2019 New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta - Classics season kicks off
by Bill Lynn 15 Jun 2019 02:44 AEST
14-16 June 2019
Classics season kicks off - 2019 New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta © Classic Yacht Owners Association
13 classic yachts are registered for the season-opening 165th NYYC Annual Regatta this weekend, and they'll line up in two very competitive classes.
What this classics fleet lacks in quantity is more than offset by quality with some of the more iconic and recognizable names on the starting line. Classics 1 which is shaping up to be an epic battle of the S&S designs with Bogie's - now Wendy Schmidt's - Santana returning from two seasons in the Med to do battle with old nemeses Sonny and Dorade, owned and sailed by Craig Venter and Matt Brooks. Sam Croll and Henry Skelsey's iconic 8 Metre Angelita joins this party as does the Spirit of Tradition yacht Wild Horses which, while not an S&S, is sailed by the new owner of said design firm, Donald Tofias.
Half of Classics 2 is comprised of the two R boats Gamecock and Ruweida V, sailed by Peter McClennen and Joe Huber and two Luders 24s, Joe Loughborough's Belle and Chris Bouzaid's Leaf. The other half is made up of four 6 Metres including Jerry Goldlust's Cherokee, Bob and Farley Towse's Syce, Toby Rodes' Alana and Lucie which is being sailed by Bristol boatbuilder Jens Lange. Eight well-prepared boats sailed by competitive teams should make this class hotly-contested and podium finishes hard to come by, and the Aussie vs. Kiwi battle between Belle and Leaf should be particularly entertaining!
We're looking forward to some great racing this weekend, and we find it noteworthy that almost all of the owners of these fine yachts are members of CYOA. We appreciate their support and involvement! Daily results and news updates can be found on the NYYC event site here.