Attention youth sailors. If you like the tactics of team racing, have you considered match racing?
Match racing is one of the fastest-growing disciplines in our sport of sailing. You can join the fun at three upcoming youth match race events on Long Island Sound that are targeted to the older juniors or any youth up to age 22. Most of these events occur before the start of the summer junior sailing programs, so you may sign up individually or get together with teammates from your school, sailing club and just good friends.
- Sunday, May 20, the Manhasset Bay YC & the Knickerbocker Cup Foundation are again running their youth match race regatta for under-20-year-old sailors on Long Island Sound.
The purpose of the regatta for the Dennis Conner - Ed du Moulin Junior Match Racing Trophy is to promote match racing to young sailors and to identify skilled young people who may continue match racing as adults.
Six teams of 2 or 3 sailors will sail Ideal 18 keelboats that will be provided by the organizers (entry fee is $25). Breakfast and lunch for your crew and a coach is included. A chalk talk before racing will guide you through the format of basic match racing skills.
Awards will be presented during the 2012 Knickerbocker Cup Awards Ceremony on Sunday, September 2, so the winners will get a chance to meet the world renowned match racers who compete for this year’s Knickerbocker Cup.
To request an invitation, submit your application .
- June 2nd or 3rd the 12 meter Yacht Development Foundation invites youth sailors and college aged sailors to join the America’s Cup Class Exhibition Match Race sailed during the Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance auto show that is displayed on the shore of Greenwich Harbor.
Take part in an inspirational sailing experience and connect to the America’s Cup 12 meter match race heritage that began on Long Island Sound.
Sailing aboard US-42 America II (a 1987 USA challenger) and K-18 Lionheart (a 1980 UK challenger), competitors may register as a team of 10-12, or as individuals.
The program includes experienced supervising helmsman, mast man, bow man, roving utility-man, cooler/refreshments, all insurance and safety equipment for a $50 pp donation.
Read the notice for full details.
- July 5-8 the Oyster Bay Youth Match Racing Clinegatta (a clinic and regatta in one event, with continued coaching during the regatta) will be hosted by Oakcliff Sailing Center. This is an excellent time to get exposed to the thrills and challenges of match racing in Swedish Match 40s. The Clinic will be run and coached by Dave Perry.
The target age for this event is older high school students and college students. Special consideration will be given to high school, collegiate and women’s teams. Competitors may register as a team of 5 or 6 with a maximum crew weight of 960 lbs. ($375 team) or as individuals ($75 pp).
To view the clinegatta NOR and see details, view the Oakcliff registration page.
Oakcliff also provides a number of weekly match racing opportunities in their Swedish Match 40s. The first thing to do is get on Oakcliff's e-mail newsletter mailing list to receive weekly updates. Then send a team of 5-6 sailors (including an adult) out to the Tuesday Night Match Race Drills to practice boat handling, starts, mark roundings, and tactics. That will prepare you for the Open Match Races held on various dates in the summer. For more information, see the Oakcliff website, select the Calendar and look for the Tuesday drills.
Past JibeTalk stories about match racing on LIS may be found here
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