Welcome to Manhasset Bay Yacht Club's Annual Challenge Cup

The History of the Challenge Cup:

In 1902, A young and growing Manhasset Bay Yacht Club deeded a trophy  A. H. and J.W. Alker had constructed Alert with the intention of racing events in Long Island sound in a new one-design. A.H. and J.W. Alker both believed that a trophy for the 30 foot boats was well in order. The Alker brothers, both now seasoned commodores of the club, deeded a large cup to the club with the intent that each club within long island sound would submit a boat (Ideally a one design of the same type) to sail against the other clubs of long island sound. Alert, sailed by J.W. Alker, in 1903 Successfully Defended the "Manhasset Bay Challenge Cup for 30 Foot sloops". Just like that, the legend was born. In the next year, The Alkers recieved their new hot rod: Alera, hull number one of the newly designed New York 30s. Nathaniel Herreshoff had designed the New York 30 following the styles of previous Buzzards Bay 30 and Bar Harbour 31 with the idea of producing a "small" one design boat that would be easy for sailors of the western long island sound to be able to take racing with a shorter crew. The Alkers believed that this should be the boat in which the new trophy should be sailed. Departing from the original YRA (Yacht Racing Association) 30 subdivision of the Universal rating rule, the Alkers adopted the NY 30 as the boat of the cup in 1904. In late 1904 the Alkers learned of the beast that they had created when Mimosa III, helmed by Trenor L. Park of American Yacht Club, went on to win the still young challenge cup from the Alkers. Park again defended the cup in 1905 aboard Mimosa III with another tight victory. 

The Trophy made its way around the United States and beyond passing through:
Manhasset Bay Y.C.
American Y.C.
Indian Harbor Y.C.
Chicago Y.C.
Eastern Y.C.
Boston Y.C.
Nahant Dory Club
Annisquam Y.C.
Larchmont Y.C.
Stamford Y.C.
Cohasset Y.C.
Orienta Y.C.
Corinthian Y.C.
Pleon Y.C.
New York Y.C.
Hull Y.C.
South Boston Y.C.
Hingham Y.C.
Royal Bermuda Y.C.
Swampscott Y.C.
Ida Lewis Y.C.
Seawanhaka Corinthian Y.C.
Coasters Harbor Navy Y.C.
University of Rhode Island Sailing Club
Noroton Y.C.
The North American Yachting Squadron at Kings Point
Sea Cliff Y.C.
And finally
Boothbay Harbor Y.C.

The Trophy has been sailed in:
YRA 30s
New York 30s
P Class Sloops
R Class Sloops
Q Class Sloops
"210" Class Sloops
International One Designs (IOD)
Echtells 22s
Solings
Shields
J/24s
Sonars
Ideal 18s
J/105s
and now
The J/109
 

The Style of the Challenge Cup

The challenge cup needed to be something different. In a world of short legs with lots of roundings and often a course that was what modern sailors would call a "Navigator" course, the challenge cup specified early on in its deed that the legs were to be incredibly long and arranged ideally in a windward-leeward orientation which would allow for more tactical play as opposed to allowing a purely faster boat to simply reach away. To this day, that format is kept and utilized to maintain the uniquely long and tactical format of the challenge cup.

 

The Alure of the Challenge Cup

True to the original intentions of the cup, the cup remains a one design racing trophy that is raced between yacht clubs and not people. It is encouraged to bring the best members of a challenging club with the finest yacht of the chosen class than can be fielded to develop the best race team possible. No foiling, no tricks, just club versus club championship in an even platform. In today's format, the event pits J/109s sailed against one another in the characteristic long legs that make this even pensive, tactical and trying for crews. To this extent it is still one of the oldest continually raced for cups in the entirety of the sport of sailing.

 

How can I get involed?

With it in mind that a club sails this event as opposed to individuals. Representatives of a club must have written and signed approval from their commodore to participate. All members of a boat must be members or spouses of members of a challenging club. Teams that wish to participate may submit an email from their commodore stating intent to challenge to [email protected] 

 

Documents for the Cup

Declaration of Trust

Notice of Race (Coming Soon)

Sailing Instructions (Coming Soon)