I always thought Dick Blanchard was the Godfather for open class sailing. I have seen him handscore all the races we ever had on Pensacola Bay for the NAMSA North Americans. That regatta was a real factory "Showdown" for a few years with up to seventy + boats in raging winds.

I believe Dick handed off the NAMSA ratings to Darline when he retired from NAMSA...??? Rick White would know the story, but it surely deserves to be recognized in the US Sailing Hall of Fame and historical collection.