Jan 18, 2013 18:51 EST

For Immediate Release Edgartown Yacht Club Contact: William Roman, 508-627-4631 Edgartown Yacht Club’s Big Boat Buoy Races now part of Gulf Stream Series January 10, 2013, Edgartown, MA - The Edgartown Yacht Club (EYC) announced today that the Big Boat Buoy Races (BBBR), which are part of Edgartown Race Weekend, will now be part of the IRC Gulf Stream Series. Organized by the Edgartown Yacht Club for IRC, PHRF, Double-Handed, Cruising and Classic sailboats, BBBR will provide two days of racing, on July 18 & 19, 2013. Only IRC rated boats will qualify for the Gulf Stream Series, as a Group 1 Buoy Regatta. The Big Boat Buoy Races and the Club’s Annual ‘Round-the-Island Race (RTI) combine for three days of racing in the storied waters around Martha’s Vineyard. In 2012, 73 boats competed for silver during races over the weekend. Edgartown’s Big Boat Buoy Races joins a list of prestigious East Coast regattas that also qualify for the IRC Gulf Stream Series, including Key West Race Week, Block Island Race Week, New York Yacht Club’s Annual Regatta and more. Those competing in the IRC Gulf Stream Series - Group 1, must compete in at least four of the designated qualifying regattas. EYC Commodore Ned Brooks declared, “We are delighted to be joining the list of extraordinary events that qualify for the Gulf Stream Series. Inclusion in the Gulf Stream Series is a very nice compliment to our race, and will undoubtedly be very appealing to racers as well.” Initiated in 2012, EYC added Buoy Races on the Friday before the RTI. Needless to say, the races were enthusiastically supported, so much in fact it was decided to add an additional day of races in 2013. An excellent array of prizes will be awarded at the Mount Gay Jump Up Party on Friday night, and include: The Commodore Alexander M. Orr Trophy for the Overall First Place Finisher in IRC, The Commodore Ralph D. Osborne Trophy for the Overall First Place in PHRF Spinnaker Class, The Metcalf Trophy for the Overall First Place in PHRF Non-Spinnaker, The Eolis Trophy for the Overall First Place in Double Handed Class, and the Commodore John J. Trask Commemorative Trophy for the Overall First Place in Classic Yachts. Prizes will also be awarded for place finishers in each division. A separate Notice of Race will be prepared for the buoy races, but there is no additional fee for Thursday and Friday races. Participants are the guests of the Edgartown Yacht Club and are free to use the Clubhouse facilities from Wednesday night through Sunday for refreshments, dining and relaxation. Edgartown Yacht Club has a long history of providing exceptional yacht racing in the waters around Martha’s Vineyard. In 2013, Edgartown will host its 90th Annual Regatta for One-Design Yachts July 11-13. Edgartown Race Weekend, held July 18 – 20, which in addition to the Big Boat Buoy Races, will offer the ‘Round-the-Island Race, first held in the summer of 1938. July 24-27 will bring the Farr 40 North American Championship to Edgartown. August 2-4, Edgartown Yacht Club will host the Herreshoff 12.5 Championship, a popular one-design classic. Finally, August 9-11, Edgartown hosts the 20th running of the Annual 12 Metre Regatta. ...