LYRA Junior Regatta

In even years, LYRA provides financial support and LYRA trophies for a major junior regatta in the U.S., and in odd years it supports one in Canada. In 2015, LYRA endorsed the Four Sisters Regatta at Port Credit Yacht Club as its junior regatta. This year, the LYRA Junior Regatta will be the 2016 Centrals on Sodus.

The Centrals on Sodus Regatta is primarily a youth-centered event for juniors in the western NY region (Area E). It is held annually on the second weekend in July. The dates for the 2-day event in 2016 are July 9-10.
Up until about 2010, the Centrals Regatta was an annual event for a variety of smaller one-design boats, including, over the years, Lasers, 420s, Thistles, Lightnings, Optimists, Flying Scotts and J/22s. It was sanctioned by the Central NY Sailing Association and hosted each year by a different member yacht club or junior sailing organization in the western NY region. Over the last several years, with hosting interest by regional member yacht clubs declining, it’s been conducted annually by the Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association (SBJSA), and following the formal end of the Central NY Sailing Association in the fall of 2014, SBJSA and Sodus Bay Yacht Club agreed to continue to co-host this regional event for the foreseeable future. In the last 5 years, the Centrals has involved youth competitors in Optimists, Lasers and 420s, with adults participating in Lasers and Lightnings.
Along with Rochester YC’s Junior Olympic Regatta and Youngstown YC’s Junior Can-Am event, the Centrals on Sodus Regatta rounds out the primary racing events for juniors along the south shore of Lake Ontario. Youth from several junior programs in the western NY area consider the Centrals as a “must-go” regatta on their summer calendar.
Last year for the first time, Centrals on Sodus was the Area E qualifying event for the US Sailing Youth Smythe (singlehanded) and Bemis (doublehanded) National Championships. Young people came from all over the US to compete and the regatta saw 88 boats on 3 race courses for the 2-day event. In 2016, we anticipate the more usual 60-65 boat turnout in the following one-design classes: Optimist, Laser Radial (juniors), Laser Full Rig (adults-District 9 Grand Prix), and 420 classes. Three race courses will be run in the protected waters of Sodus Bay, with excellent opportunities for parental spectating, as well as observation (only) by coaches. Stay tuned to the SBJSA website  for the Notice of Race and other info by early April, followed soon after with on-line registration details via Regatta Network.
In 2016, as in other even-numbered years, the Centrals on Sodus Regatta is also the LYRA Youth Championship event. In odd-numbered years, LYRA supports an equivalent youth event on the Canadian side of the Lake, usually a Toronto-area club. In 2016, it’s once again our turn on the south shore with Centrals on Sodus. Very prestigious LYRA perpetual trophies will be awarded. Entry fees are inexpensive and include a shirt, snacks and an après race BBQ for all competitors.
We encourage and welcome youth and adult sailors in the classes mentioned above to come and participate. It is an open event. Please direct any questions to Regatta Co-Chairs Mike Foley, SBJSA Director of Fleet (mfoley@rochester.rr.com; 585-748-7006) and Ed St. George, SBJSA President (edstg@rochester.rr.com: 585-298-0112). Thanks and see ya in July!