Join the Race Committee boat for one or several of the races. Flags and horns. What’s not fun about that!
No prior experience needed.
Dates:
- May 14, Old Commodores’ Race
- June 18, Special Olympics
- Sept. 10 & 11, Loubenvar/Thundermug
- Oct. 1, Willets Memorial
- July 16, Rum Challenge Ideal-18s
These are all on the river except for the September race.
RSVP: SailingEYC@gmail.com >>
Check out the flyer>>
Advanced Boat Handling lessons:
The following Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m.
June 7, June 21, July 5, and July 19
Spinnaker & Racing Strategy:
The following Thursdays at 4:00 June 9, June 23, July 7, and July 21
RSVP to EYC Member
Valerie Shickel >>
Tuesday & Thursday Race Series
TUESDAYS: Non-Spinnaker, Ideal 18s
THURSDAYS: Spinnaker Race Series, Ideal 18s
Contact: Val Shickel >>
Sails Up 4 Cancer, April 30
April 30, Saturday
Sails Up 4 Cancer: Gowrie Group Regatta
This is a multi-club fundraising regatta in one-design boats, which means sailboats such as EYC’s Ideal 18s.
Read flyer >>
Register here >>
Buy tickets to EYC party, $30. Band Cherry Pie is playing >>
Women on River: June 1, June 22 and July 13
Women on the River (WOR) began by EYC Member Mary-Lawrence Bickford in 2019. Mary-Lawrence gathers women sailors of all skill levels together three times each summer for recreational sailing on the Ideal 18s, from our nearby yacht clubs: the Essex Corinthian Yacht Club (ECYC), the North Cove Yacht Club (NCYC), Pettipaug Yacht Club (PYC) and our very own Essex Yacht Club (EYC).
Safety boat present as well.
Dates: June 1, June 22, and July 13 - 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Jr. Sailing
Friday nights. Beginning June 17. Six weeks. Ages 15 to 21. Experienced coaches.
For more information contact Club Member Bill Sandberg
Annual Special Olympics, Saturday, June 18. Postponed to August 6
On Saturday, June 18, athletes and partner coaches gather for one of the Club’s favorite events, with great burger lunch afterwards.
To participate or volunteer contact Essex Yacht Club's Past-Commodore, Jack Frost >>
The Hawkins Memorial, June 26
June 26, Saturday
Begun in 1960 by Bert Hawkins, this race is between the Essex Yacht Club and the Pettipaug Yacht Club. Boats such as the Ideal-18s or similar are raced.
Contact:
Rick Weiner >>
Rum Challenge Ideal 18 Regatta
July 16: A non-spinnaker regatta with EYC’s Ideal 18s and nearby yacht club’s similar boats.
Contact:Regatta Vice Chair, Jim Biggart >>
Junior Invitational, July 26
July 26
Junior Invitational Regatta, EYC and ECYC
Hosted by both EYC and ECYC, this regatta is a competitive series of fleet races in Ideal 18's for the Junior sailors of Pettipaug Yacht Club and North Cove Yacht Club. Individual prizes for all.
To stay updated, contact: Past Commodore Jack Frost >>
Women's Championship, August 1 & 3
Aug 1 and 3, in memorium of Past Commodore W. F. Rowe Jr.
Contact: Past Commodore Marily MacKinnon >>
Special Olympics, August 6
August 6, Saturday, All Day
Special Olympics Invitational Regatta
This fun event is an invitational regatta in Ideal 18's among 12 crews from Special Olympics sailing programs in CT, RI, and MA, with an EYC member participating as part of each crew.
A Club favorite for volunteering. We appreciate how many of you show up to help: welcome the athletes and their families, match members and spectators with their crews and spectator boat hosts, launch and land the fleet.
To stay updated, contact Past Commodore Jack Frost >>
The Harrison Memorial Race, August 27
August 27
Junior Invitational Regatta, EYC and ECYC
This race is between the Essex Yacht Club and our neighbor, the Essex Corinthian Yacht Club. Our regatta committee commissioned the Varick “Rick” Harrison Trophy in recognition of Past Commodore Harrison’s decades of service and support for saililng and racing.
Contact: Rick Weiner >>
Willets Memorial Race, October 1
October 1, Saturday
Willets Memorial Race
Boats 30’ or Smaller
The Willets Memorial Race is the first of three races comprising the Tri-Club Series co-sponsored with Essex Corinthian Yacht Club and Pettipaug Yacht Club for PHRF boats of 30' or less on the CT River.
We may include the Ideal 18s this year for fun, though these boats cannot qualify to win the trophy.
To stay updated, contact: Past Commodore Jack Frost
Frostbite Racing
For more information click here
Women's Sailing
Lot’s of opportunity! Click here >>.
How to qualify in an Ideal 18
EYC members are welcome to use the Club’s Ideal 18 fleet both for organized events and for recreational sailing on the river. Only members who have demonstrated proficiency may take out an Ideal 18 without an authorized skipper on board. To become an authorized skipper a member must complete the following steps.
Demonstrate proficiency in:
- Rigging and derigging an Ideal 18
- Tying basic knots (bowline, reef knot, figure-eight)
- Leaving and returning to the dock
- Sailing an Ideal 18 on all points of sail
- Picking up a mooring or floating fender
- Executing a MOB drill
Demonstrate knowledge of:
- The Rules of the Road
- The Ideal 18 program rules
Sign an Ideal 18 Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement
The intent of these requirements is to ensure the safety of the member, their crew, the Club’s Ideal 18 fleet, boats in the mooring field and other boaters on the river.
The following Club members are authorized to conduct proficiency tests for prospective skippers:
Renny Schoonmaker
(860) 581-8101
Jack Frost
(860) 767-8165
Pierre Boulanger
(860) 767-2510
Rick Weiner
(860) 767-2281
Frank Flores
(860) 767-0375
Peter Harding
(203) 249-6219
David Dorrance
(203) 722-5334
Jeff Lovelace
(860) 391-3015