Eight Bells—Hank Jotzby Tom Burden
We've lost another of the great ones.
Henry (Hank) Jotz, a champion sailor and well-known Northern California sailmaker, died in October at the age of 83. A winner of 12 North American or national championships, he excelled in several one-design classes, most notably the El Toro, where he won eight North American titles and seven Bullship races. Hank was a top 505 competitor, teaming with Mark Heckman in 1974 to win the North Americans in Ontario Canada, with impressive single-digit scores in a fleet of over 100 505’s. He partnered with Bob Sutton to finish second in San Francisco in 1975, and finished fourth the following year. |
Hank won all these races using sails he designed. Racers with experience in the El Toro, Day Sailer, 505, San Francisco Pelican and many other classes know the iconic blue diamond logo, "Jotz Sails, Weaverville, CA." In the El Toro class, his sails were so dominant by the '90s that nearly all the top sailors carried them, and he had many variations for different skipper weights and mast flexibility ratings. In the Five-oh, Hank developed a new all-around spinnaker design that was easier to fly, highly influential in the evolution of this Grand Prix class.
His sailing and sailmaking accomplishments are legendary. He once won the Finn Pacific Coast Championships, at his usual sailing weight of about 125 pounds. Typical Finn sailors weigh about twice that weight. He finished third in the 1968 Flying Dutchman Olympic trials. El Toro sailors can argue whether Jotz or Kiu Lim, who won his ninth North American title four years ago, is the greatest of all time (GOAT), the way hoops fans compare Steph Curry with Michael Jordan. Jotz was a "natural," and comparing him with Warrior legend Curry is appropriate on another level. His sportsmanship, willingness to teach and his humility set Hank Jotz apart.
Hank grew up in San Francisco, graduating from Mission High in 1958. His high school years were spent in the Sea Scouts (SSS Viking #100). He credited Sea Scouting for teaching him the skills of a mariner, which helped him build several boats, according to Kit Stycket. His racing career began in the Lake Merced Sailing Club, and he was another talented employee of Jim DeWitt's iconic Richmond sail loft. Jotz opened his own sailmaking shop at 555 Illinois Street in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco, operating there from the '60s until the early '80s.
His sailing and sailmaking accomplishments are legendary. He once won the Finn Pacific Coast Championships, at his usual sailing weight of about 125 pounds. Typical Finn sailors weigh about twice that weight. He finished third in the 1968 Flying Dutchman Olympic trials. El Toro sailors can argue whether Jotz or Kiu Lim, who won his ninth North American title four years ago, is the greatest of all time (GOAT), the way hoops fans compare Steph Curry with Michael Jordan. Jotz was a "natural," and comparing him with Warrior legend Curry is appropriate on another level. His sportsmanship, willingness to teach and his humility set Hank Jotz apart.
Hank grew up in San Francisco, graduating from Mission High in 1958. His high school years were spent in the Sea Scouts (SSS Viking #100). He credited Sea Scouting for teaching him the skills of a mariner, which helped him build several boats, according to Kit Stycket. His racing career began in the Lake Merced Sailing Club, and he was another talented employee of Jim DeWitt's iconic Richmond sail loft. Jotz opened his own sailmaking shop at 555 Illinois Street in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco, operating there from the '60s until the early '80s.
A Richmond Yacht Club member now owns Bear Grotto, the 25' multi-chine plywood sailboat Jotz built in that loft. A delicate piece of craftsmanship with no engine, Jake van Heeckeren was said to have designed it as a "Moore 24 Killer”. Paul and Chrissie Kaplan of KKMI helped him launch his homemade boat at Gashouse Cove Marina, which they owned at that time.
In the early '80s Jotz made a big life change, ditching his San Francisco sail loft, the St. Francis Yacht Club and urban life, and moving to a piece of remote wilderness property in the Trinity Alps near Weaverville, west of Whiskeytown Lake. There he built his own A-Frame cabin, equipping it with dual solar-powered 12-volt DC and 110-volt AC electrical systems, just like a boat.
