Larchmont Race Week 2018

Published on July 22nd, 2018

The western end of Long Island Sound has the reputation of being a light-air venue during the summer. However, Larchmont Race Week 2018 disproved that theory as the wind gods smiled on the sailors from July 14 to 22 with puffs at one point approaching 30 knots.

Over 100 senior one-designs and PHRF boats sailed in the 120th edition over two weekends. The racer/cruisers enjoyed a blend of drop mark races, a pursuit race, and a short, Around Execution Rocks Race where combined PHRF and one-designs shared the same starting line.

The one-design circles had a blend of Viper 640s, Etchells, Shields, IODs, and S Boats while a special circle was run for the Ideal 18s on the first weekend and Vanguard 15s on the second.

During the week, while the seniors were back at work, LYC was still a buzz with sailors. Monday through Wednesday (July 16-18) found over 250 Lasers, 420s, Fevas, and Pixels getting in an uncharacteristically full three days of racing. Thursday was Opti day where over 150 sailors from all over the north east participated, and on Friday, LYC again hosted the Storm Trysail Foundation’s Jr. Safety-at-Sea seminar where 160 juniors sharpened their big boat sailing and safety skills on 20 racer/cruisers.

In the end, it was Peter Beardsley and Jay Rhame (Viper 640 winners) who received the Anne Kathleen Cullen Memorial Trophy for best overall performance during Race Week. The Monte-Sano Trophy for best performance by a LYC racer/cruiser went to Will Ingraham. The Commodore’s Trophy, presented for best performance during Jr. Race Week, went to Leyton Borcherding from American Yacht Club.

Class winners were:
Viper 640: Peter Beardsley/Jay Rhame – Larchmont YC
Etchells: Don Dowd – American YC
Shields: Mike O’Connor – Larchmont YC
IOD: John Evans – Riverside YC
S Boats: William Simmons – American YC
Ideal 18: Michael Millard – Stamford YC
Vanguard 15: Malcolm Lamphere – YCYC
J/105: Paul Beaudin – Harlem Yacht Club
PHRF (Spin.): Ty Anderson – Riverside YC
PHRF (Non-spin): Len Di Iorio – Huguenot YC

It’s been said that “sailing is the stuff that happens before the party.” This was truly the case during the 120th Larchmont Race Week, with parties every night attracting hundreds of participants.

Event details – Senior Race Week Results – Junior Race Week Results