The World's most sailing-mad city
by Sail-World Cruising on 2 Jul 2010
Marblehead - is it the ’yachting capital of the world’? Leigh Blander
Which IS the yachting capital of the world? Is it Cannes? Annapolis? Sydney?
No, Marblehead locals claim that it's Marblehead in Massachusetts USA, on the basis that, in a population of just over 20,000, the sailing mad town has no less than six yacht clubs.
That's one yacht club for every 3,333 people. Is there a city in the world that can do better than that?
The yacht clubs are not in competition. They range from ranging from swanky to casual and one is even
run by children. The pinnacle of the sailing season is Marblehead Race Week, beginning July 19. Hundreds of boats will participate in the tradition, which dates back to 1889.
Here Leigh Blander, of the Marblehead Patch, takes a look at Marblehead's yacht clubs and their summer highlights.
Marblehead Yacht Club:
The town's oldest, and smallest, yacht club launched in 1878. Commodore Charles Mara said its main focus this summer is a race from Marblehead to Rockland, Maine, starting July 24.
'We begin with a pasta dinner in Marblehead Friday night and end with a lobsterfest in Rockland on Sunday,' he said. The contest includes racing and cruising sailboats, with or without spinnaker.
Pleon Yacht Club:
The Pleon is the oldest junior yacht club in the country, founded in 1887 by a group of boys whose boats (and savings) were too small to let them join the other yacht clubs in town.
'We're for kids, by kids,' said Program Director Brad Carpenter.
PYC is still dedicated to teaching young people how to
sail -- both competitively and recreationally. The club will host its 55th annual Marblehead Junior Race Week from July 19 to 21. More than 300 kid sailors from around the country will race in seven different classes.
Corinthian Yacht Club:
This club, which opened in 1885, will hold its first Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta on the weekend of Aug. 6 to 8. About 50 boats are expected to compete.
Eastern Yacht Club:
The Eastern Yacht Club dates back to 1870 when 12 Boston gentlemen joined together to promote yachting. Within a
month, they had enrolled 110 members with 23 yachts. EYC's Marblehead clubhouse was built in 1881.
The Eastern is preparing for its annual regatta on July 4.
Boston Yacht Club:
The BYC hosts Wednesday night races each week, which are open to the public, said the club's Dana Williams. But the peak of the season will be the New England NOOD (National Offshore One-Design) Regatta, when different classes of sailboats compete against one another. That will be held July 22 to 25.
Dolphin Yacht Club:
The Dolphin Yacht Club is the newest on the scene, founded in 1951. Among its services, it offers a launch and kayak storage for sea-lovers who prefer to power their own vessels.
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Editor's Challenge:
If your sailing town or city provides more than one yacht club per 3,333 of the population, we'd like to hear from you!
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