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A Tale of Two Shorelines

By Carin Rubenstein

• Aug. 31, 2003

AT the Larchmont Yacht Club one day not long ago, near the wide veranda of an elaborate Victorian clubhouse overlooking Long Island Sound, well-dressed parents and well-mannered children chatted on the deck of a sparkling pool. In the seawater below, boats rocked gently on the tide as further out in the haze, in a scene that might have been a backdrop in an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, a flotilla of sailboats raced in distant circles.

It was not quite as Gatsby-esque on an overcast Saturday at the minuscule Hudson River beach at the Philipse Manor Beach Club in Sleepy Hollow, just behind the Metro-North railroad station. There, a man wearing scruffy black water shoes climbed into a shiny white kayak and pushed off the muddy bank, while a pregnant woman played with her cranky 4-year-old in the coarse, sticky sand just north of the Tappan Zee bridge. Lifeguards watched languidly as a smattering of members ate at picnic tables, read or docked a small powerboat.

Westchester is surrounded by water and boats, and devotees of each side tend to resemble baseball fans who can root for the Mets or the Yankees, but never both.

The two shores have many differences: The Long Island Sound side features exclusive yacht clubs and big boats, as well as pollution caused by sewage runoff that causes sporadic beach closings. The Hudson River side is characterized more by simpler boat clubs and smaller sailboats, plus silted-in marinas, industrial pollution and several high-profile organizations devoted to cleaning up the river.

Beyond the navigation and pollution differences caused by the two shores' distinctly different physical features, each side has its own culture, the Long Island Sound side boasting something of a Gold Coast feel, and the Hudson side with a more economically diverse river-town culture.

On the Long Island Sound side of Westchester, there are about 40 marinas and yacht clubs, as well as 25 beaches, said Kimberly Zimmer, public outreach coordinator for the Long Island Sound Study at SUNY Stony Brook. From Pelham Manor to Port Chester, the wavy shoreline runs about 36 miles, she said. The harbors, on the whole, are deeper on the sound than they are on the river, and thus they tend to attract bigger boats.

On the Hudson River side of Westchester, there are 22 marinas and boat clubs and four separate beaches, the highest concentration anywhere on the river, said John Lipscomb, a boat captain for Riverkeeper, an environmental organization based in Garrison. From Yonkers to the Bear Mountain Bridge, the craggy Hudson River shoreline stretches 62 miles, said John W. Ladd, a board member of the Hudson River Environmental Society.

Water recreation on the New York portion of the Long Island Sound coastline, which includes southern Westchester to Montauk, may generate as much as $1.2 billion in revenue annually, about one quarter of which is spent in Westchester County, according to an estimate by Chris Squeri, executive director of the New York Marine Trades Association in Amityville.

A total of 14,064 boats were registered to Westchester County residents in 2001, the sixth highest county total in the state, according to the most recent data available, provided by Jennifer Morris, a spokeswoman for the Department of Motor Vehicles in Albany. (The leaders, in order, are Suffolk and Nassau counties on Long Island, Monroe County on Lake Ontario, Erie County on Lake Erie and Onondaga County on Oneida Lake.)

''Boating is perceived to be a small industry, but it really isn't,'' said Ginny DiForio of the Hudson Valley Marine Trades Association in West Haverstraw. ''People don't realize how much business it generates.''

Most water lovers are attached to one side or the other, either by geography or by convenience. The contest about which shore is better is ''the age-old question,'' said to Brian Plotkin, 24, who spends a great deal of time on his family's 48-foot power boat and helps his brother, Steve, run the Half Moon Bay Marina, on the Hudson side in Croton.

Mr. Plotkin is that rare, bi-coastal boater, a guy who docks on the Hudson but drives over to the Long Island Sound. This is no small decision, since it takes nearly $100 worth of fuel to get his three floating bedrooms and two baths to the other side.

But he enjoys his weekly trips, he said, because ''there's more to do on the sound, it has more coves and more restaurants.'' Also, his large boat is more well-suited to the wide-open Long Island Sound than to the relatively narrow Hudson, he said, echoing a common view that big boats belong on the sound.

Still, Mr. Plotkin and his boat, ''Never Enough,'' sleep on the Hudson. ''The Hudson River is very calm and easy and I always get a sense of relief when I turn out of Spuyten Duyvil on my way home,'' he said.

Part of the difference is in the water's character. Experienced boaters agreed that Hudson River waters tend to be more peaceful than the sound, which can be very temperamental.

''The Hudson is very calm, but the sound can go from nice to windy to really, really scary,'' said Steve Plotkin, manager of the Half Moon Bay Marina, which is unusually deep for the Hudson, about 8 1/2 feet at low tide. The marina has 173 slips, with a minimum starting price of $30,000.

