Keyport Racers, Keyport Racers! Racing in Raritan Bay is a longstanding tradition – the first Americas Cup challenges in the 1870’s were held off Staten Island. And since the founding of the Keyport Yacht Club in 1908, racing has formed a central part of our summer activities. Our season schedule includes offseason seminars, Wednesday Night racing, a few weekend dates, and the Bill Volk Regatta in June.

 

For additional information – keep reading!

Or send an e-mail to the Race Chair at [email protected]

 

See you on the start line!

 

Want to help us with the planning? The Race Committee meets regularly, 2nd Weds of each month.

 

Over the winter, the Race Committee runs a series of seminars for new members, or those new to racing. Dates are on the club calendar, and announced via e-mail blasts

 

Session 1 – an introduction to yacht racing terms, and an overview of the KYC program

Session 2 – an overview of some jobs on a racing sailboat, or committee boat. And a rundown of the starting and finishing sequence

Session 3 – a general introduction to the Racing Rules

 

Our regular racing season includes sixteen Wednesday evenings, starting in late May with courses running 2 – 5 miles. We also have a 4-race "Guv’nor’s" series on Saturdays over the summer with courses running 6 – 8 miles. The racing season “bookends” with two longer races, beginning with the Old Orchard Race and wrapping up with the Duke Schumacher Race. These courses run up to 15 miles around Raritan Bay.  Results of all these events count towards our Club Championship – with trophies and prizes awarded at our end-of-season party in November.

A special highlight of the season is the KYC's two-day Bill Volk Regatta in June – the first inter-club event of the year on Raritan Bay. This event is also the major fund-raiser for our charity partner, the RAINE Foundation of Hazlet.

 

Not that committed?  Try one of our “fun-races”. We have two “Pursuit” events, and the always popular Fleet Captains Race.