2024 Classic Yacht Challenge Series concludes with record participation and exciting finishes
by Classic Yacht Owners Association 7 Oct 09:42 PDT
IYRS Newport Classics 2024 © Stephen R Cloutier
The 2024 Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) came to a thrilling conclusion, with participation and competition reaching unprecedented levels. The series included 14 regattas and 28 races, featuring a total of 231 boats—demonstrating growth in all aspects compared to 2023.
The Classic Yacht Owners Association (CYOA) continues to cultivate the excitement and camaraderie that unites vintage and modern classic yachts across regions.
“We’re excited to witness participation growth across the board this year,” remarked CYOA President, Timmy Dittrich. “In the future, we hope to see even more boats attending multiple events within our series, as that is what connects us all. Throughout the winter, we will review how the CYOA can enhance the series, but central to it all are the individual events and the sailors who make them happen.”
In the Vintage class, Ken Colburn’s NY 40 Marilee was crowned the overall winner. “It’s always a privilege to compete with these stunning boats,” Colburn stated. “Claiming victory in the series was an amazing experience, especially considering the high level of competition we encountered this year. Marilee’s marconi rig and sprit combination performed exceptionally well through the various conditions and race setups we faced.”
Colburn expressed gratitude to the numerous Regatta Organizing Authorities and volunteers “who organized fantastic races and enjoyable gatherings in some of New England’s most picturesque sailing locations.”
The race for the top was fiercely contested, with Matt Brooks’ iconic Dorade and the Black Watch Syndicate finishing in second and third place, just two points apart.
In the Classics class, newcomer James Emery and his Buzzards Bay 25 Lilith made a notable impact by winning the class. Jesse Terry’s Abigail and the 12-Meter American Eagle closely followed in the rankings.
Among modern boats, Jack Curtin’s Intrepid claimed the title of top Modern Classic, while Paul Koch’s Ponyo earned Spirit of Tradition honors, and Harvey Jones’ Outlier emerged as the top Contemporary boat.
Special recognition goes to Spirit in the Vintage class. Lars and Peter Forsberg, alongside their crew, participated in 10 out of the 14 regattas from Maine to Long Island Sound. This father-son duo truly embodied the spirit of classic racing aboard their 1934 John Alden schooner.
Across various regions, enthusiasm for classic yachting continues to soar, with more boats qualifying than ever before. Maine, the largest district, saw participation from 98 boats in its five events, with 24 boats qualifying by competing in at least three races across two events as CYOA members.
“We’re incredibly proud of the growth achieved in 2024,” Dittrich noted. “We aim to make 2025 even more successful, and we’re eager to see what the next season brings for all our sailors.”
Detailed results can be found here, with a list of qualified sailors for Overall and Districts below.
The Classic Yacht Owners Association’s Annual Meeting and Awards will be held on November 15th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at The Sailing Museum in Newport. Awards will be presented to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for both the Overall Series and Districts. The event is complimentary for CYOA members and their guests, but an RSVP is necessary.
As the CYCS continues to expand, the passion for classic yacht racing remains at the heart of the series, promising even more thrilling developments in the seasons ahead.
Overall Results:
Vintage Division:
1. Marilee – Ken Colburn – 500.00 pts
2. Dorade – Matt Brooks – 482.22 pts
3. Black Watch – Black Watch Syndicate – 480.91 pts
4. Onawa – Mark Watson – 478.33 pts
5. Spirit – Lars Forsberg – 470.63 pts
6. Siren – Peter Cassidy – 421.67 pts
7. Gleam – Andy Tyska – 388.33 pts
8. Bijou II – Chris Bouzaid – 388.19 pts
9. Firefly – Trevor W. Nelson – 294.85 pts
10. Polly – Peter Gallant – 270.00 pts
11. Aquila – Geoffrey Davis – 245.00 pts
Classic Division:
1. Lilith – James Emery – 492.86 pts
2. Abigail – Jesse Terry – 471.90 pts
3. American Eagle – American Eagle Syndicate – 435.56 pts
4. Brigadoon – R. Jaffe & R. Morton – 385.00 pts
5. Dame – Joshua Goldberg – 273.02 pts
Contemporary Division:
1. Outlier – Harvey Jones – 425.00 pts
Modern Classic Division:
1. Intrepid – Jack Curtin – 493.75 pts
Spirit of Tradition Division:
1. Ponyo – Paul Koch – 450.00 pts
RI/CT/NY Region Results
Vintage Division:
1. Dorade – Matt Brooks – 288.89 pts
2. Gamecock – Peter McClennen – 284.24 pts
3. Onawa – Mark Watson – 271.67 pts
4. Golden-Eye – Michael Emmert – 246.67 pts
5. Allegro – William Simmons – 220.00 pts
6. Firefly – Trevor W. Nelson – 218.18 pts
7. Aquila – Geoffrey Davis – 201.82 pts
8. Kirawan – Dan Levangie – 144.70 pts
9. Surprise – Fred Roy – 115.56 pts
Classic Division:
1. Abigail – Jesse Terry – 300.00 pts
2. American Eagle – American Eagle Syndicate – 280.00 pts
3. Brigadoon – R. Jaffe & R. Morton – 275.00 pts
4. Nefertiti – Jack Klinck – 283.33 pts
5. Polaris – Leif Arntzen – 125.00 pts
Modern Classic Division:
1. Intrepid – Jack Curtin – 300.00 pts
Spirit of Tradition Division:
1. Ponyo – Paul Koch – 250.00 pts
Maine Region Results
Vintage Division:
1. Marilee – Ken Colburn – 300.00 pts
2. Spirit – Lars Forsberg – 290.63 pts
3. Black Watch – Black Watch Syndicate – 290.00 pts
4. Bijou II – Chris Bouzaid – 271.52 pts
5. Gleam – Andy Tyska – 255.00 pts
6. North – John Priestly – 201.39 pts
7. Falcon – Bob Scott – 182.50 pts
8. Chetah-Cheetah – C. Nethersole/J. Turner – 163.54 pts
9. Celia – Rob Parish – 147.92 pts
10. Isla – Henry May – 142.71 pts
Classic Division:
1. Lilith – James Emery – 292.86 pts
2. Phalarope – Thomas Ashton – 271.43 pts
3. Mermaid – Brooke Parish – 261.43 pts
4. Snow Falcon – A. Breece & G. Gans III – 209.64 pts
5. Rogue – Seville Simonds – 177.78 pts
6. Dame – Joshua Goldberg – 169.75 pts
7. Thunderhead – Steve Ross – 116.43 pts
8. Loki – Patrick Jones – 57.14 pts
Modern Classic Division:
1. Lions Whelp – Phineas Sprague – 300.00 pts
2. Vortex – Steve White – 221.67 pts
Contemporary Division:
1. Isobel – Todd Lalumiere – 266.67 pts
2. Hopgrasser – D. & M. Lyman – 150.00 pts
Spirit of Tradition Division:
1. Mystery – W. Keenan & J. Wiegleb – 266.67
2. Zingara- Robert W. Stephens – 243.33
Massachusetts Results
Vintage Division:
1. Siren – Peter Cassidy – 150.00 pts
2. Polly – Peter Gallant – 128.57 pts
Classic Division:
1. Grace – Michael Herde – 100.00 pts
Contemporary Division:
1. Outlier – Harvey Jones – 300.00 pts
View complete results here.