Report &
Some Pictures
From the First Dennis Conner
International Yacht Club Challenge
August 2006
In August 2006, the first "Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge" was organized in New York City.
The concept of the International Yacht Club Challenge reaches back to 1988 when the first event was organized by the Manhattan Sailing Club in New York Harbor. After the first event, Yacht Club de Monaco became a co-organizer and three more events were held in New York and in Monaco in 1989, 1991 & 1992.
With Dennis Conner's support, the concept of the International Yacht Club Challenge has been reborn. Letters were sent around the world inviting clubs to participate in a "friendly regatta to promote international goodwill."
In the end, 14 yacht clubs fielded teams and the host club fielded two so there were 15 boats on the starting line for the first Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge.
When teams arrived in Manhattan, they were greeted with a champagne welcome. The sailors hopped on the club launch and motored out to see the Statue of Liberty. Once there, a bottle of champagne was opened and the toast was, "Welcome to New York City!"
Tuesday morning was the start of the competition. A skipper's meeting was held at the dock.
Then it was time for the competition to begin!
Bulgaria won the first race and took the lead in the regatta.
On Tuesday evening, all the sailors gathered at City Hall for a commemorative picture.
Afterwards, there was a champagne reception in the Rotunda of City Hall.
This was followed by the Official Welcoming and Team Introductions in the City Council Chamber.
When racing began on Wednesday, the competition was getting very spirited. Every team wanted to win!
Wednesday evening was the "Friendship Dinner" where all teams gathered and gave toasts to each other through the course of the evening.
Thursday saw races 4 and 5. Competition was again very strong.
On the night before at the Friendship Dinner, Commodore Fortenbaugh was very moved by the great spirit of all sailors and announced that he would send the winner of the second race on Thursday for a helicopter ride around Manhattan! Everyone was excited and determined to win this race.
But in the end, honor belonged to the Italian team. It was their best race of the regatta!
Thursday night was the first Skyline Party on the Floating Clubhouse in the harbor. Teams rode out to the clubhouse on "Admiral's Launch."
After a BBQ dinner, teams began dancing and this went all night.
Here is a short video showing what it is like on the clubhouse late a night with the skyline of Manhattan lit up in the background.
Friday was more racing. At Manhattan Sailing Club, all races start and finish from the floating clubhouse. This means there can be downwind starts - quite challenging for some teams. See downwind start sequence below.
Friday night was the second Skyline Party. It lived up to it's reputation.
There is a unique and unusual custom at the Manhattan Sailing Club bar called "body shots." It makes the parties very lively.
Here is a short video showing the beginning of the famous Manhattan Sailing Club "body shot".
When Saturday dawned, it was the final competition to determine which team would win the First Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge.
When the spray settled, the Oslo Yacht Club of Norway stood at the top!
That evening, there was a prize giving with lots of fun and celebration.
Please consider fielding a team for the next Dennis Conner International Yacht Club Challenge.