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6 things you need to know about Corinthian Spirit class racing

It will attract a wider variety of yachts.

Turning a superyacht into a raceboat is a daunting proposition. On top of the inevitable equipment servicing and replacement, you’ve got to fly in the manpower to handle that huge expanse of spinnaker.

Now there’s an alternative, developed to broaden racing’s appeal to those who may have felt it beyond them. The Superyacht Racing Association and the Offshore Racing Congress recently introduced the Corinthian Spirit Class, which made its debut at the 2017 St Barths Bucket (pictured above). We explain why this is a significant development.

Photo: Jeff Brown / Breed Media

It makes regattas easier to enter

With streamlined access to a superyacht handicap and a reduced certificate fee from the Offshore Racing Congress, the new Corinthian Spirit class is expected to attract a mixture of newcomers and regatta veterans.

Kate Branagh, event manager for the Superyacht Cup Palma, said: “We know yacht owners who love the superyacht racing scene, but aren't all about the racing. Providing them with an alternative that doesn't require excessive race preparation has already been very well received."

The 37.5 metre Fitzroy yacht Escapade (pictured above) raced in the Corinthian Spirit class at the 2017 St Barths Bucket, and captain Guy Waddilove added: “The introduction of the Corinthian Spirit class was an excellent initiative and succeeded perfectly in what it set out to do — i.e. bring new owners into the existing racing fleets.”

It minimises the need for extra crewmembers

Another key aspect of the Corinthian Spirit class is the modified eligibility criteria. There are no spinnakers allowed and jibs can only be flied on furlers or hanks, meaning that the need to augment your crew or optimise the yacht for racing is kept to a minimum. What’s more, the new class allows organisers to assist entrants with any logistical needs.

It doesn’t compromise on safety

Despite all these changes, the Superyacht Racing Association’s emphasis on safe racing remains unchanged — nothing in the Corinthian Spirit class regulations will compromise this crucial priority.

The standard Racing Rules Appendix will be invoked, with a minimum separation of 40 metres, single-file starts and a VHF safety channel. Each yacht will also require an RRS-Safety Afterguard Member, but regatta organisers can assist entrants in finding a suitably experienced individual.

The 42.92 metre Vitters sailing yacht Koo (pictured above) is another yacht to have entered the 2017 St Barths Bucket under the Corinthian Class.

It will make for close, fun racing

The Corinthian Spirit class has also been designed to provide an enjoyable, competitive experience for all regatta entrants. With regular handicap adjustments applied between races based on observed speed and yacht manoeuvring characteristics, the emphasis is firmly on performance.

As a result, all well sailed entrants should be capable of a podium finish, regardless of their pre-regatta expenditure or level of preparation. Peter Craig, executive board member of the Superyacht Racing Association, added: “An important part of our mission is to enhance the enjoyment of superyacht owners and this initiative is all about that. The expected fleet building will not only be good for yacht owners, but the industry as well".

It will be used at major regattas this year

At the time of writing, it has been confirmed that the Corinthian Spirit class will be used at the Superyacht Cup Palma and the Candy Store Cup — giving owners a chance to try their hand at this new class of regatta racing on both sides of the Atlantic.

It has also proven to be a big success at the 2017 St Barths Bucket. Ben Duxbury, RRS officer on the 56 metre Perini Navi sloop Bayesian (pictured above), was full of praise, adding: “The Corinthian class is a well-conceived initiative that provides an entry-level introduction to prestige superyacht racing. From our perspective the owner and his wife enjoyed their first ever racing experience and vowed to come back, so that's a success by any measure!”

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Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association

THE HISTORY OF THE CBYRA

The Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association (CBYRA) is an organization comprised of over 50 member clubs, 30+ classes of racing sailboats, and hundreds individual members. CBYRA represents these clubs, classes and individual members to the United States Sailing Association (US SAILING). CBYRA is one of the largest such Associations in the United States.

CBYRA was founded in 1914 to promote fair yachting competition by supporting standard yacht racing and measurement rules and by coordinating racing schedules and regattas for the Chesapeake Bay region. These functions are still central to CBYRA’s tasks. CBYRA also provides an appellate function for protests for all sailing events in our region.

Our office manager runs the CBYRA office, handles numerous member service tasks, and provides assistance for CBYRA volunteer efforts. Volunteers conduct the majority of CBYRA’s work by serving on the executive and other committees, performing member services, scheduling races, and coordinating with classes.

