artist-in-residence, Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society, doing what he does best at the 2014 Port Washington YC Charity Cup. He is generously donating a 12 x 16-inch framed and signed by the artist oil painting of the boat of the overall winner of the 2015 Port Washington Day Race.
Spring has finally arrived and local boaters are busily getting their boats ready for the season. Soon, Manhasset Bay will be filled with boats at their moorings or slips, waiting to take the passengers out to enjoy the beauty of our bay, Long Island Sound and beyond. People are smiling again.
The 2015 Cow Bay Racing One-design committee has issued their sailing instructions for the upcoming season, which starts on May 9 and continues until Oct. 4. All three yacht clubs: Manhasset Bay, North Shore and Port Washington take turns with Race Committee duty. Without the cooperation of these clubs working together, there would be no weekend racing. So, kudos to all involved that organized the season.
While weekend racing started last weekend, there are two Day Race regattas during the weekend of May 30 and 31. On Saturday, May 30, North Shore Yacht Club will host their day race. According to the club, “racers can mark their calendars for the always popular North Shore Yacht Club’s 27th Annual Day Race on Saturday, May 30.” With the club celebrating its 145th anniversary and with proper breeze, the race starts just before noon. Racers can expect a start on Long Island Sound, Northeast of Execution Light, and depending on the breeze, a race of 15 miles. The finish will be in Manhasset Bay. Participants can expect multiple PHRF Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker divisions plus a PHRF “2-handed” Non-Spinnaker division and a new J-105 One Design Spinnaker Division. Always a racers’ favorite…the NSYC complimentary post-race party. Entry forms are available at nsyc.net/dayrace.htm. For additional information, call the Regatta Chairman, Charlie Cannam at 516-639-9470 or NSYC at 516-883-9823.
On Sunday, May 31, Port Washington Yacht Club is hosting their Day Race. There will be several new features to the regatta this year.
The overall winner of the PWYC Day Race will receive an oil painting by local en plein air artist, Lawrence Chrapliwy, artist-in-residence, Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society. Chrapliwy is a member of the American Society of Marine Artists. An early interest in art and nature and his natural talent eventually led him a career as an illustrator and graphic designer. Since arriving in Port Washington in 2007, he and his wife, also an artist, have developed a strong following of admirers and collectors, both locally and nationally. “Plein air” paintings are works created while painting from life in the open air: the paintings require enormous discipline and skill to complete with ever changing light and weather conditions. He will be at PWYC on the day of the regatta, doing what he does best, painting scenes from the yacht club dock. Race participants will have a chance to chat with the artist and see him in action on the front lawn of the club. The public is invited to stop by to chat with Chrapliwy, but should call the club at 516-767-1614 to confirm his availability. For more about the artist, see lawrencemaritimeart.com. For more information about the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society, go to cowneck.org.
The second new development with the PWYC Day Race involves the YRALIS. The club is very excited to be chosen as one of eight venues that qualify for the new YRALIS Youth Challenge Trophy. This is a series of races over the 2015 season (PWYC Day Race, City Island Distance Race, Lloyd Harbor Stratford Shoal Race, Huguenot YC Expressly for Fun Regatta, Sea Cliff Around Long Island Regatta, YRALIS Championship Regatta, Stamford YC Vineyard Race and Indian Harbor Stratford Shoal Race). To qualify, 33 percent of the crew must be between ages 14 to 24 at the start of the race and race in at least three of the events.
And last, but certainly not least, the Port Washington Day Race is proud to announce that they have joined the race to restore ocean health with Sailors for the Sea’s Clean Regattas program. One part education, two parts activation, the Clean Regattas program unites and mobilizes sailors by offering support and resources to help heal the ocean.
“The PWYC Day Race is committed to serving as a model for responsible sailing,” said Tyson Bottenus, Sustainability Director, Sailors for the Sea. “We are thrilled to support the PWYC Day Race in their efforts to educate participants on environmental protection. Working with the regatta, Sailors for the Sea will help to formalize their conservation efforts and help foster ocean friendly behavior.”
Port Washington YC is dedicated to protecting the waters upon which we sail.
For more information on the regatta, go to pwyc.com or email racecommittee@pwyc.com. For the Notice of Race and to register, go to www.yachtscoring.com.
