NASS Race to the Lighthouses Replaces Fall Oxford for 2020

NASS Race to the Lighthouses September 12

We’re getting used to the wait-and-see attitude of this crazy year, and what would become of the hugely popular Naval Academy Sailing Squadron (NASS) Race to Oxford September 12 was a question on many racers’ minds, as it’s always one of the biggest point-to-point sailboat races of the fall. How to host such a large event when it’s not safe to have a bunch of racers gathering at one place on land? Great news—NASS has found a solution in the Race to the Lighthouses.


September can be an amazing month for sailboat racing on the Chesapeake. Photo from the 2018 Fall Oxford Race by Ben Cushwa

"On September 12 NASS will host the new Race to the Lighthouses on the Chesapeake Bay,” writes Taran Teague. “Since the point-to-point NASS Annapolis to TAYC in Oxford was not able to be run this year, organizers Jahn Tihansky, Bruce Bingman, Tom Staler, and Teague pivoted to structure a 22 NM race in the Chesapeake using government marks for a race to Thomas Point, Bloody Point, and Sandy Point Lighthouses.

“Race organizers will send the fleet on a course to pass through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge either in a clockwise course direction or counter clockwise, depending winds and current. There will be two ‘gate’ locations on the course for spectating and/or shortening the race course. First warning is at 10 a.m. at R “2”, with the finish in the Annapolis Harbor.”

This race is open to boats of the following classes: Alberg 30, PHRF C, PHRF N, CRCA, J/30, J/105, PHRF B, PHRF A2, PHRF A1, PHRF A0, CHESSS, Multihull A, Multihull B, and ORC.

Protests shall be submitted by email to [email protected] within 2 hours of the protesting boat’s finish. Protests hearings will be held at a time and date to be determined. Preliminary results will be posted on nassregattas.com and on Regatta Network. Trophies will be mailed.

Find details for the new race here.