Constitution Yacht Club · Boston Harbor
Intro to Racing
So, you want to race? You are in the right spot! If you have a boat and want to race there are several options for you. It might seem overwhelming at first, but we are here to help! Below is a step-by-step guide to get you prepared!
Why Race at CYC
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1
Boston Harbor
The views and stories don't get much better. Race on one of the most storied sailing venues in New England.
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2
Real Competition
From our Wednesday Night Series to weekend regattas in Mass Bay, there's always a race on the calendar.
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3
Corinthian Spirit
CYC sailors are known as much for their character as for their racing, and we never forget to have fun doing it.
Racing designed with you in mind
Boats
If you don't have a boat, don't worry; there are options! In Boston Harbor, there are two excellent places for you to get a boat to go out and race. Boston Sailing Center and Courageous Sailing both offer memberships where you can use their boats to race with us on a Wednesday Night, or on the weekend. If you want to be crew on a boat that is already racing, that is what our Boat Finder is for.
Crew
Have a boat but need some extra hands? We got that covered too. Check out our Crew Finder. Also, attend our social events to meet people in person.
Education
Don't know the racing rules of sailing? Check out our free to members educational seminars. We cover everything from the basics, to complex situations with US Sailing presenting. We also offer events for Safety at Sea, racing tactics, and even sail trim.
Options
Some boats want to race upwind and downwind only, while battling for the start and jockeying for position at every mark rounding. That isn't for everyone. Some of the best attended races on the calendar are "pursuit" style, where you get your own specific start time and a course to go around. Some boats love racing offshore and overnight to a destination. No matter what your preference is, it is available to you.
🎌 New to Racing? Check Out the Rookie Class
CYC has created a dedicated Rookie Class within Wednesday Night Racing specifically for sailors new to the sport. It's a low-pressure, welcoming environment with your own start and separate scoring — so you're competing against crews at your own level, not seasoned veterans. If you're just getting started, this is the perfect on-ramp. Learn more about the Rookie Class →
Your Step-by-Step Guide
  • 1
    What yacht club should I belong to?

    Constitution Yacht Club is one of about 28 local racing yacht clubs in the Mass Bay area. All clubs can host their own races. CYC members receive discounts on all of our races. "Mass Bay Sailing Association" (MBSA) is an organizing body- a club made up of clubs- to help support racing in the area and to organize the season racing calendar. You do not need to belong to another yacht club to participate in their race.

    • The MBSA board chooses 10 races located on the north shore and 10 races located on the south shore to comprise the MBSA Season Championship. One of the best benefits of this is that you get to visit other clubs and race against new boats on the weekends and make lots of new friends at the after race awards parties.
    • To search for races at other clubs, check out the MBSA Calendar can be found here.
    MBSA Website MBSA Calendar CYC Calendar
  • 2
    Find a race!

    Start here. This website is called "Regattaman" and is the website that most clubs in the Boston Harbor/Massachusetts Bay area use to manage races.

    • The first thing you will want to look at when you are investigating what race you want to do is review the "Notice of Race" (NOR).
      • This will give you all of the important information about the race: Date, Time, Starting Area, and what handicap rating certificate you will need.
    2026 Race Calendar on Regattaman
  • 3
    Get a rating certificate

    Some boats are designed more for comfort, which can make them slower by design, and some boats are designed only to race. To help level the playing field across the many different boat designs, boats are given a handicap rating certificate. There are lots of different rating systems out there, all with some pros and cons, but they all have the same mission at heart — to make racing boats of all different ages, lengths, weight, drafts, and designs close to even so that skill and crew work are (ideally) the determining factor in how you perform in a race.

    Constitution Yacht Club regattas all use ORR-EZ certificates, which you can apply for here.

    Apply for ORR-EZ Certificate
  • 4
    Register your boat

    You have found a race you want to do. You have your handicap certificate. Now what? Head back to Regattaman and register for the race.

    • Be sure to completely read the Notice of Race (it's also a great idea to print it out — just in case!).
    • The "Sailing Instructions" (SIs) are sometimes not posted until a few days before the start of the race. These are typically more detailed rules of the race. Definitely print these as well! Make sure you read them thoroughly and reach out to the race organizer if you have any questions.
  • 5
    Get crew

    There is no shortage of people that love sailing that work and/or live around Boston. At CYC, we have created a database, called Crew Finder, to help you find people should you need them.

    CYC Crew Finder
  • 6
    Have Fun!
    Most importantly — have fun.

    If you do nothing else… even if you come in last… this is a must. We firmly believe that just about any day on the water is better than the alternative. There are reasons it is a cliché to say "drink like a sailor" because win or lose… we still booze. Enjoy your boat, enjoy your crew, enjoy the competition and Corinthian spirit, and make some new friends and memories!

  • 7
    Have Questions?

    Reach out to any member of the CYC Board, or specifically Ryan Wagner (Fleet Captain) or Nick Balta (Race Chair) and they will be happy to help!

Get in Touch
Fleet Captain
Ryan Wagner
ryan.a.wagner@outlook.com
Race Chair
Nick Balta
nicholasbalta@gmail.com

You can also reach any member of the CYC Board.

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