Other mariners agreed that boating on the Hudson is more scenic. But there is a great deal of commercial traffic there, including tugboats and huge tourist boats that can create large, dangerous wakes. The sound features hidden nooks and crannies, restaurants and serious fishing.

Then, there's the thorny, and truly unresolvable, issue of which side is truly better.

''We don't have train tracks like they have over there that separate them from the water,'' said Bernard Rosenshein, president of the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club. The Metro-North commuter line tracks run right up the riverbed on the Hudson line, making long stretches of shoreline difficult to reach for the Hudson River water clubs. (The flat riverbed made railroad construction relatively easy, and the Hudson River Railroad reached Peekskill by 1849, eventually driving the steamship companies out of business, according to the Westchester County Historical Society.)

The boats on each side tend to be different, too. The water at many marinas on the Hudson is quite shallow at low tide, and is silting in at the rate of seven inches a year, which means the clubs can't accommodate large boats with a deep draft, said John H. Vargo, publisher of a monthly magazine, ''Boating on the Hudson and Beyond.''

''Big sailboats have difficulty in most marinas on the Hudson River, and the silting is a serious problem,'' Mr. Vargo said.

Dredging marinas on the Hudson River is costly, since the silt must first be tested for toxicity, and then treated and removed, Mr. Vargo said, which is why most river marinas choose not to fight the battle of the silt.

It takes money to own any kind of boat, of course, but it takes bigger money to have a boat on the sound, many boaters said.

''The corridor on the sound from Larchmont to Greenwich is economically one of the highest in the country,'' Mr. Rosenshein said, adding that, ''I can't say the same for the Hudson side.'' His view of the difference between boats on the sound and on the Hudson, he said, is ''a question of whether you have a Ferrari or a Chevrolet.''

Clubs on the Hudson tend to be working clubs, in which members donate their time to maintain the property. Eugene Manzella, 82, who lives in Peekskill, keeps a 25-foot fishing boat at the Cortlandt Yacht Club, which has 170 boats on the Hudson River. ''We all chip in with work,'' Mr. Manzella said. He added that he spends nearly all day at the club during the summer, answering phones and handing out homemade coffee and store-bought cake.

The seven-acre club has no restaurant, no cocktail lounge, no snack bar. Membership is limited to 100 members who share ownership, and 50 associate members.

Yacht and boat clubs on the sound, for the most part, tend to be clubs in which members pay other people to do chores.

''The clubs are far more expensive on the sound,'' Mr. Vargo said. At the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club, for example, ''our food is known throughout the area,'' Mr. Rosenshein said.

The Larchmont Yacht Club, which was built in 1880 and has 625 members with 316 boats, has three dining rooms, a bar, a grill, a snack bar, and an outdoor veranda.

These are the kind of clubs where a love of sailing, as well as club membership, are passed down from generation to generation. John Lyons, a 56-year-old banker and a member of the Larchmont Yacht Club who lives in Mamaroneck, has been a member since his father joined in 1951. His oldest daughter, 13, races her own 14-foot sailboat, as did Mr. Lyons when he was a teenager.

Several yacht club managers on the sound refused to discuss membership fees. One member of the Larchmont Yacht Club, who asked not to be identified, said that the initiation fee is $10,000, annual dues are $3,300, and there is a dining minimum of $120 a quarter, plus a mooring rental fee

A manager of the American Yacht Club in Rye, one of the most exclusive on the sound, refused to discuss the club with a reporter.

Fishing on the two waterways also differs. Both sides have commercial fishing, including lobsters and oysters on the Long Island Sound and shad on the Hudson River, but recreational fishing is bigger business, said Mark Tedesco, director of the Environmental Protection Agency for Long Island Sound. Anglers there fish for striped bass, bluefish, tautog, flounder and porgies, although there are advisories on how much of the fish is safe to eat for pregnant women, he said. On the Hudson, the catch is striped bass, and shad during a brief spring season; women of childbearing age are advised to limit the amount they eat.

Swimming differs, too. While there are more swimming beaches on Long Island Sound than on the Hudson River, both sides have pollution problems and occasional beach closings. Swimming on both sides became appealing only in the mid- to late 1980's, when effective sewage plants were built and industrial pollution was curtailed.

Now, however, the public beach at Playland Park in Rye, one of the busiest on the Long Island Sound side, attracts about 2,600 swimmers each weekend, according to Peter Tartaglia, the park's director of marketing.

From early spring to late fall, both river and sound are patrolled by police units, including Hudson River police departments in Yonkers and Peekskill, and the Long Island Sound police departments in New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Rye City and Port Chester.

''People stop and ask me how they can get my job,'' said Andrew S. Landau, commanding officer of the village of Mamaroneck Police Marine Unit, who has been a water cop for 19 years, armed with a shotgun and a rifle, and the authority to enforce laws on any body of water in New York State.

