Ten days of sailing, parties, and fun
Published on July 21st, 2024
by Buttons Padin
For a major regatta to retain its vitality for 126 years, it must be offering something special. Larchmont Yacht Club’s annual Race Week does just that, yet that special factor has evolved over the past century.
No longer are we awed by the grand schooners and sloops of the early 1900s. Nor are we out there for seven days of big boat and one-design sailing and eight days for juniors. People’s schedules have become more packed.
The special things that made this 126th Larchmont Race Week a success have been evolving over the past decade as this heritage event has continued. However, Race Week is primarily about sailboat racing, and this year had something for everyone from July 13 to 21.
In addition to one-designs racing July 13-14, there were 2v2 and 3v3 team races in Ideal 18s and z240s respectively. Additionally, an interclub match race was planned with Manhattan Yacht Club’s two 12 Meters, though mechanical issues on one boat halted what would have been an exciting competition.
For the 97th year, Monday through Wednesday (July 15-17) was Larchmont Junior Race Week with over 185 young sailors getting in three days racing 420s, ILCAs, and Fevas, followed by another 125 even younger sailors arriving for Thursday’s Opti Day. Friday was a day off for some, but many LYC Members were involved in the Storm Trysail Club’s Junior Safety-at-Sea seminar.
In the past, racer/cruisers would sail both weekends, but due to an increasingly crowded regatta calendar, the big boats only sailed the second weekend starting on Friday night.
One of the more engaging, unusual, and fun additions to Race Week over the past decade is the Around Execution Rocks Race – a 6-mile race where racer/cruisers and one-designs start together, often requiring unique boat handling and tactical maneuvers.
This year, there were 44 boats of various sizes and designs entered in the Execution Rocks Race, with a vintage Shields, sailed by LYC’s Skip McGuire, correcting out to beat flat-out racers and cruisers alike.
Finishing at sundown, this added to the special nature of Race Week. Special thanks are extended to neighboring American Yacht Club that cancelled it’s regular Friday night racing so their boats could participate.
The final weekend (July 20-21) was two one-design and one racer/cruiser circle that, once the wind filled-in on Saturday, allowed for a full day of racing. Sunday’s racing, however, fell victim to the July doldrums of Long Island Sound so no more races were completed.
Anyone who has raced Larchmont Race Week in the past recognizes that a big part of the regatta is the shoreside activities for which LYC is known. This year didn’t disappoint.
From 250 people at Friday night’s Commodore’s Welcome Party and to over 450 lobsters served the first Saturday night to a huge after-racing party following the Execution Rocks Race, Saturday’s Mount Gay Rum Night and Sunday’s Awards ceremony, the number of sailors and members on the front lawn of the Club proved that Larchmont Race Week still offers “something special.”
The Anne Kathleen Cullen Memorial Trophy recognizes the boat deemed to have had the “best performance” during Race Week. This year it became the highlight of the awards ceremony as it was presented to 86-year-old Skip McGuire whose Shields topped the 44-boat Execution Rocks Race. Everyone at the awards ceremony cheered Skip, a LYC member since 1990 and a sentimental favorite, as he accepted his award.
“We worked all year to come up with innovations to deliver ten days of regatta fun,” noted event co-chair and LYC Rear Commodore Andrew Weiss. “Working with the neighboring clubs, moving the Execution Rocks Race to the second Friday, and having high-profile after sailing events made a difference.”