This week the Classic Yacht Owner’s Association announces the return of the Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) uniting 13 classic yacht regattas throughout the Northeast, USA. CYOA’s goal this summer is to encourage participation and friendly competition amongst classic yachting enthusiasts as we emerge from the pandemic. 

“In 2020, we had to pause many of our plans to expand the CYCS,” says CYOA Board Chair Steve White from Brooklin, Maine. “Now in 2021, with so many sailors ready to get back on the water, we have added more events to the Series and created Racing Districts to allow for more recognition and involvement of classics in our community.”

The Series will kick off in June in Newport, Rhode Island with the revival of New York Yacht Club’s Tiedemann Classics Regatta then head to Maine in July for another new series event, Boothbay Harbor YC Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge. Those events will be followed by the annual Maine regattas in Camden, Castine, and Brooklin culminating with the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta before heading south in August to Marblehead and the Nantucket and then west in September back to Newport, Bristol, and later Long Island Sound. 

All events have been assigned one of three Racing Districts: RI/CT/NY, Massachusetts, or Maine. Competing boats must declare a home district - which doesn’t necessarily have to be their homeport. When getting a CRF certificate, those boats will compete for regional awards within their districts and their divisions (Vintage, Classic, Modern Classic, and Spirit of Tradition). 

“There are some teams that do not have the opportunity to travel to other districts but we wanted them to still have the chance to compete,” says White. “With Racing Districts, some of the smaller teams have a chance to walk away with some silver this summer.”

In order to qualify for the overall CYCS awards, a boat must sail in a minimum of 5 races and one of the races must be outside their declared Racing District. Some events are just one race while others have multiple, therefore races are scored individually. 

“We have already heard that there are some boats making plans to make it a circuit this year,” continued White. “The more boats on the starting line, the more fun for everyone so we are hoping the new rules encourage more participation.”

There are more details regarding the rules in the Notice of Series posted on the CYOA website. To be scored, boats should declare when getting their CRF certificate if they are intending to race and must also be a member of the CYOA. Results will be posted weekly on the website as the series progresses through the summer. 

Get your 2021 CRF Certificate and become a CYOA Member: https://www.classicyachts.org/ratings/certificates/