Vineyard Race celebrates 80th running of the East Coast classic

by Charles Barthold on 19 Aug 2014 This year’s running of the Vineyard Race (hosted by Stamford Yacht Club) will be bigger than ever and offers racers a choice of options, one that will fit every racing style and need.


The 80th running of the race will be held over Labor Day weekend with the start and finish of Stamford Harbor in Connecticut.

There will be IRC, HPR an PHRF spinnaker divisions, multihull and an IRC doublehanded division for the classic Vineyard course out to Buzzards Bay and back. If there are sufficient entries, a PHRF doublehanded division may be formed as well. There will be PHRF spinnaker and non spinnaker divisions for the shorter Cornfield Point and Seaflower Reef courses inside Long Island Sound and may include PHRF doublehanded if there is a demand. There will also be special PHRF classic boat scoring on the Vineyard course for the Bounding Home Trophy.

Boats that meet the following additional requirements are invited to enter the race:

(a) All boats must have a length overall of 29 feet or longer.

(b) Boats may race IRC if they have a current IRC certificate. IRC boats rating 1.080 or higher (faster) must have an Endorsed certificate. Boats racing for the Northern Ocean Racing Trophy (NORT), the Double-handed Ocean Racing Trophy (DH-ORT) and/or the Gulf Stream Series Trophy must have Endorsed certificates.

(c) Boats may race PHRF for the Vineyard Race course if their PHRF rating (YRA of LIS distance rating) is 129 seconds/mile or faster. The New England Lighthouse Series (NELS) is dedicated to PHRF boats rating 90 and higher (slower).

(d) Boats may race ORR if there are adequate entries to form a class or classes.

(e) Boats may race HPR if they have a current HPR certificate.

(f) Boats electing the Seaflower Reef Course must have either an IRC rating between 0.880 and 1.045 or a PHRF rating from 69 to 147 (YRA of LIS distance rating).

(g) Boats electing the Cornfield Point Course must have a PHRF rating from 90 to 198 (YRA of LIS distance rating).

(h) Cruising Boats – Boats rated PHRF 123 seconds/mile or faster may sail on the Vineyard Course, with spinnaker, provided it is tacked at the stem with no longer than a 3’ line. Spinnaker poles and bow sprits of any kind are NOT permitted. Such boats will race at their YRA-LIS Spinnaker Rating.

(i) Mini-650 or Mini Transat Class boats with a minimum crew of two (2) are permitted.

Finally, the Corinthian Challenge is back. Last year’s overall winner, Patriot, was a product of the Corinthian Challenge created to encourage participation by high school and college students.

To enter, click here.