''Any vessel with a motor has to be registered. If you have a log with a motor it has to be registered.'' He also enforces more obscure violations, such as ''possession of mutilated lobsters,'' creatures missing a claw, for instance, and a ban on ''water skiing between sunset and sunrise.''

On an overcast Sunday in August, Lieutenant Landau turned on the blue flashing lights of his 26-foot working boat with a 250-horsepower engine and pulled over a pale, blank-faced man smoking a cigar who said he did not know that a registration was supposed to be affixed to his inflatable boat. The lieutenant gave the man a warning.

Marine units are also responsible for most water rescues.

''It can be hellish on the water if you are not expecting a summer squall,'' said Sergeant Heine. He has sometimes tuned into the marine rescue channel and heard ''wails and screaming from people on boats who think the world is ending,'' he said.

One place you won't find water cops on their days off is on the water.

''When I'm off the boat, I'm off the boat,'' said Lieutenant Landau. He avoids water, he said, ''unless I'm swimming in it or playing over it on a golf course.''

The Water's Cleaner, but Still ...

At the Philipse Manor Beach Club, on the Hudson River, the head lifeguard, Arley Morton, 18, said he has found a skinned cat, a headless seal and syringes.

At the Manursing Island Club, on the Sound, an occasional dead deer, dead raccoon, or syringe washes up, said Alison Plati, longtime beach and pool director. Still, both bodies of water are cleaner now than they used to be.

''The Hudson River is in magnificent condition,'' said John H. Vargo, publisher of a magazine about boating on the Hudson. Decades ago, he said, ''I remember when you had to swim with one hand in front of you to push the debris away.''

In the late 1960's, ''the Hudson River was a virtual biological desert,'' agreed Cesare Manfredi, a retired engineer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Several decades ago, he said, there was a continuous oil sheen on the water, and a factory near Peekskilldumped molasses waste into the river that was so thick ''you couldn't get a boat into the water.''

During the 1900's, Hudson pollutants included waste from the General Motors plant in Sleepy Hollow, the Anaconda Wire and Cable Company in Hastings, Standard Brands in Peekskill and General Electric in Fort Edward. Between 1947 and 1977, the General Electric plant leaked 1.3 million pounds of toxic PCBs into the river, and was ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up 40 remaining hot spots by the end of 2012, according to Manna Jo Greene of the Hudson River Sloop in Poughkeepsie, a group working to improve water quality.

In the 1960's, several rivers flowing into the Sound ''were literally open sewers,'' said Mr. Manfredi. The four Sound-side sewage treatment plants in Westchester County dumped barely treated sewage into the water. The water has improved, he added, although Mamaroneck still has sewage spills.

Until the blackout on Aug. 14, only seven beaches, all on the sound, had been closed this summer, including Harbor Island, Shore Acres, Beachpoint, Mamaroneck Beach and Cabana, Orienta, Echo Bay and Hudson Park, according to the Westchester County Department of Health. After the blackout, the county closed all 56 county beaches as a precaution, including all those on the Long Island Sound, the Hudson River, and on inland lakes, according to Gabe Sganga, beach program director for the Bureau of Public Health. By Sunday, Aug. 17, all county beaches had been reopened, he said. CARIN RUBENSTEIN

Around the New York Region

A look at life, culture, politics and more in new york, new jersey and connecticut..

Andrew Cuomo:  A congressional report criticized former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly his administration’s failures in nursing homes . Additionally, his legal bills have cost New York State $25.4 million  (and counting).

Adams Lawyer WIthdraws:  Randy Mastro, a former federal prosecutor and aide to Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, said he had been denied a fair hearing by the City Council .

Bird Flu in Animal Markets:  Markets in New York City may have more permanent storefronts and less exotic animals than those in Asia. They still provide human-animal interaction that could lead to disease outbreaks .

A Toxic Corner of Brooklyn: Dozens of new buildings are going up along the famously polluted Gowanus Canal . The discovery of an underground chemical plume hasn’t slowed the development.

Official Indicted for Spying: Linda Sun, a former deputy chief of staff to Gov. Kathy Hochul, used her growing influence to push the interests of the Chinese government , U.S. prosecutors say.

Larchmont Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ The view of Long Island Sound did compensate and I felt the price was fair for the location. ” in 4 reviews

“ This yacht club is historic as members obviously come from old money . ” in 3 reviews

“ Perfect place for Sunday brunch overlooking the water, wearing Lilly Pulitzer, and storing your expensive sailboat. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

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1 Woodbine Ave

Larchmont, NY 10538

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Ate lunch here the other day with a buddy and I was very impressed. Will be joining here very soon. The service and atmosphere is worth the $$. The food is fantastic. Looking forward to spending the rest of my summer here. My kids will enjoy it too.