CBYRA Regions

CBYRA is divided into four Regions to provide representation over such a large area. Each Region has an elected Officer (Regional Vice President) serving on the CBYRA Executive Committee. Collectively, Regions 1, 2, and 3 are known as the Northern Bay and Region 4 referred to as Southern Bay.

Region 1 is located on the Chesapeake Bay north of Tolchester, Maryland. The Region includes Havre de Grace and the entire State of Delaware. Region 1 also serves small portions of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (home to CBYRA member clubs).

Located between Tolchester and Sandy Point, Region 2 includes Maryland’s largest city, Baltimore, as well as the Magothy River, Corsica River, Chester River, and other rivers on the Maryland’s eastern and western shores.

Region 3 extends from below Sandy Point to the Virginia state border. There are numerous racing venues in Region 3 including (but not limited to) Annapolis, Saint Michaels, Oxford, Solomons Island, Washington DC, and the Potomac River.

Region 4 includes all the Chesapeake Bay south of the Potomac River, including such racing venues as Fishing Bay, Deltaville, Mobjack Bay, and Hampton. Region 4 also includes the rest of Virginia and portions of eastern North Carolina.

CBYRA History

While the first sailboat race on the Bay took place the first time two boats found themselves sailing next to one another, guessing when organized Bay racing occurred is less easy. However, much of the history of sailboat racing on the Bay is found in the records of the organization known by the short acronym “CBYRA.” CBYRA is the face of sailing in the mid-Atlantic area and the Bay region’s representative of the national governing board for sailboat racing – US SAILING.

Within a decade of the beginning of the 20 th  century, Chesapeake Bay racing had become sufficiently organized that a half-dozen boat clubs were looking for a way to schedule their annual regattas and other events without conflicting with one another. Their informal discussions that year amounted to the Bay’s first association of clubs. This association helped the clubs plan and run races until the First World War brought pleasure boating to a halt.

After the war, sailboat racing took a while to get started again. By 1930, several fleets of Star boats had been formed and events again began to overlap and conflict. “Big boat” sailing was making a comeback, and several smaller “one-design” boats, such as Snipes and Comets, began to gain popularity.

These interests came together in October 1934, when representatives of several yacht clubs formed a committee to draft the by-laws for the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association. CBYRA’s first elected leader was Henry duPont Baldwin of Chesapeake, Virginia. CBYRA was – from the outset – conceived as an organization of clubs. The tradition continues today, with each member club having equal representation within the organization.

The CBYRA’s initial by-laws outlined missions that have not changed to this day. They include educating new sailors, promoting boating safety and furthering the development of sailboat racing in general. The association is strongly oriented toward junior training. CBYRA was instrumental in allowing racers to compete on a Bay-wide basis as affiliation in a CBYRA member club allowed reciprocal acceptance of their race entries by other CBYRA member clubs (something we often take for granted today).

In 1938, a “High-Point” award system was created in order to recognize racing excellence throughout the Bay. Other important early developments of the association included the establishment of Bay wide championships in men and women’s divisions, as well as for junior sailors.

One of the organization’s greatest contributions has been in helping clubs to develop a unified calendar of non-conflicting events. In 1978, this schedule was first published in a book of “sailing instructions” and information on post-race parties. Known popularly as “The Green Book,” it is now the basic season planner for many sailors.

CBYRA has maintained a steady growth over the years. Today, working with our member clubs, CBYRA sponsors or supports regattas throughout the Chesapeake Bay and adjoining waters.

At one time or another, sailors sponsored or supported by CBYRA have won most of our Nation’s major championships and international competitions. CBYRA members who have won major events include Gary Jobson (America’s Cup), Al Van Metre and Jack King (SORC), Arnold Gay (Newport-Bermuda Race), Jim Allsopp (Star Worlds), Charlie Scott (J/24 Worlds), Steve Phillips (Farr 40 Worlds), and many others.

And this success is not limited to adults – anyone who attends one of the many junior regattas around the Bay have no doubt that even more national and international champions in the future will be wearing the CBYRA emblem.

Neuse Yacht Racing Association

Register now for the Halloween Regatta and the Winter Series.

The Neuse Yacht Racing Association

NYRA is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the sport of sailing. Our mission is to promote and administer international, national, and regional sailing events in the Neuse River and the coastal waters of Eastern North Carolina, as well as provide educational opportunities for sailors of all ages and skill levels.

