Sagamore Yacht Club has an extensive racing program that is aimed to please the serious as well as the casual racers of Oyster Bay.  It consists of two programs, one geared to short Wednesday evening racing and the other to longer weekend racing in Long Island Sound. The Race Committee is working through the early months of 2008 to make the this Racing Season just a bit more interesting . In the meantime we wish Oyster Bay Racers, family and friends an enjoyable Spring and please don’t let this cool weather prevent you from getting your sailing machine ready for the upcoming season.For those that maybe interested in sailing with us in the upcoming season below is an explanation of a normal yacht racing season in Oyster Bay.The Wednesday Evening races are within the Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor area, after the races most skippers and crews then gather on the Sagamore grounds for libations, a food service and shared stories of that evening’s race. It is here many questions about racing techniques can be answered. For a skipper new to racing or a novice just wanting to crew the Wednesday night series is the best way to begin. Racing begins in early May and continues through early October.The Weekend Series include a variety of races including:

• The Annual Friends of the Bay Race, sanctioned by the Yacht Racing Association of LI Sound, open to all boats on the Sound. This includes a popular after-race party with a live band, raffles, awards, and an extensive barbeque. Proceeds support those groups that maintain the character and quality of the bay waters.
•  A Sail Handlers series with short legs emphasizing skills in the use of sails (designed to drive the spinnaker class nuts!!!)
•  A jointly sponsored race with Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club commemorating Dooley Roosevelt, a member of both clubs
•  Several Long Distance Races
•  And the ever popular annual Race to Dinner where we race to another club to spend the evening for drinks and dinner

The season ends with an awards ceremony and dinner complete with a slide show of the season’s races and a hilarious roast of the participants.

Also this past year, Sagamore’s Race Committee Manager was awarded the prestigious Roger H. Shope Award by the Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound. This trophy is awarded to the RC who demonstrates “excellence in race management”.

Our Racing Chair is Mike Gehrling, who would be glad to discuss the program with you and answer any questions you may have. His email address is sycracechair@hotmail.com.