Upcoming Regattas and Announcements
Welcome to the 2026 season. I think I'll get my laser ready. I left it in the backyard.
Okay, maybe it will be a while before I get my beater boat out! It's somewhere under that snowbank. Yeah, that was a real winter, but the weatherman says it might reach 60 degrees tomorrow, so spring is almost here.
Now let's talk about some really exciting early season events:
D7's Frostbiting Cup Freezeth Over
The best way to spend a winter weekend is on the water. Nothing makes a bowl of chili taste better than a few hours of racing with your buddies in the fresh, spring air. Luckily, there are lots of opportunities to chip ice out of your cockpit across the D7 states:- Cottage Park Frostbiting in Winthrop, MA has been going all winter and will continue through April.
- After their perennial winter break, Fleet 413 is putting a bunch of boat on the line
- Cedar Point YC in Westport, CT is also a deep winter, big fleet, and was home of the 2025 D7 Championship.
- Essex Ct Frostbiting runs Sunday March 1st thru Sunday April 26, except for Saturday April 4th. 1300 -1530, awards & food after. Contact Matt Flood @ matt.flood@sbcglobal.net
- Barrington RI is cranking up March 8th. Contact fxh0649@gmail.com
- Marblehead spring frostbiting starts with the Under the Rope Regatta on April 4th. Hosted at Eastern Yacht Club – 47 Foster Street Marblehead. 1100: Good time to show up, 1200: Introductions & Skippers Meeting, 1PM: First race, Post Race Pizza party: friends and family welcome – you don’t have to sail to join in - All are welcome!
Let's go spring frostbiters!
Early Spring Regattas:
Atlantic Coast Masters, May 16-17, Niantic Bay YC
Niantic Bay Yacht Club is a small but active, sailing-focused club located on the Connecticut coast between the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook and the Thames River in New London.
The club has developed many colligate and one design champions in classes like Lightnings, Atlantics, and 420s. The club has extensive experience in hosting regattas of classes that wish to sail at this convenient location. We’ve hosted major events for Lightnings, Atlantics, Ensign, Thistles, Sunfish, and Buccaneers. Located on the west side of Niantic Bay the club offers easy access to the race venue and with a floating ramp large enough for five boats. Launching and landing is straight forward and there’s always a beach launch option.
The ILCA fleet at NBYC is growing, and we believe that supporting class events is a way to grow interest in the fleet and this great area to sail. We also believe in supporting other clubs in sustaining interest in the class and work with the Essex Frostbite Fleet, and Duck Island Yacht Club. In September of 2025 we hosted a District 7/ILCA Grand Prix Points regatta. Conditions were light to medium but the event drew 19 boats from Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
The ILCA North America approached NBYC to host the Masters ACCs, and the membership of NBYC have stepped up to the challenge. In May the water in the bay will be chilly but tolerable and the wind/wave conditions can vary but are typically moderate (10-15kts). Northerlies will typically bring shifty winds while the typical southerlies are steadier. Kick off your summer sailing season and join us at NBYC for a weekend of great sailing and food.
Register now for this great early season event at an enthusiastic fleet
Wickford Regatta June 6-7, Wickford YC
From the famous and much appreciated Skip Whyte, Regatta Chairman:
Wickford Regatta 2026 Wicked Deal Registration starts on Sunday, March 1st for 20 days only. The snow is melting and it’s time to make plans. Save a few bucks and register today at www.wickfordregatta.com !
District 7 Championship, June 13-14, Portland YC, Falmouth, ME
We are starting the spring off with a bang! The District Championship will be sailed in beautiful Casco Bay. Picture scenic Maine Islands and lobster boats hauling traps. PYC is a great club with a good ramp, beautiful facility and wonderful membership. There will be a dinner on Saturday night and two great days of racing. A special email will go out with the registration link once available.
