Oldest frostbiting regatta in the United States

The 83rd annual New Year’s Frostbite Regatta, hosted by the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club in Port Washington, New York, got off to a great start on Wednesday, January 1. The event is known as the oldest frostbiting regatta in the country.

The Past Commodore’s Race, held while most other teams are shaking out the cobwebs from the night before, is believed to be the first race held in the United States each year, and was won by immediate Past Commodore Peter Beardsley and Marguerite Koehler.

After the Past Commodore’s Race, 6 more races for each of the 3 divisions were completed in a 6-9 knot westerly breeze. With no racing on Saturday January 4 due to skim ice on the bay, Wednesday’s results became final.

Paul-Jon Patin, with crew Felicity Ryan, won the Interclub class while Simon Strauss, sailing with Abigail Cook, took second and Ted Ferrarone and Meredith Killion third. Winning the Ideal 18 class was Andrew Feigin and Peter Daytz. John Browning sailing with daughter Louise were second and Vince Syracuse and John Bainton were third. The Laser class was topped by Dave Coughlin with a .943 percentage, which also earned Coughlin the Baker-Taylor Founder’s Trophy for best overall score in the regatta.

The 82nd meeting of the Frostbite Yacht Club was held after sailing on New Year’s Day. The meeting was run by Commodore Vince Syracuse and wassail was served to all in attendance. Committee reports as well as the Special Awards we reported. The Special Awards highlight the misdeeds of winter sailors during the prior year, much like the infamous Moosehead Awards for Western Long Island Sound Race Committees. The 2014 honorees included…

An Order of the Chief Boatwrecker, to an accomplished sailor and judge who dismasted an opponent during a hard luff in a winter team race practice in Sonars;

An Order of the Upholder of the Rights of the Port Tack, to a lonely Laser sailor who lassoed a competitor with his mainsheet during prestart maneuvers;

An Order of the Mud Hen for a capsize inches away from the dock in full view of the fleet;

An Order of the Red Face, to a past commodore who broke the hoist during the prior New Year’s Regatta, causing several of his fellow competitors to miss the start of a race.

Click here for top results and perpetual trophies

Bob Mitchell, a past Commodore of the Frostbite Yacht Club and who has been its Treasurer for the last 41 years, was awarded the Ed DuMoulin trophy for his contribution to the advancement of Frostbiting in America. See the video below.

Report by Pedro Lorson