Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

New York Yacht Club Grandmasters Team Race

by New York Yacht Club 15 Aug 2021 22:53 PDT
Grandmasters Team Race © Stuart Wemple / NYYC

Part of the allure of the New York Yacht Club Grandmasters Team Race - and all the events on the grandmasters circuit, for that matter - is the chance to reconnect with old friends and like-minded sailors for three days of racing and onshore socializing. In that respect, the teams from Texas Corinthian Yacht Club in Kemah, Texas, and the host New York Yacht Club got their money's worth this weekend, racing head-to-head ten times over the course of the three-day regatta.

Each race was a battle and after nine races, the scoreline had the host Club on five wins and the team from the little club in Texas on four. But, regardless of the results to that point, the outcome of the 10th race would be definitive. The championship for the 10th edition of the Grandmasters Regatta would go to whichever team won the 64th and final race of the weekend.

"They were ahead at the first mark and the second mark," said Clark Thompson, a skipper and team captain for Texas Corinthian Yacht Club. "We were ahead at the third mark. Going up the last weather leg, it could've been either one of us and then right at the finish it all worked out. I'll bet we were each ahead two to three times during the race, we just happened to have the lead at the end."

The win was a first, in seven tries, at the New York Yacht Club Grandmasters event for Texas Corinthian Yacht Club, though the team has been on a roll this year, winning the two other grandmasters events held in 2021, and as a result, also taking home the Peter Wilson Trophy, which rewards the outstanding team in grandmasters team racing in the United States during the course of the year.

Each August the New York Yacht Club hosts three team-race regattas on consecutive weekends: the New York Yacht Club Invitational Team Race Regatta for the Morgan Cup (July 30 to August 1), the New York Yacht Club Invitational Team Race Regatta for the Commodore George R. Hinman Masters Trophy (August 6 to 8) and the New York Yacht Club Grandmasters Team Race Regatta (August 13 to 15). Each event utilizes the Club's fleet of 22 Sonars (designed by member Bruce Kirby, who recently passed away).

The latter two have age minimums for skippers and crew to encourage team racing as a life-long pursuit. Founded in 2003, 2000 and 2010, respectively, the three regattas are among the most competitive adult team-racing competitions in the world, annually attracting top sailors from across the country and abroad.

Texas Corinthian, which it situated on Galveston Bay, has roughly 160 members, making it approximately 5 percent the size of the New York Yacht Club. But team racing has become one the club's points of emphasis.

"We have a big team and we're able to practice a lot with the weather in Texas," says Thompson. "That helps a lot. We probably have 30 people come out, enough so we can get out and get some practices in."

Thompson was also quick to credit some of the more established yacht clubs in helping the TCYC climb team racing's steep learning curve.

"What I love about the team racing is how much everybody helps each other," he says. "Noroton [Yacht Club in Darien, Conn.] came down and helped us when we first started, and we all talk afterwards and compare notes. Even there at the end, we were kind of pulling for New York, we knew they were kind of pulling for us, just not quite as much as for their own team. It was a fantastic series, it was nip and tuck the whole way and it came down to the final race."

Shortly after the results were posted online, Thompson's phone start to vibrate with congratulatory messages. Scoring a win against some of the biggest and most regarded yacht clubs in the world isn't something the membership of TCYC will take for granted.

"They were all pulling for us and sending text messages the whole time," Thompson said. "My phone is blowing up. I've probably got 20 messages of congratulations since we won. It was great knowing the whole club was behind us."

With the finish of the Grandmasters Regatta, the team racing for 2021 has concluded at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court. The Club is anticipating again hosting four great inter-club team races next year, adding the second annual Women's 2v2 Team Race - which debuted this year in late May - to the historic trio of team races it runs each August.

Final Standings: scoring matrix / race results

1. Texas Corinthian Yacht Club (Kemah, Texas), 13-2 in Round Robins 1-3, 4-3 in Championship Match
2. New York (N.Y.) Yacht Club, 13-2, 3-4
3. St. Francis Yacht Club (San Francisco), 7-8, 5-1 in Silver Round Robin
4. Southern Yacht Club (New Orleans)
5-10, 3-3; Storm Trysail Club (Larchmont, N.Y.), 3-12, 4-2
6. Annapolis (Md.) Yacht Club, 4-11, 0-6

Related Articles

US Sailing and Zhik announce strategic partnership
Zhik will provide cutting-edge gear designed to enhance athlete performance on the water US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States, is proud to announce a new multi-year partnership with Zhik, global leader in high-performance water wear. Posted on 13 May
US Sailing announces new scholarship fund
To support sailors' growth and development In an effort to make sailing more accessible and inclusive, US Sailing is proud to announce the launch of the US Sailing Scholarship Fund. Posted on 28 Apr
Charlie Enright appointed as CEO of US Sailing
An accomplished sailor and an advocate of the sport, known for his leadership skills US Sailing announced Charlie Enright, an accomplished leader in the sailing industry, as the Association's new CEO. Enright will take the helm of US Sailing, the sport's National Governing Body (NGB), following an extensive national executive search. Posted on 14 Apr
Three American teams qualify for Medal Races
At Trofeo Princesa Sofía, first Sailing Grand Slam After six days of racing on the Bay of Palma at the 54th Trofeo Princesa Sofía, three American teams finished the opening series in the top 10, qualifying for prestigious medal races at the largest Olympic classes regatta of the year. Posted on 8 Apr
Lead-up to LA28 begins with Princesa Sofía Regatta
29 athletes representing the US are now in Palma 29 athletes representing the US across eight Olympic classes will spar with over 50 other countries at the 54th edition of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca, considered to be the European season opener. Posted on 31 Mar
Jr. Pan American Games Sailing Team announced
Four athletes named, set to compete in Paraguay this August Four US athletes will take the water for the second ever Junior Pan American Games coming up August 9-23, 2025 in Asunción, Paraguay. Posted on 7 Mar
US Sailing Youth Team qualification update
Over half of the 72 sailors who will qualify have now earned their spot on the team Over half of the 72 sailors who will qualify for the Youth National Team in 2025 have now earned their spot on the team based on top finishes at class association Midwinter Championships. Posted on 7 Mar
US Sailing seek Sailor Athlete Council nominations
SAC is only vehicle for sailors to be heard as individuals rather than as members of an organization US Sailing's Sailor Athlete Council (SAC) maintains an avenue for American sailor athletes to voice their opinions, providing a forum and opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the future and direction of our sport. Posted on 2 Mar
US selection process for Youth Match Racing Worlds
Set to take place from July 21-27 in Gdynia, Poland US Sailing has released the athlete selection procedures for the 2025 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship, set to take place from July 21-27 in Gdynia, Poland. Posted on 28 Feb
2025 Kevin Burnham Memorial Grants recipients
Three young sailors selected to receive the 2025 Kevin Burnham Memorial Grants US Sailing is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Kevin Burnham Memorial Grants, made possible by the generous support of the sailing community in honor of Kevin Burnham's remarkable legacy. Posted on 27 Feb
Zhik 2024 DecemberArmstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOMBarton Marine Pipe Glands