This coming June 12-14, the Boston Yacht Club will be hosting the PHRF New England Championship, an event with a long history in Marblehead. The PHRF New Englands was — for decades — the premier big-boat event of the summer. In 2004, 145 boats raced under its banner, with Marblehead’s three major yacht clubs sharing the workload. When participation dipped, the event suffered under new management and was eventually discontinued.
However, the PHRF organization has continued to grow throughout North America — issuing roughly 1,000 certificates per year.
Marblehead resident and yacht broker for New Wave Yachts Robert “Bump” Wilcox and others felt it was time to bring back the New Englands.
The event was formerly held in August, but the decision to move it to June will bring better sailing conditions and selected this premier spot on the yacht racing calendar.
Current sailing reporter Laurie Fullerton caught up with Bump Wilcox recently to talk more about the return of this coveted racing event.
Fullerton: Can you describe what is special about bringing this race back to town?
Wilcox: This regatta has deep roots. It started in 1982 as the Mass Bay Sailing Championship, a Monday-through-Friday affair that the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald covered all week long with stories and pictures every day of this event. I won that inaugural 1982 event in my division by sailing a Yamaha 33, and I went on to win seven championships in six different boats since. I always looked forward to it — and it was always well run, well attended and stacked with Marblehead’s deep bench of top sailors.
Fullerton: What is your ideal number of competitors and how do you attract the teams?
Wilcox: We are aiming for about 50 entries this year. The event is new to many boats, but Marblehead knows how to run an exciting race — and how to throw an excellent after-race party, with drink sponsors, food, and a band. Sunday is a built-in no-race day so visiting owners can deliver their boats home, and Marblehead has the moorings and hospitality to welcome
out-of-town fleets.
Fullerton: What is it to you that is special about a regatta like this one?
Wilcox: Sailing is one of the few sports where you can line up against the best in the world, and this event has always offered that. When the regatta used to run the third week of August — it often featured a stretch of notorious light air or nonexistent wind. Early June should deliver far better sailing.
Fullerton: Can you tell us more about the styles of racing that will be used?
Wilcox: Both fully crewed and double-handed divisions will compete. We have trimmed the event from three days to two, with one day dedicated to a pursuit race, always a crowd favorite. The pursuit race adds real drama: fast boats start last and chase down the slower ones, and it gets thrilling when the fleet converges at the finish. We have also added double-handed
classes — boats limited to just two people — to make it easier for owners who cannot always wrangle a full crew.
Fullerton: As you are in the marine industry yourself, what are your thoughts on the options for boat owners and participants alike? Do the newer boats need fewer crew members and why is that important?
Wilcox: BW: Modern boats are faster, but PHRF recognizes this and they get rated accordingly. It is hard to beat this system since PHRF can adjust your rating at any time for better or worse to equal the finishers. In general, yacht racing is evolving. Big boat racing does require a lot of crew members. To solve this problem, we have promoted double-handed racing classes. You are only allowed two people on the boat. We will have fully crewed and double handed classes.
Fullerton: What do you see as some of the growth areas in sailing, and some areas that need more attention? In other words, it is more difficult currently for people to take the weekend for a two-day event, but why do you feel a big, friendly regatta is important now?
Wilcox: I see this as the return of a momentous event. Times change and racing needs to change with it. PHRF offers pursuit racing, where fast boats start last and must catch the slower boats. It gets extremely exciting at the finish when everyone comes together. BYC has experience running big events and does not get overwhelmed. Sunday is a no race day so
owners who have traveled can get their boats back home. Marblehead can also accommodate boats from out of town.
The Boston Yacht Club and PHRFNE are working together to bring the best big boat regatta of the season. Going forward it will only get better.
