News Feature
Originally published in
Castine Patriot, July 28, 2022
and Island Ad-Vantages, July 28, 2022
Castine Classic race begins three days of competitive sailing
Four boats competing in the 2019 Castine Classic Yacht Race sail open waters.
by Caroline Spear
On Thursday, August 4, a fleet of classic yachts will sail a 19.6 nautical mile course from Castine to Camden. The Castine race sets in motion three days of competitive sailing, which culminate in the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta on Saturday, August 6.
The event is hosted by the Castine Yacht Club. Those who wish to watch the fleet take off can do so from the Castine Town Dock or at Fort Madison on Court Street. The four classes of yachts will have staggered starts, of 10-minute intervals, beginning at noon.
Race committee member David Bicks, who has been running the race for 23 years, says, “It’s an honor for Castine Yacht Club to sponsor one of the major races in the Classic Yacht Owners Association series.” In the week before the race, he noted that at least 32 boats had signed up to sail.
The race is open to all monohull Classic and Spirit of Tradition yachts at least 28 feet length overall with a valid updated CRF rating certificate. Each yacht must tow “a proper dinghy.”
According to the race website, “Spirit of Classic Yacht Races…epitomize the best of sportsmanship and safe sailing. They are ‘fun’ races of old, priceless, classic yachts, many of which do not regularly race competitively. In this spirit, all skippers are expected to sail conservatively and avoid dangerous situations.”
The second race of the weekend is the Camden Classic Yacht Regatta on the following day, which sets sail from North Haven and ends at Naskeag Point in Brooklin. This race is hosted by the Camden Yacht Club. The fleet sails through the Deer Island Thorofare in early afternoon (or later, depending on the wind). Viewing along Stonington’s waterfront can be quite spectacular.
The final day of sailing features the fleet sailing a 15-mile course through Eggemoggin Reach, turning at Halibut Rock and down Jericho Bay, ending just off Naskeag Point. The Eggemoggin Reach Regatta is co-hosted by Brooklin Boat Yard and Rockport Marine.