The Detroit Regional Yacht-Racing Association was established in 1912 as the Detroit River Yachting Association by the Commodores of the Detroit Boat Club and the Detroit Yacht Club, Commodore Harry Austin and Commodore Harry Kendall, respectively. Originally founded to be a clearing board to assist local clubs in resolving conflicts with their individual summer regatta calendars, the DRYA is now a Michigan Corporation and a registered Non-profit organization. Our incorporation articles summarize what we're all about, they read:

The purpose of the Association is to encourage and promote, in the United States and Canada, the general interest in boating, yachting and sail racing by amateur sailors (including junior and collegiate sailors) by all appropriate means, including (among others) the following:

Establishing high standards of skill for seamanship, boat handling and navigation of yachts

Encouraging the ownership of boats and yachts by individuals and member clubs and the development of suitable seaworthy yachts for racing and cruising

Encouraging and improving the quality of racing by developing and publishing standard sailing instructions, by assisting and supporting member clubs in coordinating the scheduling of races, regattas and related events, by serving in an advisory capacity to member clubs in the organization, conduct and scoring of races and regattas, by providing equipment for conducting races and qualified judges to hear and decide protests and appeals and by any and all other appropriate means

Improving communications among member clubs and individuals interested in racing and in general, to make known to the member clubs the desires of sailors eligible to race in their regattas

Promoting, developing, adopting and equitably administering rating and handicapping rules for racing and providing handicaps to members and others;

Maintaining membership in the United States Sailing Association as a "yacht racing association" and, from time to time, membership in other organizations with similar or related purposes

Acting as an intermediary between member clubs and individuals in their relations with civic and governmental bodies when the general interests and welfare of boating, yachting and sail racing are involved

Maintaining harmonious relations among its member clubs and individuals.

SCYA Race Calendar

Although our member clubs have completed and submitted their racing calendars, please go to the host club websites to check the status of any ongoing changes.

Here is the SCYA SO CAL 2024 Race Calendar

HERE IS THE SCYA SO CAL 2023 RACE CALENDAR

Any dissemination of information regarding regattas or events hosted and organized by SCYA member clubs is purely for informational purposes. Skippers and crews should contact the hosting club for COVID precautions and compliance issues as SCYA has no input or control over the event. The listing of any event on the SCYA calendar / website is not a promotion of the event or representation that the event complies with state/county orders or other restrictions.

SCYA Midwinter Regatta

The SCYA Midwinter Regatta is one of the largest in the United States, involving over 2500 sailors and motor yacht captains in California, Arizona and Nevada. Over 600 boats compete in a variety of venues sponsored by approximately 25 SCYA member clubs in two weekends of competition.

SCYA has a website dedicated to bring you the latest information about the annual event and you can access it by clicking below.

SCYA Midwinter Regatta Website

SCYA Racing Chairs

The following are Committee Chairs in SCYA who monitor or sponsor race related activity.

Appeals and Rules:  Kim Kymlika

PHRF:  PHRF of Southern California Website

Sail Numbers

  US SAILING sail numbers are issued in Area ‘J’ to boats owned by resident members in good standing of yacht clubs affiliated with the Southern California Yachting Association.

Click To Open SCYA Sail Number Application Form

Youth Sailing

Youth instructional and racing programs are an important part of most SCYA member clubs. Providing a clean, healthy, outdoor experience is a key to balanced growth and provide lifelong rewards. Look for a club program in your area. In addition, see these resources:

SCYA  Collegiate Sailing Chairperson:  Danielle Richards (SDYC)

Southern California Youth Yacht Racing Association (SCYYRA)

Harbor Associations

Harbor associations are local area organizations which often coordinate racing events, calendars, and courses as well as sponsoring their own regattas. See the following for more information:

Association of Santa Barbara Channel Islands Yacht Clubs (ASBCYC)

Association of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs (ASMBYC)

Association of San Pedro Bay Yacht Clubs (ASPBYC)

Association of Orange Coast Yacht Clubs (AOCYC)

San Diego Association of Yacht Clubs (SDAYC)

Racing Resources

Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA)

Performance Handicap Racing Fleet of Southern California (PHRF)

Multi-hull Racing Association (MHRA)

Transpacific Yacht Club (TPYC)

Yacht Racing Union of Southern California (YRU)

Pacific Coast Yachting Association

Pacific Coast Sailing Foundation (PCSF)

The United States Sailing Center Long Beach

Southern California Outrigger Racing Association (SCORA)

North American Cruiser Association (NACA)

Mercury Class Yacht Racing Association

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MERCURY ONE DESIGN - REGATTAS, RESULTS AND CLASS INFO - UPDATED 9/6/23

Welcome to the 2023 mercury class web site.