I have been a member here since I was a kid so I find these reviews very interesting. Yes, the best part about LYC is the beautiful historic building and views. The club actually was started in 1880 (they used a church after services). The current building was built to be the yacht club in 1902. The food is always a point of contention - the current chef has the ability to do amazing things, but is held back by the provincial palates of the members, as well as budget considerations. We usually only eat there as part of an event, and have always been disapointed when we've gone for just a regular dinner. Lunch is usually the better meal - interesting salads and great soups. There is also an area where you can get burgers, salads all day/evening. But you will find it difficult to get your food served hot, cooked as you ordered and delivered to the correct person.

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IC Classic: 88 Years of Winter Sailing at Larchmont Yacht Club

Story & photos by Tom Darling

Arthur Knapp, Jr.’s Agony IC #8, recreated in fiberglass

In this second pandemic winter, we rediscover the ultimate socially distanced outdoor recreation for sailors. That would be Frostbiting, or as they say on the Larchmont Yacht Club website, Winter Sailing. Emerging in the depths of the Great Depression, winter dinghy sailing consumed some of the greats of that time, including the inestimable Arthur Knapp, Jr., considered the godfather of winter sailing with his pipe and professorial approach to yachting.

From 1983 to 1996, I participated annually in Larchmont Winter Sailing. In 1992, I was awarded the Little Scorpion Trophy for the most improved sailor. I should have stopped right then and there. My crew got engaged. My daughter was born August 1992 and the duties of fatherhood diminished my skills year by year. When my son arrived, I bagged it and put my 1946-built wooden boat under my sister’s Fairfield County porch.

The lure of seeing the winter sailing scene all again brought me out in December, 2021. The photos for this article reflect the lure of sailing a round-bottomed dinghy in shifty, puffy air above rapidly chilling salt water.

The Creation Myth of Frostbiting according to Arthur Knapp, Jr.

Boating history – I call it Boat Mythology – is particularly rich in the case of frostbiting. Who is better to return to tell that story than one Arthur Knapp, Jr., a Princeton graduate in 1928, the force behind founding intercollegiate sailing in the mid 1920s, and tactician on the J Boat Ranger in 1936. Who else could have snagged a Vanderbilt, J boat owner, to write the foreword to his book when it came out in 1952. That book would be Race Your Boat Right .

How many generations have followed Professor Knapp’s advice in the red-covered classic, with its 334 pages of text, diagrams and photos that I read incessantly as a young sailor? How lucky I was to be gifted a second edition copy from my great uncle, the model builder. That book was acquired, I later learned, at a Larchmont Library sale in the early 1960s.

On the subject of winter sailing, there is no greater authority in print. I suppose I could have just copied the entire text of Chapter XX: “Frostbite Dinghy Racing – A School for Sailing.” It all starts on page 300 of the 1960 edition of Race Your Boat Right . Knapp writes,

“On January 1,1952, Frostbite dinghy racing as we know it today came of age, with the Twenty-First Annual Regatta held by the Frostbite Yacht Club under the auspices of the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club. The Frostbite Yacht Club, an organization unique in the annals of yachting history in that it has “no dues, no assets, no nothing,” has prospered and grown to the extent that 1952 saw it run its first truly formal Regatta.”

He went out to point out, “Its own officers for the past 28 years make up a reasonably fair picture of the outstanding small boat skippers of the eastern seaboard.”

Knapp was never accused of soft-pedaling his hyperbole. He went on to describe the events that coincided with the second edition of the book:

“January 1,1960 saw the 29th Annual Regatta of the Frostbite Yacht Club held on Manhasset Bay, with 112 boats in 4 One-Design Classes…”

“Starting more or less as a joke in the bath-tub gin era of the ‘30s, winter dinghy racing quickly became nicknamed “Frostbiting” and the name has stuck and become synonymous with the sport.

It has been my pleasure and good fortune to have been constantly engaged in dinghy racing on Long Island Sound and elsewhere since that first, wet, cold and snowy New Years Day of 1932 when the first Winter Regatta was founded. And may I say, possibly immodestly, nevertheless proudly, that in 1960 I am the only one left of that original band who raced on the first day who is still actively racing AND IT IS STILL FUN FOR ME.”

Arthur Knapp and frostbiting came to the party together and never left. He waxes poetic on its virtues:

“It is my opinion that anyone who frostbites regularly is attending one of the finest schools in boat handling ever organized, and that includes boats of all sizes…In most cases, your ardent frostbiter doesn’t realize he is attending school. He is out for fun and fresh air, to try his skill against the next fellow, to experiment with a new gadget or new idea, for the thrill of feeling a lively and tricky boat under him in a fresh breeze, and occasionally, for a dunking in very cold and very wet water. But, whether the sailor realizes it or not, every time he starts a race he is learning.”

