Tooby Resigns as Eagle Chairman

George Tooby, top man in the Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Eagle Syndicate that hopes to challenge for the America’s Cup, has resigned from the group.

Tooby, 72, had been chairman of the board of directors since organizing the syndicate following Australia II’s victory over Liberty in 1983. The Pasadena businessman first enlisted Johan Valentijn to design a boat, then hired Rod Davis to sail it.

Gerry Driscoll, Eagle director of operations, said: “Without George’s foresight and his wish to make it happen, the Eagle program would not exist today.”

Tooby said: “I have found that my responsibilities with Eagle were more than I could discharge at this time.”

The directors will select a successor. Indications were it would not be Driscoll, a former America’s Cup campaigner, nor Gary Thomson, the syndicate president and chief fund-raiser. Neither is a member of the board.