Folks kept ordering, and he kept building sails, using a gas-powered generator to run his sewing machine. He had no phone service until he got a cellphone in the late '90s; customers ordered by mail or in person. Hank would attend regattas in his mid-'70s Econovan, which he had outfitted as a cozy custom camper. By the mid-'90s he'd put over half a million miles on the vehicle, replaced the engine more than once and rebuilt the roof using fiberglass.
Folks bought Jotz sails because they were fast. In 1973 my dad bought a new El Toro for my sister, and we agreed that the sail had to be a Jotz. When Hank delivered it at the price of $94, Emily suddenly had the best speed on Lake Del Valle. His sails are still fast. Last July, Leah Ford finished second in the El Toro North Americans flying a Jotz F-150.
I was privileged to compete against Hank, or rather to get my butt kicked, regularly. He would often get a bad start and then would sail the right way, maintain excellent speed, and patiently pass everyone. He saw things the rest of us did not. But win or lose Hank was the same low-key, friendly guy, with a twinkle in his eye.
Vaughn Seifers remembers an El Toro North Americans race at Howard Prairie Lake, as Hank, Vaughn and I rounded the bottom mark together. Vaughn went left on the next beat. Hank went right. He waved "Bye bye” to Vaughn, in a Steph Curry-like bit of bravado. On the next crossing he was ahead of Vaughn by 100 yards. See ya!
Hank was an active member of the Whiskeytown Sailing Club. During the '90s the Whiskeytown Regatta on Memorial Day weekend was a big draw, with 50 junior and senior El Toros. Each year many of us would drive up a couple days early to be welcomed at Hank's place for a multi-day party.
Hank's life changed again as health problems necessitated a move back to the Bay Area in 2019. He moved back to the North Berkeley home of his ex-wife and long-time life partner. They took care of each other during alternating bouts of illness. She preceded him in death by several months.
Hank Jotz was a mentor, teacher and friend to many including me. He charted his own course and found success on his own terms.
Folks kept ordering, and he kept building sails, using a gas-powered generator to run his sewing machine. He had no phone service until he got a cellphone in the late '90s; customers ordered by mail or in person. Hank would attend regattas in his mid-'70s Econovan, which he had outfitted as a cozy custom camper. By the mid-'90s he'd put over half a million miles on the vehicle, replaced the engine more than once and rebuilt the roof using fiberglass.
Folks bought Jotz sails because they were fast. In 1973 my dad bought a new El Toro for my sister, and we agreed that the sail had to be a Jotz. When Hank delivered it at the price of $94, Emily suddenly had the best speed on Lake Del Valle. His sails are still fast. Last July, Leah Ford finished second in the El Toro North Americans flying a Jotz F-150.
I was privileged to compete against Hank, or rather to get my butt kicked, regularly. He would often get a bad start and then would sail the right way, maintain excellent speed, and patiently pass everyone. He saw things the rest of us did not. But win or lose Hank was the same low-key, friendly guy, with a twinkle in his eye.
Vaughn Seifers remembers an El Toro North Americans race at Howard Prairie Lake, as Hank, Vaughn and I rounded the bottom mark together. Vaughn went left on the next beat. Hank went right. He waved "Bye bye” to Vaughn, in a Steph Curry-like bit of bravado. On the next crossing he was ahead of Vaughn by 100 yards. See ya!
Hank was an active member of the Whiskeytown Sailing Club. During the '90s the Whiskeytown Regatta on Memorial Day weekend was a big draw, with 50 junior and senior El Toros. Each year many of us would drive up a couple days early to be welcomed at Hank's place for a multi-day party.
Hank's life changed again as health problems necessitated a move back to the Bay Area in 2019. He moved back to the North Berkeley home of his ex-wife and long-time life partner. They took care of each other during alternating bouts of illness. She preceded him in death by several months.
Hank Jotz was a mentor, teacher and friend to many including me. He charted his own course and found success on his own terms.