Regatta History

The I-LYA Junior Championships were started in 1955 as "Junior Race Week," a qualifier for the Junior National Championships, the Sears Cup. The race was in thistles, requiring a crew of 3 all from the same I-LYA club; teams could register up to 4 people, but only 3 would sail and the skipper had to remain the same throughout the event while the crew could switch out.

It has always been held at Put-In-Bay Yacht Club, and even then was held over 5 days.

With the exception of the pandemic in 2020, this week has been held every year. Races now include the Club 420, the ILCA (formerly known as the Laser), and the Thistle.

Girls and boys were originally housed separately, with the Rendezvous Hotel for boys and girls in their own quarters with, presumably, their families. They had a strict curfew. The no wheels rule was in effect, and competitors had to be at least 13 by the date of the first day of the regatta. There has always been one formal event, coat and tie for the gentlemen. And even then, they had to bring their own towels!

While the I-LYA Junior Championships is no longer a qualifier for the Sears Cup, or Bemis and Smythe, this week continues tradition and is the most rigorous 4-day junior competition in the region. US Sailing has changed its qualifier to be held as Area competitions; I-LYA is part of Area E.

It is also of note that the I-LYA was founded in 1884 by George Gardiner who also founded CYC. I-LYA members spearheaded the North American Yacht Racing Union in 1896, which was the organization that we now call US Sailing.

1968 Review of the Junior Race Week (see Page 72)