The "Staten Island Decision Race"

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Press from first Race
"Deed to Staten I. is back on 'sail'" June 1, 2007 - New York Post
"Racing for Dirt" June 1, 2007 - Staten Island Advance
"Staten status quo" June 3, 2007 - New York Post
Picture of USCG Captain Robert O'Brien, Captain of the Port of NY & NJ and Captain Scott Graham, Deputy Commander of Sector New York digging the Staten Island soil to be awarded as the prize.
Certification of Authenticity for Soil

Legend has it that Staten Island became part of New York rather than New Jersey as a result of a sailboat race during Colonial times. 

Mayor Bloomberg recently cited this event and inadvertently set off a round of investigative journalism.

New York Times - 2/21/07
New York Post - 2/21/07

Over the many centuries, this legend has been confirmed, disputed, called into question, twisted, bent, exaggerated and embellished.  Only one thing is certain, there is still doubt in the minds of some people about what happened.

To help put an end to this doubt, we will restage this race and invite all boats in New York Harbor to participate.

Specifically, we will organize the "Staten Island Decision Race."  This will start from Manhattan.  The course will head down to Staten Island and then back to Manhattan.

All boats entering this race will be asked to declare in advance whether they are racing for "New York" or "New Jersey."

One boat will win.  And Staten Island will symbolically be given to the winning boat's state for a period of one year or until the next race is completed.

Notice of Race

Name of Event:  The name of this event shall be the "Staten Island Decision Race."

Objective of Event: To symbolically recreate the alleged historical sailboat race of Colonial times which purportedly determined whether Staten Island would be part of New York or New Jersey.

Entries: All yachts which are based in and around New York Harbor are invited to participate.

State Designation: Each yacht must designate whether they are racing on behalf of New York or New Jersey.  Yachts are encouraged to fly the appropriate state flag from their backstay.  You must designate one state or the other and cannot designate a combination, time share, or other concept.  Once the race has begun, you may not change your designation and be admitted into the lead only to reveal your true colors.

Schedule:  

Saturday, June 2, 2007
1200 - Starting Sequence Commences
Race finishes based on wind. (approx 1500)
Results announced back at the Manhattan Sailing School classroom at North Cove as soon as possible after racing, i.e. when the smoke-filled room clears sufficiently to see what happened. (approx 1800)

Rules: The regatta will be raced according to the International Racing Rules of Sailing as adopted by US Sailing.  A panel of judges will be established by the Manhattan Sailing Club and all decisions of the judges will be final.

Yachts: Yachts must race by wind power alone.  No engines may be used to propel the yacht.  No yacht shall accept a tow from the Staten Island Ferry or other vessel which might have a vested interest in the outcome. 

Crew:  This is an amateur competition.  No state is allowed to hire the world's best sailor (such as Dennis Conner) to win, without special dispensation from the Race Committee.  The crew must follow the state allegiance of the captain.  If a yacht wins Staten Island for their designated state, the crew may not mutiny in an attempt to carry the island to the other state which did not win the race.

Sales Tax:  In the event that winning the race for a state changes the collection of sales tax or itself becomes subject to the collection of sales tax, the winning yacht is on their own and we know nothing.

Course: The course shall be as follows:

• Starting Line - Between orange flag along the southern breakwall of North Cove and inflatable yellow buoy in Hudson River off North Cove.
• Round "G '25' Q G Gong" to port.
• Finish Line - same as starting line.

Entry Fee: The entry fee will be $25.

Scoring:  Scoring will be decided based on the PHRF time-on-time scoring system.  The race committee feels this system best accounts for any current discrepancies which yachts may encounter.  All yachts entering shall provide a current PHRF certificate which designates their time allowance.  If a yacht does not have a current PHRF certificate, the Race Committee will assigned a time allowance to the best of their ability and with a suitable penalty so that it is in the interests of the yacht to get a PHRF certificate in the future.

Prizes:  A box of dirt from Staten island will be awarded to the winning team so that team may present it to their state's Governor.  It is the responsibility of the winning team to collect the rest of the island.

Team Racing: Yachts from either state may assemble in such a way for the purpose of manipulating the competition to skew the results for or against their favor, as they wish.  For example, if only one boats enters to represent New Jersey and 9 boats enter to represent New York, then it would permissible for those favoring New York to work as a team to ensure victory for their state.  This type of shared experience may only be practiced among the yachts entered in the race and not among outside vessels.  For example, if a group of tug boats came along with the intention of dispersing all the yachts representing New York in favor of the yacht representing New Jersey, then the race committee might call foul and order the race resailed.

Enter Form:

Results 2007:

© copyright 2008 by Manhattan Sailing Club