Stamford Yacht Club will soon host the 90th running of the Vineyard Race. This Labor Day weekend classic began in 1932, and usually attracts over 100 boats of all sizes. The 238-mile course stretches from Shippan Point in Stamford, CT to the light tower at the entrance to Buzzards Bay, and then returns to finish in Stamford Harbor, leaving Block Island to starboard on the way out and back. There are two other courses that run 116nm and 143nm for those that would like to participate without going the entire distance. Skippers who are successful typically credit local knowledge of these tricky waters, often with a good deal of luck.
The Vineyard Race was described in Yachting Magazine as follows: “The greatest distance races of the world have several things in common – a challenging course, competitive fleets, and an interesting array of famous yachts. By those standards, the Stamford Yacht Club’s Vineyard Race rates close to the top. Like a miniature Fastnet, the Vineyard has a combination of coastal cruising, where currents play a big role, a stretch of ocean sailing, and a mark to round – the Buzzards Bay tower – before returning.”
There are many who feel that no sailing resume is complete without the Vineyard Race. The saltiest sailors, who have completed ten or more Vineyard Races, have earned entrance into The Buzzards Society.
© Rick Bannerot/OntheFlyPhoto.net
The race begins at noon on Friday, August 30 at the Cows buoy off of Stamford, where a large group of spectator boats will gather to cheer on competitors as they set off eastward down Long Island Sound. Following their return to Stamford, the always-epic awards party will be held on the SYC lawn starting at 5pm on Sunday, September 1. Registrations have been steadily climbing, with over 60 boats registered at press time.
To learn more, visit https://stamfordyc.com/Sailing/Vineyard_Race_(1) ■
