The 45th Around Long Island Regatta is scheduled to start in New York Harbor on Thursday, July 28. The race is managed and hosted by the Sea Cliff Yacht Club in Sea Cliff, NY.
© Allen Clark/PhotoBoat.com
First run in 1977, the “ALIR” covers a 207 nautical mile course combining ocean, harbor and open sound racing. The race’s 10+ divisions include sailboats 24 feet or longer and sailors at all levels who typically finish in one to three days. This unique race is for everyone – weekend cruisers, serious blue-water competitors, double-handers, academy sailing teams, even junior sailors. Racing yachtsmen earn points for the Northern Ocean Racing Trophy and other ORC?PHRF distance trophies.
Unique in the Northeast, the annual ALIR is almost a complete circumnavigation of Long Island with very distinct legs. It starts off Ellis Island in New York Harbor. The challenging harbor start, robust tides and prevailing southerlies sets the boats tacking towards the Narrows and out into the Atlantic. Once clear, the fleet turns left to sail along Long Island’s South Shore passing Long Beach, Jones Beach, Fire Island, the Hamptons and on to Montauk. After rounding Montauk Point, the tides and current become huge tactical factors as they head northwest to Plum Gut to enter Long Island Sound. The final westerly leg, familiar to all who sail the Block Island Race or the Vineyard Race, is all about reading wind shifts and working currents to their advantage along Long Island’s North Shore or the southern shore of Connecticut. The big difference from the other two regional classics is that the ALIR is sailed at the height of summertime, when the waters of the Sound are warmest. The race ends in beautiful Hempstead Harbor at the Glen Cove breakwater.
The weekend concludes with the ALIR Awards Ceremony and a Beach Party hosted by Sea Cliff YC on Sunday afternoon. Trophies are awarded for the first three finishers in each division, with many additional awards for various categories. The entry deadline is July 25, so there’s still time to make the start.
To enter, spectate, join the party or support the event sponsors, visit alir.org. ■
