The Sailing Tradition Continues: Race Week Well Underway

Sailors were eager for racing Friday but were held back an hour due to conditions before getting underway at 1 p.m. in the Sperry Top-Sider Nood Regatta, known locally as Marblehead Race Week.
They were eager after a light day of racing Thursday, and eager because the tradition rich Marblehead regatta — starting in 1889 it's one of the oldest if not the oldest sailing regatta in the country — is a favorite of local racers.
It's also the most family friendly of the five other regatta in the series, St. Petersburg, Fla., San Diego, Annapolis, Maryland, Seattle and Chicago, said George Brengle, marketing director for Sailing World.
One reason it is so family friendly is the family ties it enjoys. The racing is truly generational.
Fathers and sons are racing; and fathers who also raced as young sons. The first half of the week was Junior Marblehead Race Week, featuring racers under 21 years old.
The senior Marblehead regatta is drawing 1,000 sailors and 155 boats in 11 classes.
The racers come from the United States, Canada and Germany.
Many of them are mooring their sailboats, ranging from 15 feet to 34 feet, in Marblehead Harbor and head out each day to the racing circles, of which there are three.
The first is Tinkers Line, off Marblehead Neck; the second, Outside Line, about 2 1/2 miles at sea; and the third, Halfway Rock, heading towards Gloucester, about 1 1/2 miles at sea.
The Marblehead races include no handicapping, Brengle said. The first boat to finish wins.
The largest fleet is the Rhodes 19 class, with 32 of them, he said.
This summer's event has three new classes, the J/70s, the Vanguard 15s and the Megabytes.
Racing resumes Saturday and continues Sunday, with the start at 11 a.m. on both days and going to 5 p.m Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Thursday – Sunday

• IOD
• Rhodes 19

Friday – Sunday

• J /105
• Etchells
• Town Class
• Viper 640
• Sonar
• J/24
• J/70
• Megabyte

Saturday - Sunday

• Vanguard 15

Friday, July 26 

Registration in the Main Lounge at the Boston Yacht Club from 9:00 – 11:00 am for all classes. 

 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Party under the tent scheduled from 6:00-7:30 pm (subject to racing schedule) featuring rules guru Dick Rose speaking. A great night for a snack & drink under the tent before heading out for your crew dinner. 

Visit Sperry Top-Sider to watch the highlight video of the day on the water. 

Stop by the Coral Reef Sailing Apparel merchandise display at the evening party to purchase your regatta gear. 

Snacks will be served in conjunction with bars featuring Mt Gay rum and Ipswich Ale. 

Saturday, July 27

Registration in the Main Lounge at the Boston Yacht Club from 9:00 – 11:00 am for classes racing 2 days 

Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Party under the tent scheduled from 5:30-8:30 pm (subject to racing schedule) with a live band. Dinner and dancing - come and make a night of it! 

Visit Sperry Top-Sider at the evening party to purchase your new sailing shoes and watch the video footage of the day. 

Mt Gay is treating you all to Black Barrel rum at the party – don’t miss this chance to drink their best! 

Stop by the Coral Reef Sailing Apparel merchandise display at the party to buy your NOOD gear. 

Dinner is served! Join us for an Italian Feast including multiple pastas, greens and a delicious dessert. Mt Gay Black Barrel will be flowing alongside Ipswich Ale. 

Sunday, July 28

Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Party and Overall Awards from 4:00-5:30 pm (subject to racing schedule). 

Class prizes will be awarded, along with naming the Marblehead NOOD Overall Winner and invitee to the BVI NOOD. 

Stop by the Coral Reef Sailing Apparel for your last chance to pick up your regatta gear. 

Sperry Top-Sider will again be showing racing footage from Sunday’s races. 

Grab an Ipswich Ale or Mt Gay rum to pair with your Steamed Hot Dog and Chowder.