YRALIS Annual Regatta –
A Family Affair

Article and Photos by Andrea Watson,
YRA Executive Secretary

 Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound held their annual PHRF & One Design Championship on August 8-9, 2009. The regatta, presented by Thomson Reuters, and hosted by Riverside YC, American YC and Indian Harbor YC, was a banner year in terms of number of participants, as over 100 teams in 15 divisions joined fellow competitors to see who would capture top billing on the leader board. The regatta is a qualifier for the YRALIS Gitana, Sappho, Competitors, Kings Point and Allegra Knapp Mertz Trophies.

This being August on Long Island Sound, each race circle was greeted with very little wind. What is it with Mother Nature in August – have sailors in past years committed some transgression that is so egregious that she retaliates with wind conditions which can only be described as a sailor’s nightmare? The good news is that our loyal racers always win out! As in past years, expert Race Committees have worked hard to find the wind, set up courses, and get the racing started. And this year was no different as all fleets had enough races under their belt to qualify for one of the great trophies awarded by the YRA.

If the party at party central, aka Riverside YC, was any indication of the effect of light wind and race delays, all must have been forgotten, as this was one great party. With an open bar and good food, the teams certainly enjoyed each other’s company. Conversations centered around the inevitable “war stories”, excuses for a bad mark roundings, and other stories that had everyone laughing. At one point, a conga line was started, with much hilarity and varying degrees of dancing expertise.

A snap shot of the party highlighted the “family affair” aspect of this year’s celebration – with racers and family members from a myriad of age groups. There were babes in arms, some in strollers, and older children, hand in hand with their parents. One family enjoyed the festivities with their mother, who as a woman of “a certain age” is still sailing. The large contingent of Midshipmen from the USMMA at Kings Point represented racers who are the young and upcoming sailors of the future. There is something about the YRA regatta that encourages all sorts of participants, from the PHRF racers in the bigger boats, to the one-design competitors and the racers who prefer the smaller dinghy-type boats. This year, the regatta had it all. This bodes well for the future of sailing on Long Island Sound.

A threatening thunderstorm forced the Awards Ceremony indoors on Sunday afternoon, but that didn’t change the mood of the teams, who hooted and hollered as teams accepted their respective awards. After a few words from President Robert Kendrick, Regatta Chair, Bernie Armstrong, got the awards ceremony started with many thanks to the regatta sponsor: Thomson Reuters, and supporters, Mount Gay Rum, and White Caps Foul Weather Gear. Thanks were also extended to members of the Race Committees: Spike Richey, Riverside YC, Mac McClellan, Indian Harbor YC and Bill Sandberg, American YC. Others noted for their support of the regatta: Bill Kirkpatrick, race instructions, Jim Farrell, trophies, Bob Counihan, scoring and many others that helped to make this event happen. Not to be forgotten, and to much applause, Bernie Armstrong was recognized for his hard work in organizing the entire event.

When asked why the YRALIS regatta is so popular, one skipper said that it was a great regatta – the fees are reasonable, the Race Committees great, and the parties fun. Sounds like a winning combination. So mark your calendars now – next year’s regatta is scheduled for August 7-8, and it promises to be even better! And who knows, Mother Nature might not be so contrary next year.

For a complete list of winners, go to: www.yachtscoring.com . Select Event, then Past Events. Click on YRA PHRF and One Design Championships, then Results in Media Format. You may also visit www.YRALIS.org for all your information needs.

1. Ernie Bivona, skipper of Eagle, racing to a second place finish in W/L PHRF 30-72.
2. Andrew Scrivan on Laser 194130 got top honors in the Laser division.
3. Future sailor? A racing dad proudly shows off his young offspring at the Saturday party at Riverside YC.
4. A young family at the Saturday party.
5. The USMMA having fun at the party after racing on Saturday at the YRALIS annual regatta.
6. Looks like a match race for Sydney Uhry, on Ideal 18 #145, who came in 4th in a largest one-design fleet at the regatta.
7. Turning Point, with Rich Gold at the helm, rounding the mark at the 2009 YRA LIS Annual Regatta. Gold went on to finish first place in W/L PHRF 105-114.
8. A mom and her two sons, all sailors, at the YRALIS party on Saturday after the racing.