For over 78 years the Mercury Class Yacht Racing Association (MCYRA) has been racing throughout California. For 2023 the class continues to thrive and grow with great racing throughout all of California. We have expanded the class archive section with some great historical docs and images with more to be added. And as always use the site learn about our history of competitive racing on the water and and family oriented activities off the water. 

In 2023 we continue to attract top sailors in the best California racing venues but we don't forget to have fun. With regattas hosted in the San Francisco bay area, Carmel, Monterey, Huntington Lake in the Sierras, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego great competition is close by and always a challenge! Our active regatta schedule has events occurring every month of the year.  Mercury sailboats are easy to store, trailer and launch. And you can get started on a budget with competitive used boats starting around $1000.

For a closer look at a boat or a test sail as a crew contact a fleet representative or email [email protected]  for more information.

2024 Regatta Schedule Now Available!

Schedule  Updated January 25, 2024

Read more: 2024 Regatta Schedule Now Available!

2023 Norcal Series NOR Available

The 2023 Norcal Series at Encinal Yacht Club begin on March 4th.  The Carmiggelt Trophy race will be held on April 1st, 2023. The final two days of the series will be held on May 6th and June 3rd.

Please find the attached NOR, SI's, and Entry form which may be brought to the first day of sailing.

Read more: 2023 Norcal Series NOR Available

2023 Regatta Schedule Now Available!

Schedule  Updated January 26, 2023

Read more: 2023 Regatta Schedule Now Available!

2024 NorCal series opener

2024 scya midwinter regatta.

Ten Mercury’s were entered for the 94 th Midwinters Regatta at Cabrillo Beach YC.

With four of the entries traveling south from the SF Fleet.  In the usual form the fleet was competitive, mixing it up with crowded mark roundings, and close finishes.

Saturday’s conditions saw the wind ranging from 220-240 degrees as the day progressed, and wind speed up to 12 + mph.  Ben Bradley won race 1 from start to finish. Race 2 and 4 were won by Mike Burch, and race 3 by David Bacci.   Mike Burch was leading after day 1 with consistently strong finishes.

Read more: 2024 SCYA Midwinter Regatta

2023-24 RYC Small Boat Midwinter Regatta

Race 1 - Dec. 3, 2023

No report, but here are results from Richmond YC December Small Boat Midwinter Regatta with one race scored

569 Chris Lanzafame                 1

429 Dave West                           2

481 Dave Bacci                          3

558 Kurt Lahr                             4

541 Scott Jenson                       5

463 Shaum Sinawi                    6 /DNS

2023-24 Perry Cup

Perry cup 4th race & final results, february 3, 2024.

John and Mike Ravizza won this season’s Perry Cup Series with a first and two second-place finishes against three other Mercs on an overcast day with a light but remarkably steady northerly breeze on Monterey Bay. Patti and Jack McAleer needed to shift the weather mark only once when the wind shifted to the right and diminished to a whisper, as the boats ghosted to the finish on a three-lap windward-leeward course that PRO Dick Clark wisely shortened after two laps.

Second place went to Bradley Schoch and Patrick O’Hara of the local fleet. They accomplished the rare feat of earning 1st in the Silver Division in addition to their overall podium finish.

Ravizza’s and Schoch’s boats were the only two to start all twelve races in the series. Third place in the series went to Dave West and Chris Krueger, who missed the first weekend’s races. Randy Smith was absent from January’s four-race installment but still finished the series in 4th place with two wins on the last day.

Read more: 2023-24 Perry Cup

Don't Forget Your 2024 Membership Dues!

The are due now!

Just click on the image to download the membership form!

From The Prez...

2023 is fast approaching. Your executive committee has been working on the 2023 schedule with an effort to encourage you to sail in more events this year. 

Attached is a preliminary schedule for your review.   Notice we have reduced the number of Travel Trophy events to five in the hope more of you can fit this in your schedule.

Read more: From The Prez...

Mercury-Sail Is Looking For A New Webmaster...

After 25 years it's time for a new webmaster to step up and continue supporting the class.

Read more: Mercury-Sail Is Looking For A New Webmaster...

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SUPERYACHT RACING ASSOCIATION

Current Members

The following yacht owners, individuals, companies and organizers are members of the Superyacht Racing Association as of 19 March 2024.

Member Yachts

Industry members, individual members, superyacht regatta organizers.