The word according to Arthur Knapp, Jr. goes for another eight pages, with the professor covering every subject from the choice of winter haberdashery to course configuration. It is indeed the Little Red Book of Frostbiting. There are some priceless sections. Here’s what he said about clothing and the obvious laysailors’s question about the sanity of it all:

“Isn’t dinghy racing cold? Don’t you freeze out there in those little boats?”

“Sure it’s cold but you don’t freeze. Ice boating is cold, so is skiing, skating or any other outdoor winter sport. If properly clothed with several pairs of wool socks under galoshes (no shoes inside) or Thermo socks, dacron underwear, wool trousers and shirt, sweater, and some kind of nylon windbreaker or slicker, one needn’t be cold.”

Team One Newport’s Martha Parker observed that with all respect to Arthur, the sailor would resemble the Michelin Man with this getup. Today, we have drysuits.

The Natural History of the Modern Frostbite Dinghy

If you remember our Conversations with Classic Boats episode on the Dyer Dhow (fall of 2020), we discovered there was no such thing in 1932 as a one-design frostbite dinghy. The racks in Mystic Seaport Museum’s Rossi Building illustrate that. See the Dyer Dhow (the 9-footer), the Dink (the 10-footer) along with a variety of lettered dinghies, each a custom build, each of them each of them about 11 and a half feet with a 72 square foot sail. Frostbiting was stock car racing; every boat a little different, but roughly the same. Speed was up to the driver. Knapp fills in the history of how one-design frostbiting came to be:

“Let us consider the evolution of the present Frostbite Dinghy. At the first Regatta of the Frostbite Yacht Club there was an odd assortment of dinks and other boats, all small, of course. The dinks were for the most part 11 ½ feet long, most of them prams with a long overhang. The late George Ratsey had imported a number of prams from England and William J.H.(Bill) Dyer of Providence had built several from his own design.” (That would be those Dyer 9- and 10-footers. – Ed.)

Christine Klingler, granddaughter of Butch Ulmer, driving #62

Knapp continued, “As interest increased in this new sport, designers, builders and sailors vied with themselves and each other to produce a faster dink. About the only measurements now remaining of the original designs are the overall length, 11 ½ feet and the sail area,72 square feet, and the sail has even changed shape considerably.”

It all got too complicated and too expensive in the so-called “open class,” so one-design was the answer. Alden X, Potter B, the Rhodes Penguin. The Interclub Dinghy came along as a strictly one-design boat; the boat that in its original molded plywood was one of Olin Stephens’ successful string of small one-designs sandwiched between his pursuit of the Six Metre and the ocean racing commissions. The little IC is a boat that turned 75 last year. Larchmont’s fleets from the late 1930s on were a Who’s Who of the era’s aces: Ogivly, Knapp, Mosbacher, Shields, Monte Santo, Ulmer.

Conceived and built on City Island, the IC was designed to be made from the new molded plywood, eventually moving on to fiberglass in the 1960s. Not a light boat, the rules specify an all in weight of over 315 pounds for the crew, then add a 150-pound boat. The rigorous racing led to an Interclub with highly evolved rigging featuring synthetic lines and various go-fasts. But when you are downwind in 15 knots plus, the IC is the same rock and rolling creature that it ever was. It’s simple: Hang on!

The Odyssey of Frostbiting Leads Me to Larchmont

When I came to sail the Interclub at Larchmont in 1983, it was in a wood boat, restored from an accident (not my fault), flying a 40-year-old boat off a roof rack on the Connecticut Turnpike. It took hours of labor and gallons of epoxy to put Humpy Dumpty together again. I always said it was a Gougeon Interclub with a custom wooden core. The vital statistics of my own Interclub winter sailing tour of duty are as follows:

Years sailed: 13, in a woodie reconstituted as Boat #7, originally built in the same year as Knapp’s Agony (#8)

Average number of weeks sailed per season: 15

Annual races: 80-plus

Best finish: First. I won one race in my career, in heavy air. I was always seeded in the middle of the fleet, the B Division when my sister was in the As with her spanking new Vanguard boat.

Average daily finish: Between 8th and 16th

Best moment: Winning the most improved trophy in 1992…but I was still put in the B division in 1993.

We turned to Nick Langone, LYC’s current Chairman of Winter Sailing, to help us with the recent history and logistics of exactly how the finely tuned Winter Sailing program operates.

Nick Langone, LYC’s head of Winter Sailing, checks the breeze.

