Classic Yacht Challenge Series halfway report including Maine District results

by Classic Yacht Owners Association 8 Aug 2024 10:41 PDT

As we reach the midpoint of the sailing season, the Classic Yacht Owner’s Association (CYOA) is excited to provide an update on the Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) and celebrate the conclusion of the Maine District events.

This summer has been a remarkable season with 130 classic yachts participating in seven events with still seven to go. Notably, Marilee, Black Watch, and Zingara have distinguished themselves by sailing in 5 races across 2 districts, qualifying them for the overall awards thus far.

However, we expect more yachts to join their ranks with the upcoming Massachusetts events: the 25th Corinthian Classic in Marblehead this weekend, followed by the Nantucket Race Week, Opera House Cup next weekend. The season will conclude with the Herreshoff, Newport, Indian Harbor, and Heritage Cup classic yacht regattas later in the summer.

A few years ago, the CYOA introduced districts to ensure that boats that do not travel extensively still have the opportunity to gain recognition. This initiative has been successful, particularly in the Maine District, which concluded with the trifecta of the Castine Classic Yacht Regatta, the Camden to Brooklin Race, and the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta this past weekend.

Maine District Report:

• Total classics that raced under CRF in Maine: 109
• Boats that sailed at least 3 races across 2 events, earning a CYCS score: 38 (35%)
• Boats that declared Maine as their district: 33 (30%)
• CYOA Members eligible for awards: 24 (22%)

In the Classic Division, 8 boats have qualified for the Maine awards. James Emery's Lilith, a Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 25, tops the fleet with 292.86 points, followed by Thomas Ashton's Phalarope with 271.43 points, and Brooke Parish's Mermaid with 254.29 points.

In the Vintage Class, Ken Colburn's Herreshoff NY 40, Marilee, achieved a perfect score of 300, beating out 10 qualifying Vintage boats in the series. Chris Bouzaid's Bijou II and the iconic Black Watch followed closely.

Among the Modern Classics, Spirit of Tradition, and Contemporary Classes, the leaders are Lions Whelp owned by Phineas Sprague, Mystery owned by Justin Wiegleb, and Isobel by Todd Lalumiere, respectively.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all participants for their outstanding performances and dedication to classic yachting. The competitive spirit and camaraderie witnessed in the Maine District events have set a high standard for the remainder of the season.

As we look forward to the upcoming races, we encourage all classic yacht enthusiasts to stay tuned for more updates and results. For more detailed scoring and information on upcoming events, please visit our website.

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Results for Maine for all qualified boats:

To qualify, a boat must meet the following criteria: be a CYOA member, designate Maine as its home district on the certificate, and compete in at least 3 races across 2 events. Rankings are determined by combining the top three high-percentage scores, with a perfect score being 300 points.

Vintage (15 scored, 10 qualify)

1. Marilee - Ken Colburn - 300.00 points
2. Bijou II - Chris Bouzaid - 293.75
3. Spirit - Lars Forsberg - 279.51
4. Black Watch - Black Watch Syndicate - 273.33
5. Gleam - Andy Tyska - 255.00
6. North - John Priestly - 201.39
7. Falcon - Bob Scott - 182.50
8. Celia - Rob Parish - 172.92
9. Isla - Henry May - 167.71
10. Chetah-Cheetah - Steve White - 163.54

Classics (14 scored, 8 qualify)

1. Lilith - James Emery - 292.86 points
2. Phalarope - Thomas Ashton - 271.43
3. Mermaid - Brooke Parish - 254.29
4. Snow Falcon - George Gans III - 231.07
5. Rogue - Seville Simonds - 177.78
6. Dame - Josh Goldberg - 141.18
7. Thunderhead - Steve Ross - 109.29
8. Loki - Patrick Jones - 71.43

Contemporary (4 scored, 2 qualify)

1. Isobel - Todd Lalumiere - 266.67
2. Hopgrasser - Drew Lyman - 150.00

Modern Classic (2 scored, 2 qualify)

1. Lions Whelp - Phineas Sprague - 300.00 points
2. Vortex - Steve White - 221.67

Spirit of Tradition (3 scored, 2 qualify)

1. Mystery - Justin Wiegleb- 266.67 points
2. Zingara - Robert W. Stephens - 143.33