Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

An interview with Clarke Smith on the 2020 Ted Hood Regatta

by David Schmidt 18 Aug 2020 08:00 PDT August 21-23, 2020
Ted Hood Regatta 2019 © Philip Smith Photography

When it comes to iconic New England sailing towns, few areas have turned out as many racecourse winners as Marblehead, Massachusetts. And amongst this who’s-who list of great sailors, precious few rival the legacy of naval architect and sailing phenom Ted Hood (1927-2013), who won the 1974 America’s Cup as the helmsman of Courageous and founded Hood Sails, Little Harbor Marine, and Ted Hood Yachts. Additionally, Hood earned an impeccable reputation for himself as the skipper of a series of boats named Robin, which he designed himself, and he also earned (and won) his way into the prestigious National Sailing Hall of Fame. So, when the Storm Trysail Club (of which Hood was a member) decided to host an annual regatta (established 2017) on the waters off of Marblehead, it made sense that the regatta would be called the Ted Hood Regatta (August 21-23, 2020).

Some backstory. The annual PHRF New England Championships began in the early 1990s and were hosted on a rotating basis by Marblehead’s three famous yacht clubs—the Eastern Yacht Club, the Corinthian Yacht Club, and the Boston Yacht Club—and held on the waters off of this sailing-obsessed town. Over time, the “PHRF New Englands” became known as the One Regatta before the Storm Trysail Club took over in 2017.

While the moniker might have morphed, the annual Ted Hood Regatta (THR) is still contested on these same historic waters during its traditional late-August time frame, and it is still hosted on a rotating basis by these same three clubs. The 2020 edition will be hosted by Boston Yacht Club and will be raced under two handicap rules—PHRF and ORR/EZ—and it will feature round-the-buoy racing as well as a doublehanded and fully crewed overnight race.

I checked in with Clarke Smith, chairman of the 2020 Ted Hood Regatta, via email, to learn more about this now-classic three-day race weekend.

What kind of entry numbers are you seeing this year? Also, how do these stack up to previous editions of the regatta?

As of today, we have 30 boats registered for the regatta. We hope to have a minimum of 40 boats.

Historically, we have had 60-70 boats participate. In the past we have benefited from some large national regattas in our area near the same time as the Ted Hood Regatta.

Looking at the entry list, what classes do you expect to be the most competitive this year? Also, what makes these classes hot?

The PHRF class and ORRez class will be the large keelboats racing. Both [of] these classes have some long-time rivalries that really sail hard to win.

Can you tell us about the doublehanded and fully crewed overnight race? How many miles is this event, where will it go, and what kinds of tactical challenges will it offer participating crews?

The Friday night distance race is scheduled for 90 miles that takes the boats south, then north to create the loop.

The course that is selected is flexible and if the wind disappears then we can shorten the course to 60 miles.

There is a navigational challenge as well as picking inshore versus offshore. The race normally has very talented sailors/navigators.

Do you have any Marblehead-specific advice or insider tips that you’d like to share with first-time racers? What about returning racecourse veterans?

Due to Covid-19 challenges, a majority of the sailors will be Massachusetts Bay boats that have participated in this regatta for over seven years. They know the local waters very well. No advice necessary from the [Organizing Authority].

Weather-wise, what kind conditions can sailors expect to encounter off of Marblehead in late August?

The weather can be hot and humid with a drifting race, or we can get a sea breeze that fills in and makes for good racing with wind 10-15 knots.

What kinds of safe-play pandemic tactics are you expecting from the racers on the water? Are we talking about standard-issue things like face masks and hand sanitizer, or will the doublehanded crews also be expected to self-quarantine ahead of the race? Also, do you expect that this will be a highly competitive event, or—given the pandemic—is the spirit of this year’s THR more about getting out on the water for some friendly racing?

The THR will have a safety officer and a safety plan. All crews will be checked for temperatures prior to boarding any launch. Any crew member with a temperature will not be allowed to sail. All yacht clubs have local, state and federal guidelines that they are following including face masks on the launches and restricted capacity on launches, etc.

Due to the pandemic shore activities are not finalized yet and will be dependent on the latest guidance from Massachusetts. The main focus of the regatta is to get people out on the water to enjoy some racing against friends.

Are you seeing more entries that are being crewed by family members or members of the same household this year, given the pandemic?

The THR will have mixed crews of both family, and regular crew members.

Can you tell us about any efforts that you and the other regatta organizers have made to try to lower the regatta’s environmental footprint or otherwise green-up the regatta?

The THR has discussed becoming a Green Regatta, we just have not gotten there yet. To become a Green Regatta does require additional expense and sponsorship partners that this year is not in the cards.

We hope to get there within the next couple of years.

Anything else that you’d like to add, for the record?

I would like to add our key sponsors—in a challenging year they are very important. Goslings Rum, East Regiment Beer Company, and SafeWaters Underwriting Managers. Without the support of these sponsors, plus many more we would not have a regatta this year.

Related Articles

One thing. One big, very fast boat
One thing that opened the door, another made us enquire some more - 50 knots! Yes. It was one thing that opened the door, as it were. One thing that piqued the curiosity enough to go, ‘I'll take a look at that!' One thing that when you're trying to crack in excess of 50 knots... Posted on 30 Jun
A brief history of marine instrument networks
Hugh Agnew has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge One man who has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge, is Hugh Agnew, the Cambridge-educated mathematician who is one of the founders of A+T Instruments in Lymington, so I spoke to him to find out more... Posted on 25 Jun
Harald Findlay on the 2025 Edgartown Race Weekend
A Q&A with Harald Findlay on the 2025 Edgartown Race Weekend When it comes to racing sailboats on the East Coast of the United States in the summer months, few places are as classic as the waters surrounding Martha's Vineyard's northwestern flank. Posted on 18 Jun
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
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
PredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOMArmstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMBarton Marine Pipe Glands