Winnipesaukee Spring Laser Regatta, June 13, Winnipesaukee YC, Gilford, NH
For a second year, WYC will be hosting a laser regatta. We a so excited to have this NH race become a part of D7's calendar. For more information, contact jarabinowitz@gmail.com North American Masters, July 17-19, Hyannis YC, Hyannis, MAOkay, this is not an early season regatta but I want to get the word out there as this is a major national event every D7 master should consider. From Sarah Yuskaitis at HYC: HYC is hosting ILCA North American Masters July 17th, 18th, and 19th. This regatta will be run in parallel with HYC's Annual Regatta. Please note that the HYC Annual Regatta will run a separate, non-Master ILCA line inside the bay on July 18th and 19th. This "inside the bay line" will be an open ILCA line ( i.e., not restrictive on age). Registration for ILCA NA Masters is now available on ClubSpot. Found here: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/IS2TL5gCoB Registration for HYC's Annual Regatta will be forthcoming. Per the NOR, HYC is capping the number of boats at ILCA NA Masters to 60 ILCA 6s and 60 ILCA 7s for a total of 120 boats. If you are sailing the Masters event, consider registering early! |
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District NewsCelebrating Fleet CaptainsRegular series and regattas don't happen without special people working behind the scenes. This season, I hope to recognize a few of the many great regatta organizers and fleet captains who make things happen. If you would like to see someone recognized in the newsletter, please reach out to me @ laserd7@gmail.com Fleet Captain Nat Coughlin, American YC, Newburyport, MA.The other day, an email hit my inbox from Fleet Captain Nat Coughlin announcing the 2026 season at AYC. Just a few years ago, this fleet didn't even exist. Now Nat is putting over 10 boats on the line and encouraging his crew to hit the road for D7 events. He's assembled multiple fleet boats to bring in additional sailors and generally keeps the blood pumping through the fleet. Go Nat!! |
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2026 District 7 Regattas as of 11/15/25 | Date | Counts towards D7 Gran Prix? | Notes | Under the Rope | April 4 | | Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA Show up at 11 AM & register on site. Prizes and party afterwards. Contact tomdailey15@gmail.com | Peter Milnes Regatta | TBD | | Fleet 413, Newport, RI | Atlantic Coast Masters | May 16-17 | | Niantic Bay YC, Niantic, CT | Cedar Point YC Vice Commodore’s Cup | TBD | | Cedar Point YC, Westport, CT First warning is 14:00, Contact cpylaser@gmail.com | Wickford Regatta | June 6-7 | | Wickford YC, Wickford, RI | D7 Championship | June 13-14 | Y | Portland YC, Falmouth, ME | Winnipesaukee Spring Laser Regatta | June 13 | | Winnipesaukee YC, Gilford, NH Contact jarabinowitz@gmail.com | John Bentley Regatta | June 27 | Y | New Bedford YC, South Dartmouth, MA | Cedar Point YC Commodore’s Cup | TBD | | Cedar Point YC, Westport, CT First warning is 14:00, Contact cpylaser@gmail.com | Taylor Pond ILCA Invitational | TBD | | Taylor Pond YC, Auburn ME. Contact petergarcia207@gmail.com | Spencer True Blue Regatta | TBD Second weekend in July? | | Kollegewidgwok YC, Blue Hill, ME | North American Masters | July 17-19 | | Hyannis YC, Hyannis, MA | Helly Hansen Marblehead Race Week | July 25-26 | | Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA | Stone Horse ILCA Clinic | July 31 - Aug 1 | | Stone Horse YC, Harwich, MA, open clinic, Contact jnicol12211@yahoo.com | Buzzards Bay ILCA Masters Championship | Aug 8-9 | | New Bedford YC, New Bedford, MA | Stone Horse ILCA Regatta | August 9th | | Stone Horse YC, Harwich, MA (Follows clinic on Aug 1) | Malletts Bay Boat Club Regatta | TBD | | Colchester, VT | Lake Sunapee Yacht Club Open Regatta | 8/29-30 | Y | Sunapee, NH | Cedar Point YC Rear Commodore’s Cup | TBD | | Cedar Point YC, Westport, CT First warning is 14:00, Contact cpylaser@gmail.com | Massapoag 75th Annual Small Boats Regatta | TBD | | Sharon, MA | New England Masters | Sept. 12-13 | | Wickford YC, Wickford, RI | CT D7 Grand Prix | October 3rd | Y | Duck Island YC, Westbrook, CT | Ponce De Leon Regatta | TBD | | Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA. Show up at 11 AM & register on site. Prizes and party afterwards. Contact tomdailey15@gmail.com | Cedar Point YC Fall One Design Regatta | TBD | | Cedar Point YC, Westport, CT Times to be announced. This is a great warm-up for the D7 Championship the following week!, Contact cpylaser@gmail.com | Hyannis YC Oktoberfest Regatta 2025 | TBD | | Hyannis YC, Hyannis, MA Great annual event! | Turkey Bowl | TBD | | Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA Show up at 11 AM & register on site. Prizes and party afterwards. Contact tomdailey15@gmail.com | Fat Boys | TBD | Y | Fleet 413, Newport, CT | Green highlighting means the regatta counts towards the 2026 D7 Grand Prix |
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