2021 Commodore's Cup Regatta

All members are invited to participate in Huguenot’s annual Commodore’s Cup race. Even if you have never raced before, you should consider participating in this event as it represents an organized sail around the sound rather than the high-pressure racing challenge that the other Huguenot races are known for.  

We hope to eliminate the feeling of the “White Knuckle” starting sequence that keeps some people from racing by utilizing a Pursuit Start format.  We believe the Pursuit Start format makes a start less nerve-racking and encourages participation by new or less experienced racers. This means that each boat will have its own start time, based on the type of boat and the crew’s experience.  

This staggered start means that each boat almost always starts without any competitors in the immediate vicinity. Since the highest handicap (and theoretically slowest) boats start first, even the slowest boats will be leading the race at some point.

If every boat is sailed consistently with its handicap, all boats should reach the finish line together. Realistically, the real winner is first to the Bar to buy his or her crew a round of drinks.

The race itself will be a reasonably simple reach round a set around government marks and then back to where you started.

If you have a cruising sailboat, we want you to participate; either non-spinnaker (jib and main) or with a spinnaker, with generous handicaps to even the playing field to racing among all kinds of boats, giving you a chance to out-sail the fleet. And because you can “run what you brung,” it’s an ideal place for new racers to discover racing and sharpen sailing skills.

Without a spinnaker, the boats can run with smaller crews (typically 2-3 people). If you have a spinnaker, you are invited to use it. With or without a spinnaker, you can participate with as many people as you like.

By the way, it’s not really a race so much as an organized sail around the sound, preferably on fairly pleasant wind angles, long enough to be fun, and set up such that everyone finishes up about the same time. So everyone gets back to the Club for the party. 

Trophies will be awarded after the race, as well as a delicious BBQ.

For further information please contact:

Principal Race Officer: Adam Loory, adam@uksailmakers.com
     Regatta Chairman:  Justin Scagnelli, jscagnelli707@gmail.com
 Event/Race Director:  Chris Pike, christopher.pike@gmail.com