New York YC Annual Regatta Preview

 

(Newport, RI)- North America's oldest annual regatta will feature three great days of racing including the separately scored Around-the-Island Race on Friday, October 2. Competition will take place in ORC/ PHRF handicap classes and during the Two-Day Series the PRO's and regatta managers intend sail in the format that the fleets are accustomed to - i.e. drop-mark buoy racing for most and navigator racing for some. The focus of this year's event is getting back on the water and sailing. At this time, there are no planned shoreside or social activities. 

Perhaps the most anticipated race of the entire summer is the famous Round Jamestown Race of 18.0 to 25.0nm, depending on course selection. The picturesque race that is a "tour" of Narragansett Bay around Conanicut Island takes the fleet through the two majestic bridges connecting Aquidneck Island to the mainland- the Newport Pell Bridge and the Jamestown Bridge.  The scratch sheet shows five J's sailing in the ORC 3 Class, including twin J/44s (NYYC Commodore Bill Ketcham's MAXINE & Ken Luczynski's VAMP), twin J/109s (Bill Kneller's VENTO SOLARE & Bill Sutton's LEADING EDGE), and John & Sue Sutherland's J/111 19th NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. In PHRF 1 Class, Bob Manchester's J/133 VAMOOSE will be taking on their ten-boat class in a game of "cat & mouse" around the island. Sailing in PHRF 2 Class is Joe Britto's J/121 INCOGNITO, arguably one of the most knowledgeable "round islanders" in the fleet, having sailed them for over four decades.  Finally, an eclectic collection of boats in PHRF 3 Class, we find EC Helme's J/92S SPIRIT and Don Dwyer's J/109 GUARDIAN J. 

For the round buoys (drop or government) racing on Saturday/ Sunday, the scratch sheet is different.  Sailing offshore on Rhode Island Sound is the Blue Circle fleet, including the ORC 3 Class with the same five J's as the Round Island Race, the J/44s (MAXINE & VAMP), J/109s (LEADING EDGE & VENTO SOLARE), and the J/111 19th NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. 

For the Red Circle Narragansett Bay participants, the twelve-boat PHRF 1 Class includes the J/133 VAMOOSE and the J/121 INCOGNITO. Then, the PHRF 2 Class has the J/92S SPIRIT as the sole J/team.  For more New York YC Annual Regatta sailing information