Andrew Dossett

Steve Virgen

For 21 days, Andrew Dossett sailed alone on the waters of the Pacific

Ocean. This was his race against himself. All to receive a trophy,

something he had never had in his 75-year-old life.

Dossett, a Newport Beach resident, sailed from Newport Harbor to

Hawaii. He left June 3 and arrived at the Waikiki Yacht Club 21 days

later, mainly because he wanted to see his name on a trophy.

“I had a pleasant voyage,” Dossett said. “It was the first time I

ever made a solo trip. It was an experiment for me. I was

comfortable. It was very peaceful, being on the sea by yourself for

21 days.”

Dossett and his boat, Bonnie Doone, spent two days practically

without motion as there was no wind. But he pressed on.

After arriving back to Newport Harbor last week, the Newport

Harbor Yacht Club, of which he is a part of, had a cold beer waiting

for him in his honor. The gesture capped a memorable journey that

provided Dossett with his name on a trophy.

Dossett became aware of a perpetual trophy that was given in honor

for conquering a challenge known as the Race Against Aging. Joseph

Antrim created the trophy and the “race” after his 19-day voyage from

San Diego to Hawaii when he was 78 in 1994.

The trophy would add a name once a sailor 75 or older would do the

same trip, single-handedly.

Dossett, who has been sailing since his childhood, had a strong

desire to have his name on the trophy as soon as he became 75 in

January. After all, he had been thinking about making the trip since

he was 35.

“About 40 years ago, my friend who is a mentor for me, Bill

Lamberg, sailed to Hawaii and I always wanted to do it,” Dossett

said. “After I did it, I called him and told him.”

Dossett was introduced to sailing in his childhood and when he was

16, his uncle, Al Barbee, would take him on trips. Ever since,

Dossett has always had a love for the ocean.

Dossett, originally from Beverly Hills, went to USC where he

studied foreign trade. After graduating, he started a business and

helped introduce inflatable boats in 1960.

In 1976, he and his family made their first trip to Hawaii, on the

same boat Dossett used this summer. Dossett and his wife, Corinne,

saw their children Paul, Ben, Andrea and John grow up on that boat,

the Bonnie Doone, which is also considered a member of the family.

Now, Andrew and Corinne have six grandchildren and they travel on

the boat, too. In the winter, Dossett and his wife will sail to

Mexico and stay there for a few months.

The Dossetts have been married for 33 years and since Andrew’s

retirement in 1984 the two have been sailing to various parts of the

world, including Japan, the Panama Canal, Scandinavia, Ireland and

many Caribbean islands.

While Dossett sailed to Hawaii, he missed his wife and his family,

but for the most part he was at peace.

“I never been by myself for more than three days,” Dossett said.

“I had no idea what it was going to be like. But, it didn’t seem to

faze me at all. It wasn’t particularly unique being by myself. I just

felt comfortable.

“There are people who say, ‘don’t you get bored?’ But there’s

always something to do when you are sailing. I was glad that I did it

and I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”