For more than a century, Marblehead Harbor has transformed into one of New England’s premier sailing venues. This July, that tradition continues as sailors of all ages prepare for the 137th annual Race Week, with hundreds of competitors from Marblehead and across New England set to fill the waters off the town’s coast for its signature sailing event.
First established in 1889, Marblehead Race Week has long served as the centerpiece of the local sailing calendar and has been part of Marblehead’s sailing community for generations. This year, Race Week will be hosted by the Corinthian Yacht Club.
The week begins with Junior Race Week, July 20-22. The three-day regatta, hosted jointly by the Pleon Yacht Club and the Eastern Yacht Club, features racing for Optimists, Club 420s and Lasers, giving sailors ages 8-18 a chance to compete before the senior fleet takes over. Registration closes July 17.
Pleon Commodore Thomas Svencer, who grew up learning to sail at Pleon and graduated from Marblehead High School in June, is helping organize and run Junior Race Week.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the Pleon sailors that I’ve worked with and coached, and seeing them compete and succeed,” said Svencer, who will be on the race committee boat during the regatta to help supervise the races.
When the junior racing concludes, attention shifts to Race Week, where more than 200 boats are expected to compete across multiple classes during four days of racing. Competition begins July 23 and concludes July 26. Traditionally, Race Week is held during the last full week of July.
Among those returning to the starting line is longtime International One Design sailor Greg Mancusi Ungaro, who will race aboard his International One Design sloop, Viking. He placed third in his class at last year’s Race Week.
“Race Week is the highlight of the summer,” he said. “It’s the centerpiece of the summer, and we get a chance to sail four days in a row, which is very exciting for us.”
Mancusi Ungaro has been sailing his whole life and said the appeal of Race Week extends far beyond competition.
“It’s one of those few places where you can actually get rid of all the filters between existing and really experiencing,” he said. “There’s nothing in between you and the wind, there’s nothing in between you and the sea. It’s a pure, almost spiritual activity for me.”