Surprise, surprise, a lot of that history and know-how was from Race Your Boat Right . The rest I gleaned from conversations with Nick while watching the racing. He took over the reins as RC Chair from an elite line of Chairmen. Again, Knapp says it best:

“The ‘valuable school’ angle of frostbiting comes from the great number of races held in one day. There may be four, five or ten, the weather and the Race Committee determining the exact number. The Race Committee also decides whether the day is suitable for racing at all, and calls the whole thing off if it is blowing too hard for safe sailing.”

Nick has refined his RC platform during his tenure, with new technology and team practice. This includes a new and improved computer generated starting horn that you can hear over the din of luffing synthetic sails, as well as downwind gates. Frostbiting is run with the same precision as its summer cousin, Larchmont Race Week. The people in charge are from the same RC bench, and the bible was Race Your Boat Right . One custom has prevailed, with every competitor supplying liquid refreshment for the season to the RC members. The year-end leftovers are served at the closing party. It is the story of the frostbiting committee boat that you have to chuckle at:

“At Manhasset (Bay) a converted landing barge with a house built on it, known as the Worry Wart, is generally used, though occasionally races are started from the glassed-in dock end. At Larchmont, a pontoon float with a house built on it and known as the Little Scorpions Club takes care of the Committee…”

The Little Scorpions Club is nothing more than a float, with four pontoons in the corners, used in the summer, without the house, as a dinghy float and towed through Larchmont Harbor each race day so that a windward start may be set up. The name was borrowed from the well-known (to Knapp) cartoon series originated by Fontaine Fox – The Toonerville Trolley – and came about because the house and stovepipe made it look like the drawings of the kids’ “Little Scorpions Club” in the comics. This was way before my time, long before Dilbert or even Peanuts…try Blondie or Dick Tracy.

The legacy of Knapp is everywhere: in the courses, the starting procedure and always important, the philosophy: Go out and try! “By the end of the afternoon you may still be in last place, but it is probably a lot closer last place than in the first race. By the end of the season, you may be giving the so-called experts a run for their money. And I will guarantee that you’ll do considerably better in your summer racing than you did the previous season…”

Ever the cheerleader, Knapp sums it up: “If you can handle an 11 ½ foot sailing dinghy, you can handle a 30-foot racing machine, a 60-foot cruising boat, and are well on your way toward taking the helm of an America’s Cup ‘Yacht.’ Many of the Sound’s successful summer champions have come through the dinghy racing school. Men and women who five years ago could barely keep a dinghy on its feet are now the champion and expert skippers of their various summer cruising or racing classes. Truly Frostbiting is a good school, albeit at times a cold one…”

Amen and thank you, Arthur. Dear reader, go read the book.

We watched this legacy on the course on a pleasant, breezy December Sunday.

This group was a younger one than my cohort of the 1980s. The modern field looked an average ten years younger, with a sprinkling of high school sailors and a gaggle of ex-collegiate sailors. They were very confident in their boat handling skills, upwind in roll tacks and downwind with kinetics. With the breeze northwest, from 4 to almost 20 knots, the leaders did a great job of tracking the shifts and staying upright. The only capsize came before racing started and that crew was back out sailing for the end of the day. The 32-boat fleet was pushing hard at the start on a good sized line, finishing often overlapped on a short finish.

A peaceful end to a December frostbiting day.

My observations? The boat remains the same, but the techniques of sailing them reflect the changes in technique many of which are learned in intercollegiate sailing: Aggressiveness at the start; limiting the number of tacks, with clear lanes all-important; calculating the tradeoffs downwind; and escaping mark roundings cleanly.

For sure, my summer performance in a Thistle was improved by all my frostbiting. For sure also, I would not stand a chance today. Rocking the boat through upwind tacks, or scraping the weather rail in the water with weather heel, was not in my boat handling repertoire.

Winter Sailing at Larchmont has gone from a game of crafty old veterans to one of quick, lithe ex-collegians. Sure, there are some older skippers – the local Viper leader, the perpetual Shields season ace – but of the 32 boats we watched, we judge the average age of the two-person crew to be 30-something. The youngest crew is an intrepid 10-year-old young lady, replete in her winter hat and drysuit.

One of the day’s leaders is Chrissie Klingler, 2020 New England Sailor of the Year at Yale and 2017 National Champ with her Yale classmate, sister Casey. Chrissie is the granddaughter of Butch Ulmer, the winner of four Winter Sailing Championships in the 1980s during my time, only to be succeeded by his son Charles Junior, who also took four season trophies. Winter Sailing at Larchmont remains a family event.

With sunset closing in at 4:30, the RC sends the fleet back to the club. Warming their hands on the brand new woodstove in the race committee barge they relish the fact that in days gone by, most of them were out on that very water, frostbiting themselves. ■

Scan here to tune into the author’s Conversations with Classic Boats podcast.

