New plan for Larchmont Race Week

The 125th Larchmont Race Week will have a new diverse format in 2023 for the nine-day event.

For distance sailing enthusiasts, the first night will kick off the overnight Execution Rocks Race, now a stand-alone distance race, on July 14 with a 1730 warning.

The schedule on July 15-16 will be for the Racer/Cruisers, One Designs and Ideal 18s while July 22-23 will be for One Designs and Team Racing (both the z420 and Ideals 18s.) Sandwiched in between will be the Junior Race Week in Lasers, 420s, and Optis.

“Regardless of whether this is your first or fortieth Race Week, you should be proud to be taking part in this tradition on Long Island Sound,” says co-chair Rear Commodore Andrew Weiss. “We hope to see a full force of our local racing come out and celebrate with us.”

The 2022 event was plagued by a series of storms that left sailors ashore or delayed for racing, though concluded with 12-15 knots out of the east, making the trip around Execution Lighthouse a day of sailing never to be forgotten.

“This year, we have moved the Execution Rocks Race to the first night of the regatta,” added Weiss. “With so many distance racers from Larchmont participating in Newport-Bermuda Race, Block Island Race, and Vineyard Race each year, we want to provide something for all types of sailors who might not usually participate in a buoy race.”

Also, new this year is the Race Week Club Championship Awards. To qualify, a club has to be entered in either Team Race event plus at least two boats entered in other events (Racer/Cruiser, One Design, Ideal 18s fleet race, or paddleboard). The Club teams will be scored by using the average percentage of their team race score plus their top two team members’ percentage placement within their respective classes.

“We wanted to spur even more friendly competition,” added Weiss. “To be the best performing Yacht Club gives a whole team and club a year’s worth of bragging rights for the year!”

Details: https://www.larchmontyc.org/race-week