Sail Salem Pursuit Regatta

The Sail Salem Pursuit Regatta is an annual sail race held on Labor Day and sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club. All net proceeds go to support Sail Salem’s summer sailing camps that combine sailing lessons with STEAM educational programs for children.

A pursuit race is one in which each boat is assigned a starting time, with slower boats starting before faster boats, based on handicaps determined by Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF New England). This approach facilitates competition among boats of different types. During the race, participants know how they are doing: if a boat is ahead of you, it is beating you. The challenge for faster boats is overcoming the handicap of starting later than slower boats. Since the handicaps are baked into the starting times, the boat that first crosses the finish line is the winner.

The race has two divisions (classes) according to whether the boats utilize or do not utilize spinnakers: SPIN (spinnaker) and JAM (Jib and Main) divisions. Boats are scored in their finishing order in their respective division, and trophies are presented to the first through third places in each division.

This race qualifies for the Mass Bay Sailing Association (MBSA) Pursuit Series.

Each year, details regarding entry and registration are posted on the Boston Yacht Club Website.

2023 Sail Salem Pursuit Regatta