The
people's choice in Livingston County... and beyond!
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The
people's choice in Livingston County... and beyond!
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Please note: More complete information about this
and related subjects can be found in our new
Western New York Travel Guide. You
may wish to change your bookmarks to:
Editors note: This article describes the 1996 race. For 1997, the race
will be based in Toronto. However, it returns to the American side next
year so stay tuned!
There are boats and there are yachts. Each is in the eye of the beholder.
Few would deny the accuracy of the term "yacht," however, as applied
to the group of sailing vessels which will convene on Sodus Bay in July
for the International Eight Metre World Championship Regatta.
Eight meter yachts are survivors of the golden days of sailing when boats
were built of wood and income taxes were low. Meter boats have been the
playthings of the rich, royal and famous for decades. Although the bigger
12-meters no longer enjoy the glamour of racing for the America's Cup, keen
competition still prevails among the 45-foot long eight meter class. (The
class name derives from a formula of hull and rig dimensions that sums to
8 meters.)
According to Ed St. George, Regatta Committee chairman at host Sodus Bay
Yacht Club, several European boats are expected to attend along with Canadians
and Americans.
Competition begins with a warm-up regatta July 6 and 7. World Championships
will run from July 13-20.
"We're expecting 14 to 18 boats," St. George said. "The
Gefion, a four-time world champion from Great Britain and a couple of aluminum
boats from France will be here."
Defending her title as current champ will be The Natural, owned by Wayne
County yachtsman John Fowler. The Natural won the World's last year in Holland
with local Sodus Bay sailor Hank Stuart at the helm.
St. George explained that because of the cost of shipping an eight meter
across the Atlantic (about $10,000), the boats alternate their races between
Europe and North America, spending several summers competing on each continent.
From here, they'll move on to Toronto next summer, then Rochester in 1998.
If you want to view the competitors dockside, Sodus Bay Yacht Club allows
access to its waterfront in the evening after competition is over. A good
place for land-bound spectators to see sailing action would be from the
west jetty of the Sodus Bay entrance as the fleet sails out each morning.
If you have a boat of your own, you can venture out to the course for some
starting line action.
If you go: Sodus Bay and Sodus Point are accessible off Route 14, about
35 miles west of Rochester. Make a day of if and visit these other points
of interest.
·Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum, 7606 Ontario St., Sodus Point. 315-483-4836.
Exhibits, July 4 craft show, gifts, maritime books.
·Alasa Farms, Shaker homestead gifts, classes, farm produce, nature
trail. 315-483-6321.
·Chimney Bluffs State Park (undeveloped beach access a couple miles
east of Sodus Bay).
Susan Peterson sails Lake Ontario in her wooden sloop Ariel.
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