Classic Yacht Challenge Series

Classic Yacht Challenge Series enters the stretch of Massachusetts events

Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge © Franco Pace / Panerai

Bluebird conditions and thrilling competition made for an unforgettable weekend of sailing in Marblehead during the 26th Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta from August 9-10, as the 2025 CYCS returned to Massachusetts, following last month’s Vineyard Cup, for a stretch of regattas.

Saturday featured a 13-mile course and steady winds between eight and 12 knots, while Sunday’s shorter course featured lighter breeze.

“The sailing was spectacular, the Saturday evening sit-down dinner was beyond festive, the band had everyone out on the floor, and the ice was cold. It was a terrific Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta,” said CYOA Chair and Corinthian organizer Timmy Dittrich. “There was terrific competition over the two days and a lot of trading of positions. Competitors were always vying for a top spot throughout the weekend.”

The Modern Classic Division is the regatta’s fastest-growing division, as well as this year’s largest. Jud Smith’s 44 ft. 1984 Buce Farr AFRICA B-Squad won the division, followed closely by Border Ally, a 42 ft. 1973 Camper & Nicholson owned by Lawrence Garrett, and Cynara, Jason Panos’ 38 ft. 1965 William Tripp Jr.

Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta 2025 © Bruce Durkee

Racing in the Vintage Division featured a three-way tie, broken by the applicable Racing Rules of Sailing. The tie breaker put the 1938 Sparkman & Stephens Black Watch on top, followed by Lars and Peter Forsberg’s 1934 John G. Alden schooner SPIRIT.

“This weekend’s forecast provided challenging yet fun conditions for the fleet,” added Peter Forsberg. “Saturday’s reach was amazing for our schooner SPIRIT and Sunday was an amazing display of Black Watch’s versatile crew and sail setups. Overall another great meeting of classic yachts!”

Full results for the Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta can be found here

The CYCS fleet is now en route to Nantucket for the next two events: the Nantucket Regatta (Aug. 15-16) and the Opera House Cup (Aug. 17). These back-to-back regattas bring show stopping classics sailing and can’t-miss social events to the island.

Marblehead Halifax Race 2025 – photo © Bruce Durkee

“Opera House Cup weekend begins with a Classic Yacht Exhibition along the docks of the Nantucket Boat Basin on Saturday evening,” said organizer Phil Smith. “The boats invited to be in the exhibition represent about 15 of the most prominent and famous designers of the last 125 years. The public is invited to stroll the docks and go aboard the magnificent boats, where the owners can answer questions and share the boat’s history.”

Now in the depths of August, the 2025 CYCS is entering its home stretch, with regattas in Narragansett Bay and Long Island Sound still to be contested before summer officially ends. Current Standings in the Series can be found on the CYOA website.

Marblehead Halifax Race 2025 – photo © Bruce Durkee

CRF Overall Standings

Spirit joined the list of qualified boats this past weekend, while Black Watch added another bullet to their series score, with only one away from perfection!

Boats have qualified for the series by sailing in at least 5 races across 3 events. Scores are based on a maximum of 500 points. For details on how scoring works, visit the Results page on our website. This includes an explanation about how the series takes a boat’s corrected time versus the other boats in their CRF Certificate Division, not necessarily the class in which a regatta placed them.

Vintage