New York Harbor Sailing
Foundation - 1999
Invitation to Race
The New York Harbor Sailing
Foundation invited yacht clubs from around the world to come to New York City to
participate in the 1999 International Sandbagger Series.
Following is the
text of the invitation which was sent by the New York Harbor Sailing Foundation:
One hundred and fifty years ago,
when New York Harbor was the sailing capital of the United States of America, there was a
unique class of boat, born in the harbor, crafted from American ingenuity, extreme,
over-canvassed, fast, a no-holds barred expression of a young country.
This was the Sandbagger.
In 1999, Sandbagger racing will return to New York
Harbor.
Two sandbagger replicas, "Bull" and
"Bear," have been built and will come to the harbor for the International
Sandbagger Series.
The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation is inviting yacht clubs from around
the world to race on the sandbaggers and to travel back to a time when sailing was more
old-fashioned.
Each week, a match race will be held in New York Harbor
and a different foreign yacht club will be invited to compete.
To "defend the honor of the United States," a
different American yacht club will also be invited each week.
The International Sandbagger Races will take place in
New York Harbor on Saturday afternoons from June through September.
To allow visiting clubs an opportunity to gain
experience, they will be invited to practice on the sandbaggers on the Thursday and Friday
preceding their race.
On Thursday evening, the foreign yacht club will be
invited to sail in a practice race against the Manhattan Yacht Club. On Friday
evening, the American yacht club will be invited to sail in a practice race against the
Manhattan Yacht Club.
The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation and the
Manhattan Yacht Club are issuing invitations to yacht clubs around the world to travel to
New York City and participate in the International Sandbagger Series.
Yacht clubs will be selected to participate based on
the speed and enthusiasm of their response.
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