Tom Darling is the host of Conversations with Classic Boats, “the podcast that talks to boats.” Tune in via Apple Podcast, Google Podcast or Spotify, or online at  conversationswithclassicboats.com .

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“COME SAIL AWAY WITH ME” 

( Come Sail Away , Styx | Songwriter: Dennis DeYoung)

LARCHMONT YACHT CLUB FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

New life for a 100 year old seawall.

The Larchmont Yacht Club located in Westchester County, New York, and founded in 1880, supports yachting while providing social and recreational activities for its members. A curved concrete seawall, originally constructed in 1927, provides separation between the existing pool and Larchmont Harbor. The club requested GEODesign to provide complete geotechnical engineering design, field investigation, construction support, and inspection services for various facility improvements. The improvements include construction of a new pool with terrace areas, an extension to the Clubhouse, and various landscaped areas. The grade within the existing pool was raised by backfilling and compacting soil, which resulted in different loading conditions on the existing seawall.

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Yacht Clubs

Larchmont Yacht Club

When the Larchmont Yacht Club was founded in 1880, the United States had been a nation for 104 years – its total population 50 million. The village of New Rochelle was settled in 1688; Mamaroneck, as part of Rye, had also long been existence; but in between these two, there was no Larchmont.

Stories from Larchmont Yacht Club

In the early evening of Memorial Day 1880, five young men were warming themselves over a bonfire built in a cleft of rocks on the shore of what is now Horseshoe Harbor, in Larchmont Manor. These five loved boats and they had just finished a hard day of racing. Their boats were part of a small mixed fleet of jib and mainsail sandbaggers, sloops and cat boats moored in Horseshoe Harbor. Since a bonfire is scarcely the most comfortable way to close a hard day at sea, it is not surprising that these young men fell to discussing the possibility of organizing a yacht club.

That evening, it was decided: they would organize a yacht club to be called the Larchmont Yacht Club and invite others to join. The problem of a Clubhouse was resolved quickly: Fred Flint was elected a committee of one to approach his father, T.J.S. Flint, who was President of the Larchmont Manor Company and owned most of the property in Larchmont Manor from the Post Road south to the shoreline. On this property was the small Union Church. The young charter members made a deal with the elder Mr. Flint for the use of the church as a clubhouse and signed a lease for $1.00 per annum. However, it was made clear that the newly formed Club would have use of the church every day except Sunday – when the clubhouse would be opened to them only after church services were over.

The club membership grew so fast, however, that a larger clubhouse was soon needed, and in the fall of 1881 the club leased the Fleming residence near the church for the annual rental of $1,500 per year. The club continued to expand so it became necessary in 1884, to lease the Shepard House. Three years later, in 1887, the year of the incorporation of the Larchmont Yacht Club, the present site of eleven acres was purchased at a cost of $10,000 from Benjamin A. Carver, a railroad magnate. The original Carver residence was much smaller than the present clubhouse – the east and west wings having been added subsequently to the purchase. The Pandemonium was built fifteen years later in 1902; the Junior Clubhouse was the Carver stable, and the basement was the cow barn while the first floor housed the horses.

Carl Olsson

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Larchmont Yacht Club

Larchmont Yacht Club is the second-oldest yacht club in the United States. Conceived in 1880 on the cleft rocks of Larchmont Manor, the club has grown to a membership in excess of 600, with a continued mission to instill and enhance an interest in yachting and the spirit of sportsmanship in members and their families. Set within a mature forest of deciduous trees, the club is home to one of the largest competition and recreational swimming pools in the Northeast – more than 1.6 million gallons – captured by a seawall in what was once a natural cove. Unfortunately, this iconic pool fell victim to its own success, and could not be retrofitted to comply with current health codes.

SWA/Balsley was commissioned to envision a master plan that would improve the club’s operational capacity, allow for an expansion of its membership, and increase its revenues. The plan renews focus on the breathtaking views to the Horseshoe Harbor and Long Island Sound, raising the existing elevation more than seven feet. More than doubling the pool area’s capacity, the design also provides an expanded bi-level bar and grill; separate adult, child, and recreational facilities; and a waterfront promenade that encourages views out from the pool decks above. Circulation improvements and grade manipulation improve the property’s resilience in the face of sea level rise and storm surges, while reconstruction of the pool prevents harmful chemicals from leaching into the waters of the Long Island Sound.

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Larchmont Yacht Club

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Larchmont Yacht Club - A Haven for Sailing Enthusiasts

Welcome to larchmont yacht club.

Welcome aboard to Larchmont Yacht Club, the ultimate destination for sailing enthusiasts in Mamaroneck, New York! Nestled along the picturesque shores of the Long Island Sound, our marina offers a vibrant and welcoming community for sailors of all ages and skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or just starting to dip your toes into the world of sailing, Larchmont Yacht Club has something for everyone.

