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MARCH 2016 NEWSLETTER |
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 Photo of the Month: NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Last October, our racing programs ended with a pinnacle moment when the Manhattan Yacht Club team skippered by Eric Leitner with crew Doug Witter and Adam Sandberg, plus Michael Ambrose and Tom Sinatra won the US Sailing Adult Championship. Here our winning team holds the prestigious Mallory Trophy. This historic achievement helps symbolize of the quality of racing MYC organizes in the harbor. Racing begins again in May. |
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Update from Commodore Fortenbaugh
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 It's good to have friends around the world. The Royal BVI and the West End Yacht Clubs in Tortola recently hosted our Members at the end of De Caribbean Regatta. It's was great fun and we hope this becomes an annual tradition.
One of the guiding principles of our Club has always been to promote "international goodwill through friendly competition." Let's do more. Next year will be our Club's 30th Anniversary and we should host another International Yacht Club Challenge.
Photo: Commodore Todd Patterson of the Royal BVI Yacht Club presents Commodore Fortenbaugh with their burgee. This is now hanging in our Clubhouse.
The first warm days of March get us thinking about sailing. It's been a long winter and we can't wait to access our boats and sail in the harbor again. Our Commissioning Ceremony will be earlier than ever this year. Because of the America's Cup event on May 7 & 8, we will move the opening of our Club forward to Saturday, April 30. Friday evening April 29 will be the 19th Annual Sailors Ball. Then on Saturday afternoon, we will raise the final masts and tune the rigs. On Saturday evening, the Commissioning Ceremony will be held at the docks with a full BBQ. Sailing begins on Sunday, May 1, the earliest in our Club's 29 year history. Full speed ahead!
- Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh
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America's Cup Coming to NY Harbor May 7 & 8 |
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|  One of the biggest sailing events this season will be the America's Cup event which will take place on the weekend of May 7 & 8. The races are slated to take place directly off Manhattan between Pier 25 & North Cove. As sailors in the harbor, we are unsure exactly how this will work with the skyscrapers blocking the wind. But it is certain to be an exciting and historic event. Arabella will serve as our Flagship to watch the event from the water. Tickets for Saturday & Sunday have already sold out. Friday is the practice day and Arabella is still available for corporate charter. Get ready to begin the 2016 sailing season with some serious excitement! |
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19th Annual Sailors Ball - Fri. April 29 |
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The 19th Annual Sailors Ball will be Friday, April 29, 2016. All Members are encouraged to purchase tickets and support this important fundraiser for the junior sailing programs. Please buy your tickets at
https://nyharborsailing.com/sailors-ball/tickets/
The Sailors Ball is the annual black tie party which celebrates the start of the new sailing season. It is organized by the NY Harbor Sailing Foundation which was founded by Members of our Club. The Foundation supports Operation Optimist, the Teen Sailing Camp and the America's Cup 12 Meter America II.
This year, the Sailors Ball is one week before the America's Cup event in the harbor. It is rumored that the America's Cup Trophy may make a special appearance at the Ball.
There is a terrific Benefit Committee supporting the Ball. If you have a large social network and would be willing to promote the ball, please join the Committee by sending an email to office@myc.org.
Photo: (l to r) Dinner Chair Marc LoPresti with Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh and Foundation Chair Jim Cavanaugh at the 12 Meter Dinner before the Ball.
Before the Ball, there is also the 12 Meter Dinner which is chaired by Marc LoPresti. This is a great event to entertain sailing clients. A few corporate tables are still available. You can get more information from mindy@myc.org. The dinner is a fundraiser for the historic America's Cup 12 Meter America II.
After 19 years, the Sailors Ball is a New York institution. It is always one of the best black tie parties of the year. There is a Mt Gay Rum room with Caribbean music. There is the famous Heineken Beer Boom Boom Room. Last year, a Casino Room and a Silent Disco Room were added. All of these rooms will be back bigger and better than ever.
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Start of NY to France Race - Sun. May 29
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Photo: In June 2014, our Club helped start the New York to Barcelona Race. This May, the organizers are coming back for an even bigger race called "Transat New York - Vendee."
Put Sunday, May 29 on your schedule and be sure to be in town! This will be a busy Memorial Day Weekend. On Saturday, our Club will host the 2nd Fleet Week Regatta. Then on Sunday, our Race Committee will help start a major Trans-Atlantic Race!
The "Transat New York - Vendée" is a race for some of the best single-handed sailors in the world. It will start in New York Harbor and race across the Atlantic Ocean to Les Sables d'Olonne, France. More than a dozen of the extreme Open Class 60 boats are expected to participate. This race is part of the
IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship.
More details are at http://www.imocaoceanmasters.com/
Up to twelve 60 foot monohulls are expected to participate. Our
Club will be right in the center of this action. We will provide the Race Committee for the start as we did in 2014 (maybe you should join the Race Committee this year, see more details below).
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De Caribbean Regatta Report |
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Eleven boats participated in this year's De Caribbean Regatta at end of January. And from the reports heard as well as the pictures posted on the FaceBook page, it was one of the most well organized and enjoyable regattas ever.
