Race Management:

Cedar Point Yacht Club has a 50 year tradition of hosting annual regattas for each of the classes represented at the club, and is regularly selected to host major championship events. Over the years, the club has developed an award winning reputation for running outstanding regattas. In 1998, CPYC was awarded the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy for excellence in race management by US Sailing in recognition of the successful 1997 National Team Racing Championship Regatta for the George R. Hinman Trophy. In 2002 and 2007 CPYC was awarded the US Sailing One Design Club of the Year which recognized the club for “administrative excellence, fleet growth, creative programming, regatta support, and member contribution at regional, national and international levels of the one-design.”

The race committee for this event will be led by Dick Thackaberry who will serve as the Principal Race Officer. Dick has a wealth of experience as a PRO and runs excellent events in a variety of classes every season. His most recent major events as PRO were the 2003 Lightning North American Championship and the 2008 Thistle Long Island Sound Open District Championship. He serves as the PRO for the annual Cedar Point Early Bird Regatta and the Fontelieu Fall Classic every year. Dick will be supported by a highly qualified staff, who has helped run several large events in recent years. The 2003 Vanguard 15 National Championship, the 2003 Lightning North American Championship, the 2004 Laser North American Championship, the 2005 US Sailing Youth Championship, and the 2007 Laser Last Chance Olympic Qualifier are just some of the regattas that have taken place at CPYC since 2003. The club also has a great history with the Thistle Class, hosting the 1970, 1978, 1984 and 1994 National Championships and the 2005 Atlantic Coast Championship. The club prides itself on excellent race management and will once again provide just that for the 2009 Thistle National Championship.

Racing Conditions:

The race course will be an area of Long Island Sound south of Westport, bound by Cockonoe Island and extended reef on the south, the Saugatuck river entrance on the west. The racing area is approximately 2 miles east to west and 1.25 miles north to south. In the first week of August, CPYC can expect a fairly consistent weather pattern. Like other venues, our wind velocity increases as the land heats up and the thermal develops. On an average day, we can expect lighter winds in the morning (3-6 knots) that will build to the low teens from the southwest sea breeze direction by early afternoon. This direction will provide fairly consistent breeze with potential for big waves. If we see wind patterns anywhere from the northwest to east, typically they are due to a frontal system in the area. These directions will be much shiftier and unpredictable with flatter water. The average temperature in Westport that time of year is mid 90s during the day and high 60s during the night.

Facilities:

The Club is located on Saugatuck Island in Westport, CT overlooking Long Island Sound from the mouth of the Saugatuck River. The property was designed with sailboat racing in mind, and the facilities are perfectly suited for running a National Championship. The clubhouse offers bathroom and shower facilities, a snack bar, kitchen, and a self-serve bar. Supplementary bathroom and shower facilities will be brought on-site for additional ease and access. An encircling deck on the 2nd floor of the clubhouse affords spectacular 360° views of the busy harbor and Sound. A large wedding style tent situated on the club lawn will be the home for all regatta dinners, including Friday’s banquet and award ceremony.

The dry stall facility includes space for more than 150 dry sailed boats and several large staging/rigging areas with fresh water service. Two high speed one ton electric hoists and a wide bulk head provides two-way access to and from each hoist. That, along with a large rigging dock will allow the entire fleet to get in and out of the water in a timely manner.