Photo: Jan J. Hein

Just under two months remain until the beginning of the 2025 Classic Yacht Challenge Series! The Northeast’s quintessential classic yacht racing series is governed by CYOA’s unique rating system, the Classic Rating Formula (CRF). This scoring system is regularly updated and helps yacht owners get their vessels rated for racing without a great deal of hassle.

This year, CRF has gone beyond US boundaries and was adopted by the famed Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta as their main rating system. 2025 marked the 36th running of the regatta, which started as a toes-in-the-sand, laid back classic sailing event, and in many ways continues that tradition despite the event’s growth.

This is actually the second year that Antigua has used CRF. However, this year the rating system was used for all divisions and classes for the first time. “Lots of classic boats do just one regatta and they found that getting different ratings was expensive for them. But CRF is inexpensive and is not as hard to get measurements as some other rating systems,” said Robin Stout, coordinator for the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta.

Stout says that the CRF ratings have held up very well both this year and when the regatta tried it out for the first time in 2024. “The technical team was super helpful in translating other rating system certificates to CRF.” She also said that having the one system made scoring easier, and CRF fit in well with the regatta’s friendly and social atmosphere.

CRF wasn’t the CYOA’s only representation in Antigua this year! Member boat Juno took second place in the schooner division. “Antigua is always a spring highlight of the Caribbean season,” said Scott DiBiaso, captain of Juno. “Four days of great racing in what is typically near perfect conditions, and on some occasions even a bit more wind than is required!”

DiBiaso thought that the CRF system was a good fit for the regatta as its standard rating system. He also added that he wished more New England boats would make the trip down to join in on the action!  Of note, Tichonderoga of Greenwich, another CYOA member, did participate with local sailors crewing the 72-foot 1936 Herreshoff clipper.

CRF only stands to improve with the more use it gets. If you haven’t yet, make sure you become a member of the CYOA, sign up for the CYCS, and get your CRF certificate as soon as possible! Certificates only cost $50, but a $25 rush charge will be added after June 1. Avoid the extra fees and sign up today!