March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 46 F

Elf Classic To Sail From EYC

The 2012 Elf Classic winner was Bull, shown here. Bull is a replica of a New York Harbor Sandbagger built at the Workshop on the Water, Independence Seaport Museum, 1997, Operated by the National Sailing Hall of Fame, Captained by Dan Walker. This year’s race takes place on Saturday, May 18. More information can be found at www.cbmm.org.Photography by Dan McGrath
The 2012 Elf Classic winner was Bull, shown here. Bull is a replica of a New York Harbor Sandbagger built at the Workshop on the Water, Independence Seaport Museum, 1997, Operated by the National Sailing Hall of Fame, Captained by Dan Walker. This year’s race takes place on Saturday, May 18. More information can be found at www.cbmm.org.Photography by Dan McGrath

Launching early from Annapolis’ Eastport Yacht Club, the 3rd Annual Elf Classic Yacht Race brings the centuries-old tradition of yacht racing back to the Chesapeake Bay on Saturday, May 18. Proceeds from the race benefit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD, where race winners will be announced and celebrated later in the day.

Organized by the Classic Yacht Restoration Guild (CYRG), the race’s flagship is the CYRG’s restored 1888 racing yacht Elf. The Lawley-built ‘30-footer’ class cutter Elf is the oldest active racing yacht in America, and is celebrating her 125th birthday at events and ports of call throughout this year.

For the May 18th race, a fleet of classic yachts will join Elf in a cloud of traditional sail for an 1880s-style race from Annapolis to St. Michaels. Featuring the nautical version of a “Le Mans start,” yacht captains will row to their vessels in the Annapolis harbor to raise their anchors and sails, before getting underway.

Spectators are invited to watch the 9am start from the Eastport Yacht Club and then spend the day along the Miles River and St. Michaels harbor as participants cross the finish line at CBMM. Captains will finish the race by anchoring off, rowing to shore, and signing the race log at the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand on the museum’s grounds.

A May 18 visit to CBMM also includes admission to the annual Maritime Model Expo, which runs from 10am to 5pm and features family activities, demonstrations, exhibits, and food.

To register a yacht for the race, download a complete registration package under the “Events” tab at www.cyrg.org, or contact CYRG’s Rick Carrion at [email protected]. Early registration is recommended—with wooden, classic and traditional yachts given preference when participating vessel limits are reached.

The Classic Yacht Restoration Guild is a membership organization dedicated to the preservation of maritime heritage through the maintenance and operation of the Elf. Built by the renowned Lawley Yard in Boston, Elf was restored to historically accurate condition by the CRYG and re-launched in 2008.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the stories of the Chesapeake Bay and the people who have shaped their lives around it. With 18 waterfront acres in the historic town of St. Michaels, the Museum offers exhibits, demonstrations, boat rides on the Miles River, and annual festivals that celebrate Chesapeake Bay culture, boats, seafood, and history. For more information about CBMM, visit www.cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.

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