By Ron Weiss, Chairman, Storm Trysail Club Communications and Sponsorship Committee
The 4th Annual Storm Trysail Club Ted Hood Regatta (named after famed Marblehead, MA hero, America’s Cup winner, National Sailing Hall of Fame Inductee, and STC member) Ted Hood, is scheduled for August 21 – 23. While we are hopeful, as befitting an organization very much focused on safety, we will also be cautious, vigilant, and closely following the Massachusetts COVID-19 guidelines. The NOR and race information can be found at tedhoodregatta.com.
The Storm Trysail Club’s Ted Hood Regatta honors one of our sport’s legends. © Philip Smith
The regatta’s roots go back to the early 1990s when it was the PHRF New England Championships, then morphed into the One Regatta, before it was re-christened as the Storm Trysail Club Ted Hood Regatta in 2017. In all three incarnations, the regatta has been held in late August, with the cooperation of the Eastern YC, the Corinthian YC, and the Boston YC – all of whom take turns hosting the event on a rotating basis. This year the host will be Boston YC.
The Ted Hood Regattais always a big draw, with close to 80 boats and almost 1,000 participants, volunteers and spectators expected. Two popular handicap systems will be offered; PHRF as administered by PHRF/New England, and ORR/EZ. We also anticipate the usually strong turnout of one-designs such as J/105s, J/70s, and Vipers. Other one-design classes will be formed based on the number of entries. In addition to the traditional Windward/Leeward racing format, there will be a double-handed and Fully Crewed overnight/distance race, and Jib and Main racing.
Event PRO Alan McKinnon made an additional announcement: “Storm Trysail is proud to say that the THR has been named as the Mass Bay ORRez Championship, and also the PHRF New England Mass Bay Championship. We are sure the caliber of the racing will be very high, and in this unfortunately shortened season, the regatta promises to be even more exciting than usual.”
The Ted Hood Regatta is also one of five qualifiers for the 2020 MBSA Overnight Championship and the 2020 MBSA Shorthanded Championship. In the event the regatta is canceled, all registration fees will be promptly refunded. Updates will be posted on the regatta website and YachtScoring.com as the situation develops. The organizers would like to thank sponsors Goslings Rum, North Sails, and East Regiment Beer Company for their generous support.
For more information and to register, please visit tedhoodregatta.com. ■
