Mills Trophy IRC division may double in 101st year

by US-IRC Media on 12 Apr 2008 For four years the Toledo Yacht Club - Storm Trysail Club Mills Trophy Race has offered excellent IRC racing on Lake Erie. This year organizers hope to double the size of this division to about 36 boats. This year the 75-mile overnighter starts at 5:30 pm on June 6th and finishes the next day.

This is the 101st year of the race first sailed in 1907. For a history of the event and entry information go to www.toledoyachtclub.com/millsrace/.

'The Mills Trophy Race is the largest racing event on Lake Erie,' noted Race Chairman Don Woods. 'Each year we attract a fleet of over 165 yachts, of which over 120 sail with spinnakers. This will be the 4th year we have an IRC Division. Last year we had 18 yachts that sailed under the IRC Rule. We hope to double that number for this year's event.'

The 75-mile overnight race starts on Friday at 5:30PM, near the Toledo Harbor Light. It finishes Saturday at Put-In-Bay, on South Bass Island in Lake Erie. The event is a highly competitive race and the prize is the coveted Mills Trophy, one of the oldest trophies on the Great Lakes. We present a total of 49 trophies,' said Chairman Wood, 'and are very proud of the priceless pieces of silver that are awarded to the winners.

The Yacht Race is the highlight of the 5 days of festivities that begin on Wednesday June 4th with the Awards Banquet honoring the winners of the previous years event, features the famous Thursday night Mills Party at the Toledo Yacht Club that is attended by more than 3000 people, the race itself, the Saturday night Put-in-Bay Mills Party and concludes Sunday with the flag presentation for the winners. Not only do Sailors know how to sail, but they hold their own in their knowledge of parties.

The dates of the 2008 Mills Trophy Race events are as follows:
Wednesday June 4, 2008 The 2007 Awards Banquet
Thursday June 5, 2008 Mills Party at the TYC
Friday June 6, 2008 First Start at 5:30 PM
Saturday June 7, 2008 Put-In-Bay Mills Party
Sunday June 8, 2008 Flag Presentation

How to get IRC
Owners and Organizing Authorities wishing to adopt IRC for their events should contact US-IRC Executive Director Luiz E. Kahl for help with the process luiz@us-irc.org.

The US SAILING Offshore office administers the IRC rule in the US. Yacht owners should contact Nathan Titcomb at irc@ussailing.org for help with certificate application or with rating questions.

For all US-IRC latest news, events and seminars check out the US-IRC web site at www.us-irc.org and go racing with us.