Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

The racing weekend ahead—Sailing news from the U.S. !!USE ON MAY 30!!

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 28 May 2013
Perfect conditions greeted the adventurous fleet heading out around Vancouver Island for the start of the 2011 Van Isle 360" David Schmidt
If you’re wired like most sailors, it’s tough to concentrate on anything except the racing schedule as the last of spring’s chill fades into the first (unofficial) warm days of summer. Irrespective of where you live, there’s great racing happening almost anywhere that there’s enough salt- or freshwater to float a boat and enough wind to power her sailplan. (And if you happen to live near Long Island Sound, your sailing options for the weekend are particularly impressive!) Here’s a roundup of some of this weekend’s upcoming racing action.

On the east coast, the Robbie Pierce One Design Regatta is taking place at American Yacht Club on Long Island Sound. Here, some 25-30 different crews of disabled sailors will compete aboard identical Ideal 18s (courtesy of American YC and Larchmont YC). According to the pre-race reports, sailors from more than a dozen different states as well as Canada are expected to compete, adding serious gravity to an already high-profile event.

Meanwhile, the Robbie Pierce Women’s Invitational Regatta is also taking place at American YC. This is the only North American regatta that’s geared towards disabled female sailors, so expect the competition to be strong. Stay tuned to the website for more from the Robbie Pierce events, as they unfurl.

Speaking of OD racing and Long Island Sound, Cedar Point Yacht Club is hosting their annual One Design Regatta on Saturday and Sunday. Racing will take place in J/109s, J/105s, J/92s, Beneteau First 36.7s, Soverell 33s, J/30s, J/70s, and Viper 640s and will no doubt feature some of the best OD sailors in New England (and beyond).

The Stamford Yacht Club is hosting their annual double-handed regatta this weekend, with sailors competing using the old PHRF handicap system. According to the scratch sheet, 24 boats are expected to compete, ranging in size and complexity from a C&C 25 up to a Morris 45.



And on the other side of Long Island Sound, the Oakcliff Sailing Center is hosting their Oakliff Open (an ISAF Grade 5 event), which will be sailed in SM40s. Each team will sail with a crew of 5 or six sailors. New this year to the event’s line-up is the one-day 'clinegatta', which is designed to help sailors elevate their skillsets.



And down south, in Hampton, Virginia, the Hampton Yacht Club is hosting its Southern Bay Race Week, starting Thursday and running through the weekend. According to the regatta’s preliminary scratch sheet, the event expects (ballpark) 90 boats to compete, ranging from a venerable San Juan 21 to a brand-new, lickety-split Farr 400. More, as it becomes known.

In the Midwest, the Michigan Open Sunfish Championship/Midwest Regional I is taking place this weekend in Richland, Michigan. According to the regatta’s website, loaner boats are available for Youth sailors, making this an approachable event for sailors of all ages. Besides the serious business of racing sailboats, the event also offers speed croquet and paddle boating and a huge beachside bonfire on Saturday night.



And back here in the Pacific Northwest, I’m sorry to have to report that 'Juneuary' arrived early this year, bringing with it its usual winter-like conditions on the eve of summer. One of the big races this year around here is the Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race (one of my personal favorite sailing events and easily one of the coolest races that I’ve ever participated in), which is a series of stage races, starting on June 7, that circumnavigate Vancouver Island. If you’re lucky enough to be sailing in this awesome event, pack your heavy-duty foulies and a warm fleece (or three) as racing around the northwest corner of Vancouver Island can be a truly wet and wild experience.

Have a great weekend of racing and be sure to stay tuned to the website for the latest international-sailing news, as it becomes known.

May the four winds blow you safely home,

Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTERSelden 2020 - FOOTERVaikobi 2024 December

Related Articles

Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom.
Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality.
Posted on 17 Jun
The Big Bash
Every summer the tournament rolls into town. A short format of the game. Fun and excitement abound. Every summer the tournament rolls into town. Local and international players. A short format of the game, run over a relatively compact six-week season.
Posted on 15 Jun
The oldest video footage of Kiel Week
A look back into our video archive at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s In our series of articles looking back in time through our video archive, we visit Germany. Kiel Week is been a crucial event on the world circuit, and here we look back at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s.
Posted on 15 Jun
Nick Olson on PredictWind's newest features
Nick Olson discusses PredictWind's newest features PredictWind has long been a leader in presenting high-quality marine forecasts. Nick Olson discusses the company's newest features.
Posted on 12 Jun
The X-Yachts Gold Cup Experience
A celebration of sailing, of X-Yachts and, most importantly of all, people Having just returned from Haderslev, Denmark - which is the home of X-Yachts and played host to the X-Yachts Gold Cup 2025 - I was left wondering if this was a racing event, a rally or a social celebration amongst close friends.
Posted on 10 Jun
Video Interview: Onboard the Excess 14
At the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 2025 Excess have moved forward their designs with the Excess 13 and 14 cruising catamarans, so seeing the Excess 14 was high on the priority list, as well as talking to some exceptional high performance sailors on board to learn their thoughts.
Posted on 3 Jun
Getting excited for the Van Isle 360
Quoting a famous line from Pink Floyd's "Time" As I pack for the first half of the 2025 Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race, I find myself thinking about the last time I did this race, a certain Pink Floyd song, and the great adventuring, sailing and time with friends that awaits.
Posted on 3 Jun
The call of the mighty
See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action, braving the elements, and glory for the victorious. As an Australian, you have King Louie (the late Lou Abrahams), and the late Sir Jim Hardy as the poster boys.
Posted on 1 Jun
Where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment
Seats, hoists, etc for sailors with a disability Several organisations have contributed their knowledge regarding where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment such as seats for dinghies and hoists for wheelchair users to get into boats.
Posted on 1 Jun