Crew Trophy or Trophy Crew?

I've still got most of my crew trophies, made from silver, pewter, wood,
cotton, and this one which has actually gotten the most mileage by far.
 It's spent time in my garage, bookshelf, and summers down below in Bay
Rhumb. Sometimes your least conspicuous possessions
carry the most weight, and this piece is no exception.

Dad and I had a few good years, actually a few really good years

racing the Penguin together before I plain just got too big for the

boat.  Here I am, 11 years old and no doubt big for my age but

still shorter than my Dad.  Three years later, I would be almost five

inches taller than him, and a bit heavier.  From 1969 through '72, we 

raced all the BBYRA races, as well as Toms River Fall and Spring

 Series, Bay Head Frostbites, New Years Day on Long Island and 

Staten Island, a few memorial regattas, Downer regattas, 

Metedeconk River Yacht Club Labor Day Handicap Races around 

Herring Island. Gibson Island, Tred Avon, Severn River, Miles River,

 Choptank, Packanack Lake, Carnegie Lake for God's sake, Gobbler 

Bowl, Turkey Bowl, the frickin' Schuylkill (with Carnegie, two of the 

most God-awful places to race sailboats, but the best to row boats),

Cooper River, the Delaware, the Potomac (with a thermos of hot

buttered rum for the skipper)  Region IIs, ACs, Nationals, and one

Internationals in Babylon NY.  A local sailor, Mel Reid, won with

 South American sailors in the next few spots.  I remember being

glad that an American won, and I'll never forget the trophy 

presentation.  Somebody put one of those fake rubber puddles

of vomit in the silver bowl that Mel was presented.  One of my

most vivid memories.  I was 10.  Maybe that explains things.

Gibson Island, home of Penguin legend Len Penso.  I clearly remember
sailing there, but maybe we didn't do so well, hence the generic no 'place'
designation on the 'trophy'.  I chuckle to myself when I think what may have
been the reason that I, as an eight year old, got custody of this ashtray.
It's clear that this trophy has also gotten some serious mileage.
There may have been some foresight involved in the decision.

Following are some of the duties expected of the crew.

The crew must procure the donuts at the registration table he has

 been thinking about since 6 a.m.  Jelly and cream-filled are 

priorities. Arrival time dictates whether

 or not they will be obtained. 

The crew must fend other boats while skipper sails boat without

rudder secured in gudgeons due to the shallow water.

The crew must pull string during tacking to twist the mast so it is 

pointing toward the wind.

The crew must hike in a puff and get the hell down in a lull.

The crew shall be seen and not heard.

The crew shall not point one's finger in any direction, so as not to 

give any trailing boats a hint as to what crew's boat may do next.  

The crew shall make sure no lines are dragging overboard, so as not

to slow the boat down.

The crew shall not drag one's hand in the water as a result of being 

bored to death in light or no-wind races, so as not to 

slow the boat down.

The crew shall not move suddenly or jerkily, so as not to alter the 

course of the boat, or slow the boat down.

The crew shall be seen and not heard.

In my garage.  The two championship banners I grabbed from my

Old Man's house after he died.  The rooster and qualifier flag I got

as well.  These represent the 'cotton' trophies.  I was a part of the

two big banners, the rooster came after I got too big, and the '53

flag came when I was but a twinkle in my Dad's eye.  That one may

have been the very first year he sailed in the BBYRA.  I knew then, 

that may be one worth grabbing.