With a rich history dating back to 1880, Larchmont Yacht Club has established itself as a premier sailing destination on the East Coast. Our club boasts state-of-the-art facilities, a wide range of sailing programs, and a calendar packed with exciting events and regattas. So, hop aboard and let's set sail on an adventure of a lifetime!

Unparalleled Sailing Facilities

At Larchmont Yacht Club, we take pride in our top-notch facilities designed to enhance your sailing experience. Our marina features a well-maintained fleet of sailboats available for rental, ensuring that you can hit the water even if you don't own a boat. Our experienced staff is always ready to assist you in finding the perfect vessel for your sailing needs.

Additionally, our club offers ample docking space for members' boats, ensuring convenient access to the water. We have a dedicated team of professionals who provide exceptional maintenance and repair services, so you can focus on enjoying your time on the water without any worries.

Sailing Programs for All Ages

At Larchmont Yacht Club, we believe that sailing is a sport for everyone, regardless of age or experience. That's why we offer a wide range of sailing programs tailored to different age groups and skill levels. From our Junior Sailing Program for young aspiring sailors to our Adult Learn-to-Sail Program for beginners, there's always an opportunity to learn and grow your sailing skills at our club.

Our experienced instructors provide comprehensive lessons that cover everything from basic sailing techniques to advanced racing strategies. We also organize regular clinics and workshops to help sailors refine their skills and stay up-to-date with the latest sailing trends. Whether you're looking to learn the ropes or sharpen your racing skills, Larchmont Yacht Club has the perfect program for you.

Exciting Events and Regattas

Get ready to mark your calendars because Larchmont Yacht Club is known for its exciting lineup of events and regattas throughout the year. From thrilling races to festive social gatherings, there's never a dull moment at our club. Our events calendar is packed with activities that cater to sailors of all ages and interests.

One of the highlights of our club is the annual Larchmont Race Week, a week-long regatta that attracts sailors from all over the region. This prestigious event features competitive racing, lively parties, and a chance to connect with fellow sailing enthusiasts. Whether you're participating in the races or cheering from the sidelines, Race Week is an experience you won't want to miss!

A Vibrant Community

At Larchmont Yacht Club, we believe that sailing is not just a sport but a way of life. Our club is home to a vibrant and inclusive community of sailors who share a passion for the open water. From casual dockside gatherings to lively post-race celebrations, there's always a sense of camaraderie and friendship at our club.

Our members come from diverse backgrounds and range in age from young children to seasoned sailors. Whether you're a solo sailor looking to meet new friends or a family seeking a fun-filled weekend activity, Larchmont Yacht Club offers a welcoming environment where you can connect with like-minded individuals who share your love for sailing.

Dining and Social Amenities

After a day of exhilarating sailing, it's time to relax and indulge in some delicious food and refreshing drinks. Larchmont Yacht Club boasts a fantastic dining facility that offers a delectable menu featuring a variety of cuisines. Whether you're craving fresh seafood, mouthwatering steaks, or vegetarian delights, our talented chefs have you covered.

Our dining area provides breathtaking views of the marina, allowing you to soak in the beauty of the Long Island Sound while enjoying your meal. The club also hosts regular social events, including themed parties and live music nights, where you can dance the night away and create lasting memories with your fellow sailors.

Supporting the Community

At Larchmont Yacht Club, we believe in giving back to the community that has embraced us for over a century. We actively participate in various environmental initiatives aimed at preserving the Long Island Sound and its surrounding ecosystems. Our club also collaborates with local organizations to promote sailing as a recreational activity and provide opportunities for underprivileged youth to experience the joy of sailing.

Additionally, we organize charity events and fundraisers to support causes close to our hearts. By being a part of Larchmont Yacht Club, you're not just joining a sailing community but becoming a force for positive change in the world.

Membership Options

Becoming a member of Larchmont Yacht Club opens up a world of sailing opportunities and lifelong friendships. We offer various membership options to suit different preferences and budgets. Whether you're looking for full-time membership or a seasonal pass, our club has a membership plan that fits your needs.

As a member, you'll enjoy exclusive access to our facilities, priority registration for programs and events, and discounted rates on boat rentals and repairs. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in club governance and shape the future of Larchmont Yacht Club.

Join the Larchmont Yacht Club Family

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary sailing journey? Join the Larchmont Yacht Club family today and experience the thrill of sailing in a vibrant and welcoming community. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a beginner, our club offers the perfect blend of adventure, camaraderie, and relaxation.

Visit our website or give us a call to learn more about our membership options, sailing programs, and upcoming events. We can't wait to welcome you aboard and share the joy of sailing at Larchmont Yacht Club!

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