CBYRA HISTORY

It's commonly held that the initial sailboat race on the Chesapeake took place the first time two vessels found themselves sailing next to one another. It's less easy to guess when organized racing under sail began.

However, much of the history of sailboat racing on the Bay can be seen in the records of the organization known by the short acronym, "CBYRA." This association is the face of sailing in the mid-Atlantic area, and the Bay area's representative of the national sailing authority, "U.S. Sailing."

By 1908, racing in the Bay had become sufficiently organized that a half-dozen boat clubs were looking for a way to schedule their annual regattas and other events without conflicting with one another. Their informal discussions that year amounted to the Bay's first association of clubs. This association helped the clubs plan and run races until World War I brought pleasure boating to a halt.

After the war, sailboat racing took a while to get started again. By 1930, several fleets of the new, 22’7” foot speedsters known as "Star" boats had been formed, and events again began to overlap and conflict. "Big boat" sailing was making a comeback, and several smaller "one-design" boats -- such as Snipes and Comets -- began to gain popularity.

These interests came together in October 1934, when representatives of several yacht clubs formed a committee to draft the by-laws for the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association. CBYRA's first elected leader was Henry duPont Baldwin of Chesapeake, Virginia.

CBYRA's primary missions were outlined in its initial by-laws, and these have not changed. They include educating new sailors, promoting boating safety and furthering the development of sailboat racing in general. The association is strongly oriented toward junior training.

Although there are currently more than 1500 individual and family members, CBYRA was -- from the outset -- conceived as an organization of clubs. The tradition continues today, with each of the 70 member clubs having a representative who can cast votes at the organization's annual meeting.

In 1938, a "High-Point" award system was created in order to recognize racing excellence throughout the Bay area. Other important early developments of the association included the establishment of Bay wide championships in men and women's divisions, as well as for junior sailors.

One of the organization's greatest contributions has been in helping clubs to develop a unified calendar of non-conflicting events. In 1978, this schedule was first published in a book of "sailing instructions" and information on post-race parties. Known popularly as "The Green Book," it is now the basic season planner for many sailors. In 1984, the "Bluebook" was added, providing an official directory of clubs and regattas for the One-Design Division. A Redbook is published for the Junior Division.

CBYRA has maintained a steady growth over the years. It sponsors three Raceweeks -- one each in the northern and southern ends of the Bay, and the Annapolis Race Week. In 1995, the Annapolis event was recognized as one of the nation's premier sailboat regattas -- when it was named a Mount Gay Rum Raceweek. It is presently called the Gosling Rum Race Week

In 1996, CBYRA worked with area sailing schools to develop a pioneer outreach program to introduce new sailors to racing, and to offer them opportunities to advance their skills by joining the crews of CBYRA members' boats. This inaugural "New Sailor Expo" was held at the U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Sailing has held it out as a model for other yacht racing associations around the country.

At one time or another, sailors sponsored or supported by CBYRA have won most of the nation's major championships and world class competitions. CBYRA members who have won major events include Ted Turner (America's Cup), Al Van Meter and Jack King (S.O.R.C.), Arnold Gay (Newport-Bermuda Race), Jim Allsopp (Star Worlds), Charlie Scott and Chris Larson (J-24 Worlds), and many others.

Those who attend one of the many junior regattas around the Bay have no doubt that even more national and international champions in the future will be wearing the CBYRA emblem.

CBYRA maintains an office in the Eastport section of Annapolis. Its work is managed by a professional Executive Director who reports to a 13 member volunteer Board of Directors comprised of:

        President
        Executive Vice President
        Secretary
        Treasurer
        4 Regional Vice Presidents representing the four racing areas of the Bay
        4 Chairmen representing the Cruising One design, Junior, Handicap and One Design Divisions.