Leading Yacht Figure. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-25. 0362-4331.
  2. Bavier, Jr.. Robert N.. September 13, 1954. Leggie Forever. en-us. 2021-10-25. Sports Illustrated Vault SI.com.
  3. News: 1948-01-26. Sutphen Is Leader Among Interclubs – Places First in 3 of 5 Races at Larchmont – Mrs. Mertz Winner in Moth Class. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-26. 0362-4331.
  4. News: 1958-09-28. James and Allegra Mertz Have Best Over-all Season's Mark in Sound Racing – Rye Husband, Wife Keep nall Trophy. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-26. 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: September 7, 1959. The Fair Sex and The Sea. 2021-10-25. Sports Illustrated Vault SI.com. en-us.
  6. Web site: June 16, 2017. Under Way. 2021-10-25. Soundings Online. en-us.
  7. Web site: Allegra "Leggy" Mertz. 2021-10-25. International One Design. en-US.
  8. May 1964. On the Racing Circuit. en. Motor Boating. 164.
  9. YRALIS Race Program 2020. en. 84-85. 2021-10-29. Issuu.
  10. News: 1967-08-10. Mrs. Mertz Takes Lead In Syce Cup Sailing Event. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-25. 0362-4331.
  11. News: 1963-07-12. Mrs. Mertz Takes Syce Cup on Sound. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-26. 0362-4331.
  12. News: Robbins. James. 1938-07-28. Larchmont Skipper Wins Cup. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-26. 0362-4331.
  13. News: Citizen Register. Ossining, New York. Leading Lady Sailor Sparks HRYRA Fete. December 1, 1956. 9.
  14. Web site: Allegra Mertz, 1961 Debutante, Betrothed to Owen Torrey Jr.. 2021-10-25. timesmachine.nytimes.com. en.
  15. Web site: Sail Blue Jay - History. 2021-10-25. www.sailbluejay.org.
  16. Web site: Annual Rolex Awards: Measuring Each Moment. 2021-10-25. Yachting. 7 May 2016. en.
  17. Web site: Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy Winners. 2021-10-25. National Sailing Hall of Fame. en-US.
  18. News: 1967-01-19. Bavier Is Chosen By Boating Union – Mrs. Mertz Also Is Honored by Yacht Racing Group. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-26. 0362-4331.
  19. Web site: Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophy. 2021-10-29. US Sailing. en-US.
  20. Web site: Mertz, Allegra. 2021-10-25. National Sailing Hall of Fame. en-US.
  21. News: 1937-05-25. Miss Allegra Knapp Wed to J.B. Brickell; Ceremony Takes place in Queens Church. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-10-26. 0362-4331.
  22. Web site: 2013-02-20. The First Frostbiters. 2021-10-25. Interclub Dinghy Class. en.

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