 Leading our fleet through the British Virgin Islands was Arabella. This year, the Arabella's crew put on a show by raising all the sails, turning off the engine and feathering the prop. it was inspiring to see how well Arabella sails and she was clocked at over 10.5 knots downwind from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke. Arabella also sailed admirably in the race with the Royal BVI Yacht Club and the West End Yacht Club. She passed the Moorings catamarans and almost caught the 50 foot monohulls even though the course was mostly upwind and downwind. Now that Arabella's sailing performance has been demonstrated, we are considering entering her in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race in October. Standy by for more details.
The great 2016 skippers of De Caribbean Regatta gather for the Induction Ceremony when new skippers are inducted into the "Carib Being Society." This ceremony is conducted in front of Neptune's Treasure on the island of Anegada. Long live the unique and wonderful spirit of our regatta!
Special at this year's regatta was the engagement of Jon & Esther! The regatta also ended
with a pursuit race against the Royal BVI and West End Yacht Clubs. We entered 5 boats, Arabella and 2 catamarans and 2 monohulls. Unfortunately, our Club was not consulted on the ratings. By the time the MYC starting signals were made, the other boats were half way round the course. The two host clubs made up for shooting-fish-in-the-barrel by inviting our Members to a party that evening. The Commodores of the Royal BVI & West End Yacht Clubs both presented Commodore Fortenbaugh with burgees to hang in our new clubhouse.
Every few years, a picture comes along which embodies the spirit of De Caribbean Regatta. This year, Emre Cumali was captured during the dinghy races off the Bitter End Yacht Club. The wind had picked up to 20 knots and the Hobies were flying along like rocket ships. Emre was locked in a fierce battle with Esther as well as the Picos and 420s. After rounding the windward mark, he blazed onto a downwind plane, launched from the top of wave and hit the turquoise Caribbean water with a splash. When he popped back up, fist raised in exaltation, defiance and sun soaked happiness, he won "De Caribbean Sailor of the Year" Award!
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Opportunity to Join the Race Committee |
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 Would you like to be part of a fun and dynamic team with a lot of responsibilities ranging from starting the race to setting the course? This is your chance! Race Committee is an integral part of sailboat racing. The responsibilities of this committee include ensuring the venue is set up and ready, communicating with participants, running the actual race and generating results. Being part of such a team is not only prestigious but is also personally rewarding!
The perks of being Race Committee include:
- Gain valuable experience as Race Committee for a great club which hosts multiple races from spring to fall including international races.
- Drive awesome powerboats in New York Harbor.
- Race Committee starting kit which includes cap, shirt and more.
- 1 ticket to the prestigious Annual Dinner and award ceremony (for qualifying RC members).
- A chance to meet and learn from great sailors from our club as well as from around the world.
- Personalized RC Club Pewter tankard to be kept onboard the Honorable William Wall and available to you when you visit.
- Enjoy watching some great sailing with a most magnificent backdrop.
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Clubhouse for a Day - Pier A Thur. March 10 |
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Come meet your fellow Members at a Clubhouse for the Day event. Have you been to the new Pier A yet? It is incredible. The building is a waterfront gem, steeped in our city's maritime history. We love Pier A so much that we are designating it our "Clubhouse for a Day" on Thursday, March 10. Time of our gathering will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. When you arrive, ask where MYC is gathering in the long bar or oyster bar.
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Racers & Cruisers Gear Up for Season |
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Calling all racers and cruisers. Get more involved this summer. Here are two gatherings you will want to join:
Open House for Cruising Sailors - Sat. March 19
12 noon at the Jersey City Clubhouse
Come learn more about our Fleet Captain and Mentor Programs. Fleet Captain is an excellent program for new sailors to continue practicing and refining their skills. It is also a good way for Members to make more sailing connections. The Mentor Program is for sailors who would like to go on a acquire their Skipper Privileges. Both Fleet Captain Chair Peter Abelman and Mentor Chair Patty Bryan will be there along with Mindy King from the Club office. Please
RSVP to
mindy@myc.org.
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Follow the Club's New Facebook Page |
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 There is a new Facebook page for our Club.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Manhattan-Yacht-Club/210468042307077
If you "Like" this page, then you will get notices when new pictures and videos are posted. If you can't get to the docks as much as you would like this season, at least you can see pictures of other Members and friends when they go out sailing!
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Seen at the Club |
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|  Members at the Blue Water Society Dinner organized by John Elliott in February. Next year, this event will be expanded into a "Mid-Winter Dinner" and the Blue Water Society will be the centerpiece of this event open to all Members. Attending this event and hearing the stories may inspire more Members to challenge significant ocean passages.
One of the great events during De Caribbean Regatta is the afternoon of dinghy racing at the Bitter End Yacht Club. Why is this so special? Just look at these faces and they will let you know.
Arabella sets all her sails during the race with the Royal BVI and West End Yacht Clubs.
Anegada is a magical island and at sunset, this is where the appetizer competition takes place on the outdoor bar of Neptune's Treasure. 
De Caribbean Regatta always features a lot of impromptu dancing.  Hope you join us next winter!
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