In The News

For half a century, sailors and boat enthusiasts have delighted in one of the Boothbay region’s most anticipated events. This year marks the 50th Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Regatta, which takes place July 20 and 21 around the harbor and outside of Squirrel Island. It is the oldest regatta in Maine, according to regatta co-chair Bob Scribner.

Great racing begins soon with the 50th annual BHYC Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge to be held July 20 and 21. Yachts of all sizes with colorful spinnakers will be racing off Boothbay Harbor on both days.

The 49th Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club (BHYC) Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge fleets provided a breathtaking scene Saturday and Sunday.

There were over 60 classic and modern racing boats sailing on two courses between Spruce Point and Squirrel Island with the second course in the outer bay. Saturday was an interesting day with fog moving in and out repeatedly while Sunday provided spectacular conditions for racing, with clear blue skies across Boothbay.

Ahoy Sailors! Great racing begins July 22 with the 49th annual BHYC Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge to be held July 22 and 23. Large colorful sails will be seen in the outer harbor on both days.

Race Committee members have been busy organizing the most premier racing event on the Maine coast. Several local boats will be among the fleet of 60-70 boats expected.

NY 40 Marilee is looking forward to returning to the BHYC Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge in 2023 for the first time with her gaff rig. Marilee won the Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge in 2021 with her marconi rig.
Marilee has the unique ability for a yacht to sail with one of two vastly different rigs – the original gaff sail plan (1916 era design) or a marconi rig plan (1920s era and later design)– both of which were designed for her by Nathanael Herreshoff, often considered the greatest naval architect of all time.
Marilee is only one of 4 NY 40s sailing today. The number 40 in her class denotes the length of her water line. The NY 40s were the third of the One Designs yachts the New York Yacht Club organized for its members to race against each other. The first 12 NY40s were launched in 1916 and with 2 more (including Marilee) launched in 1926. All were built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol, RI. While built as One Designs, the NY 40s were designed under the Universal Rule, a rating rule developed by Nat Herreshoff for the America’s Cups but more universally used to handicap racing yachts of in the early 20th Century.
The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company (1878–1945) was most notable for producing sailing yachts, including eight America's Cup defenders, as well as steam-powered vessels. Nat’s greatest feat was designing yachts that successfully defended the America’s Cup six times.
For more information on Marilee’s adaption under her prior owner to allow her to sail with a newly designed marconi rig, see the Alison Langley Video, Two Boats in One ( https://www.langleyphoto.com/news/2018/7/marilee-two-boats-in-one )
Marilee’s extensive restoration under her former owner was undertaken from 2014 to 2016 by French & Webb (https://www.frenchwebb.com/ ) in Belfast, Maine. The project manager for the owner was Dennis Gunderson, currently with Bristol Marine here in Boothbay Harbor.
Marilee is owned by local Southport couple Ken and Ginny Colburn.

Excitement is building for the 49th running of the combined Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge, scheduled for July 22 and 23 in the harbor. Joining the competition this year will be two boats from the U.S. Naval Academy’s Offshore Sailing Team, Kodiak and Wahoo. Kodiak is a 66-foot Reichel Pugh, captained by Midshipman 1/c Javier Jimenez Kane. Wahoo is a Kerr 50 and is skippered by Midshipman 1/c Madelyn Ploch.

As Tammy Kennon (USA Today) put it, “some yachts have stage presence. When they enter a harbor, every head turns. Trumpy motor yachts have that hard-to-define appeal. Like a Frank Lloyd Wright house or a Rolls Royce, they are a product of their time yet possess a timeless appeal.”

Ed Brown’s Wharfside Gallery is proud to be among the sponsors of the 2022 Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Regatta and 2022 Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge.

The Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club hopes to see you on July 23 and 24 for the 48th running of the combined Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge/Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club annual Regatta! The enthusiastic response to the 2021 first annual event from racers, sponsors, and spectators’ points to an even more exciting experience this summer.

Regatta Sponsor News: Hodgdon Yachts has partnered with marine technology company, Vita, to build their highest performance all electric flagship, the 10.5 meter (34'5") LION.

This will be the 48th running of this two-day regatta featuring classic yachts and more modern racing yachts

The voyage of the sailing vessel Elusive began in Charleston, South Carolina, on Friday, May 20. Captain Bob Scribner, a past commodore of the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club, and three crew members were onboard Bob’s newly purchased Swan 44 sailboat. Our destination was some 1,200 miles away, at Luke’s Boatyard in East Boothbay. The 25-year-old-boat was outfitted with a new mainsail and jib, a new chart plotter, and a well-tuned diesel engine, among other items.

Points East Magazine: If you are looking for a great sailing spectacle on the coast of Maine this summer, look no further.

It is Regatta Time in Boothbay...
As we look ahead to July 23 and 24 and the 48th running of the BHYC Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge; BHYC, the community and our sponsors are excited to welcome 2022 regatta participants.

BRISTOL MARINE EXPANDS IN MAINE!!!!
After 25 years, we are still growing.
We are proud to welcome SOUTHPORT ISLAND MARINE into the Bristol Marine family.
Offering all marine services to boat owners in the region with outside, covered, and inside heated workspace, our team of passionate local craftsman on Southport Island provide customer first, customized service that experienced boaters will recognize at all of our New England locations.

If you run into Nat Wilson at the post office, he might tell you he is tired and thinking about retiring. He may be telling you the truth, and then again, maybe he might be just spinning a yarn.

"Hodgdon Yachts is very pleased to support the return of the Shipyard Cup newly configured as a classic yacht regatta under the umbrella of the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club,” says Tim Hodgdon, president of Hodgdon Yachts, which hosted the original Shipyard Cup Regatta and is a lead sponsor of new event.

Built to race offshore for Rudy Schaefer of the Schaefer beer company. Was used in "the hooligan navy” during WWII as a patrol boat. Served as training ship TABOR BOY for Tabor Academy. Owned by a surgeon in Larchmont for 51 years prior to being restored in 2006 to return to ocean racing and classic yacht competition.

The Classic Yacht Owners Association has endorsed the BHYC Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge as part of its Classic Yachts Challenge Series. This series, which also includes the Camden Classics Cup, Castine to Camden, and Camden to Brooklin feeder races, as well as the ever popular Eggemoggin Reach Regatta, attracts a large following of classic yachts. Indeed, these races are must-do events for classic yacht lovers.

This is the first in a series of articles about the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Regatta and Shipyard Cup Classics Challenge.

BHYC has been conducting an annual regatta for 46 years and this year’s event, July 24 and 25, is the 47th running and features an expanded signature event.