Wednesday Night Racing

After seeing the Wednesday Night Races at East Greenwich yacht Club in Rhode Island in 1958, Past Commodore Gaither Scott inaugurated midweek racing at the Annapolis Yacht Club in 1959.  There was no race committee for the initial events, nor were the races scored or prizes award.  There was, however, a picnic supper after sailing.  

Today, 150 yachts compete in the midweek festivities in a variety of  handicap and one design classes.  Participation is open to members of the Annapolis Yacht Club only. We go into sequence for the first of six starts at 6:05 PM near the mouth of Spa Creek. Often there are many spectator boats that follow the racers around several marks in the Bay then back into Spa Creek for the finish in front of the Club.  The finish draws a large spectator crowd both inside the Club, on the nearby Spa Creek drawbridge, attached to a City mooring in the harbor or  from one of the other eateries around the harbor. 

The Special Events Race Committee presents the races in three series from late April through early September. In keeping with tradition, the after race "picnic supper" is now an extended happy hour with dinner available for competitors and their crews. This has become the party to attend on Wednesday and for many, the official beginning of the weekend.