This Just in! - the 2011 Northeast Classic Yacht Regatta Schedule

The season has barely closed, and although most of the great classics in the Northeast have been put away for a well deserved break after a busy sailing season, that doesn't mean we can't start planning for 2011. And so we shall! It may be cold outside, but we can still dream of warm sunny days, sailing in quiet waters with friends while a stiff breeze moves us right along. Or, for those of you who enjoy a great race, keep cozy knowing that next season will once again bring you to stunning venues such as a full harbor in Nantucket during the Opera House Cup or the endless bustle of activity in Newport during the MoY Classic. The current dates and locations of regattas for 2011 are listed on the left - many with  links. We'll keep you posted as events develop. And, if you know of a well-organized classic regatta anywhere you'd like added to the list, please drop us a line.
-the Quartermaster

INDIAN HARBOR YACHT CLUB CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA

DILEMMA wins the Frank Bowne Jones ‘FOUNDER’S CUP’.

SONNY, WIZARD, DILEMMA and JOHN DORY win their classes

Grey skies and flat calm changed into a sparkling blue day with a steady breeze just in time for the start of Indian Harbor Yacht Club’s inaugural Classic Yacht Regatta. The race was the 5th of the well-known eastern seaboard ‘WoodenBoat Regatta Series’, beginning with the Herreshoff Rendezvous in Bristol, RI, in August and ending with the Mayor’s Cup in New York Harbor in October. Other ports of call include Newport’s Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta and the Heritage Cup Regatta in Hempstead Harbor.

The fleet of 24 wooden boats ranged in size from the 72ft TICONDEROGA, owned by Scott Frantz, to the 15ft Buzzard’s Bay NORTH RIVER 2. They traveled from as far away as Maine, Newport and Philadelphia to celebrate the importance of wooden boat restoration and preservation.The fleet was comprised of four competitive classes racing on two distance courses: 14 miles for the larger boats and 7 miles for the smaller boats. The large boats raced across the Sound to the North Shore of Long Island and down along the coast before crossing back on a fast track to finish off Greenwich. The smaller boats raced out into mid-Sound before reaching back across to the same finish line.

Lead changes occurred in every class as a result of differing tactics in addition to changing currents and wind strengths. Class A was won by the 1937 Sparkman and Stephen’s sloop SONNY (Joe Dockery-Greenwich), with 2nd place taken by the well-respected BLACK WATCH (Lars Forsberg- Greenwich). Third went to the 1926 50ft Q-Class NOR’EASTER. (Ted Graves-Stamford). A following breeze brought up the recently restored 1903 60ft gaff-rigged NELLIE (Jeff Boal and Fernando Alva-Stamford), the 1913 55ft P-Class BERNICE (Alex Dubitsky-Larchmont) and the 45ft NY-32 SALTY (Skip Bartley-NY).

North River Blog - The Indian Harbor Classic

It was good to see George Conk in Greenwich, CT this Fall at the IHYC Classic. George, and his crew Dave Seroy, are not shy about traveling distances to participate in a regatta - even in the charming, and petite, Buzzards Bay 14 known as NORTH RIVER 2. Here's a link to George's fine coverage of the IHYC Regatta including many wonderful photos. George also gave a great recap of another fun regatta in 2009 on Western Long Island Sound: the Hempstead Harbor Heritage Cup. Thanks George!

INDIAN HARBOR YACHT CLUB CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA August 8, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Greenwich (CT) August 6, 2010 – UPDATE: In anticipation of great breeze and blue skies, the Indian Harbor Yacht Club’s 122nd sailing season will include one of Western Long Island Sound’s most beautiful regattas. On September 18th, 2010 a fleet of classic yachts will gather together to race in the Captain’s Harbor area. The event will mark Indian Harbor’s inaugural hosting of the 5th race of the well-known eastern seaboard WoodenBoat Regatta Series, which starts with the Herreshoff Rendezvous in Bristol, RI, in August and ends with the Mayor’s Cup in New York Harbor in October. Other ports of call include the Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta in Newport and the Heritage Cup Regatta in Hempstead Harbor. Interest is high and the fleet is already comprised of some of the most beautiful boats in America, including the S&S yacht SONNY, the 1903 Herreshoff 60ft gaff-rigged NELLIE, the 1913 55ft P-Class yacht, BERNICE and the 1926 50ft Q-Class, NOREASTER IV. Also heading to the starting line will be a fleet of Concordias, S-Class boats and classics representing the best in vintage American yacht design, including Sparkman and Stephens, Alden, Herreshoff and Rhodes. Formal registration will open early August and the fleet will continue to expand over the coming weeks. To date, key sponsors are LEXUS, Horseneck Wines, Ella Vickers, Dannon and Pepsi. To register interest in the event as a sponsor or participant, please contact Shelia and Ted Graves. Additional event information can be found in the Regattas section online at http://www.indianharboryc.com/.