October 2023

The week before the autumnal equinox on September 23, our weather was hazy, warm and humid. Then, like a light switch, the smell of fall hit the senses and for a weekend, it felt like crystal clear, cool, marching band and football weather. Like Jonathan Richman, you have to love New England. There were ten days between sticky highs in the 90s and glorious dry highs around 70. Unfortunately, the endless stream of threatening tropical systems broke…

The winners of this year’s Newport For New Products™ (NFNP) awards were announced last month at the Newport International Boat Show presented by BankNewport.   Best New Navigation Product (Including Marine Electronics): B&G Hercules Best New Boating Operation, Maintenance or Safety Product: Ronstan Orbit Winch with QuickTrim™ Honorable Mention Boating Operation, Maintenance or Safety Product: Revolve Technology Emergency VHF Antenna Best New Sailboat: Y Yachts Y7 Best New Powerboat 30 Feet and Over: Solara S-310 SC Best…

  Sailors from the U.S. and around the world will gather in historic Annapolis, MD from October 12 through 15 for the Annapolis Sailboat Show. An October tradition, the quaint Annapolis harbor transforms in a spectacular way to accommodate new and premiering boats from some of the world’s leading sailboat manufacturers. This year alone, 130 sailboat models and 480 exhibitors including sailmakers, manufacturers, boating clubs, charter companies, and accessory and equipment providers will pull out all the…

Zim Sailing, a Bristol, RI-based subsidiary of Starting Line Sailing Inc., recently launched Zim Sailing Regional Roundtables, one-day brainstorming and group discussion gatherings designed to bring together sailing community and industry leaders from particular geographical regions to collaborate on various aspects of the sport. Zim Sailing Regional Roundtables will serve as a platform for individuals and organizations within the sailing community to connect, network, share concerns and best practices, learn from one another, and ultimately help each…

  Sails Up 4 Cancer is proud to partner with Skeleton Crew Adventures for a special screening of Hell or High Seas on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:30 pm at Mystic Luxury Cinemas in Mystic, CT. Hell Or High Seas follows U.S. Navy veteran Taylor Grieger and writer Stephen O’Shea as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime – sailing around Cape Horn, the world’s most treacherous ocean waters. The documentary is a moving portrait of…

It was as good as it gets for 47 teams sailing in the Ida Lewis Yacht Club’s 18th Ida Lewis Distance Race presented by Bluenose Yacht Sales. Race organizers had promised to reinforce the race’s reputation as a challenging 24-hour overnight competition, and that they did by developing a brand-new selection of courses to fit all sorts of weather scenarios and incorporate as many sailing angles as possible. After a two-hour postponement due to a severe weather forecast, the race…

By Barbara “Basia” Karpinska The Vineyard Race 2023, Doublehanded Division   And just like that summer has gone, and autumn arrived ushered by the Vineyard Race. Organized by Stamford Yacht Club, the Vineyard is an offshore racing classic dating back to 1932 and held annually over Labor Day weekend except for three years during World War II. The first race had 23 starters with five finishers. Fittingly, 89 boats participated in this year’s 89th edition. Over the…

By Sam Crichton     The sixth Clagett/Oakcliff Match Race Clinegatta for sailors with disabilitieswas hosted by Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club over the weekend of August 25-27, with twelve sailors from across the U.S. traveling to Oyster Bay, NY to participate. Friday’s clinic had great conditions for the sailors, who were coached by The Daves: America’s Cup helmsman Dave Dellenbaugh (Easton, CT) and five-time U.S. Match Racing Champion Dave Perry (Southport, CT). The two coaches worked with the…

By Marion Bartholomew     In August of 1870, the first America’s Cup race in United States waters took place in the Sandy Hook Bay area of New York and New Jersey. Hosted by the New York Yacht Club, eighteen schooners were registered to race. The New York Yacht Club’s schooner Magic won the 40-mile race. In August of 2023, the 19th Annual Ms. Race took place in the same Sandy Hook Bay with a record thirteen…

By Courtney Moore, CMB Creative Group Photos by Nick Woviotis, © Skylla Filmworks     The 74th Dyer Dhow Derby will be held Saturday, October 21, from 10am to 5pm at Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, CT. Defending their title from 2022 will be the Murphy family (three generations: Frank, Patrick, and Lily) representing the Mystic River Mudhead Sailing Association. Past winners include many other Mudheads such as Carl Fast, Woody Bergendahl and Nate Fast.   Mystic Seaport…