EBYRA Race Season Begins May 11, 2011

Is it me, or did this winter seem excruciatingly long? Every December I say I just couldn't spend another winter in NY, and every May I say how lucky I am to live on City Island; usually around  May 11^th when the first EBYRA (Eastchester Bay Yacht Racing Association) race begins!

Close hauls and close calls at the sound of the horn. Multiple boats at the start line maneuver for the best spot, inevitably followed by the right-of-way captain yelling “Starboard!!” in the direction of the offenders. The crew hanging their legs off the side rail swiftly slide them in (after all, we like our limbs).  

Tense moments.
Cusses under the breath.
Near crashes...
Oh, how I’ve missed it!

Photo: boatinglocal.com

Edd Schillay, Commodore of EBYRA,  states  the  Wednesday night PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Formula) races “offer a level of competition not often found in a weeknight race series.” The EBYRA mission statement is:

“to provide for, promote and administer a yacht racing program on the waters of Eastchester Bay and the immediately adjacent areas; to cooperate with, and provide support for, national, regional, and other local organizations in promoting and administering yacht racing programs; to cooperate with regional and national organizations in the application and further development of handicapping rules and systems for yacht racing; and to foster in general the science of seamanship and navigation."



Racing on Eastchester Bay
Photo provided by E. Schillay



Here are EBYRA upcoming dates to mark on your calendar!

May 4,  7pm., EBYRA Skipper’s Meeting (Morris Yacht & Beach Club)

May 11,  Official start racing – Race #1 (every Wednesdays for 19 weeks)

June 4 & 5,   EBYRA City Island Cup Race

August 20,  EBYRA Day Race

For more info: http://www.ebyra.org/

(Also offered on Wednesday nights (beginning May 18) is Fleet 61 J-24 racing. See earlier post for more info http://www.cityislandsailing.com/2011/02/fleet-61-awards-dinner.html)