CHESAPEAKE CLASSIC Four Score Years Ago… How the Oxford Regatta Began by Marjorie Robfogel
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n June of 1931, sailors from Oxford founded the Kap Dun YC at a swimming club near the Oxford Ferry dock. They quickly planned a regatta for Labor Day weekend of that year, which featured various races for knockabouts, Stars, free-for-all classes, ladies rowing, power workboats, auxiliary cruisers, and square-end and sharp-end Log Canoes. Ladies from the town served dinners to the competitors, and street dances were held each night. The entire town and many visitors enjoyed seeing the races. By the summer of 1932, the Kap Dun YC became the Tred Avon YC (TAYC) and held its second annual regatta off Oxford over Labor Day weekend. This regatta was organized in conjunction with the older Easton club—Chesapeake Bay YC—that had been hosting regattas in various locations since the 1870s. In subsequent years, the two clubs cooperated in various ways, but basically held two separate regattas at the same place and time, often called Oxford Race Week. By 1947, the present form of the Oxford Regatta was created, with two host clubs, one venue, joint committees, and split entertainment responsibilities. During the 1930s, the regatta grew and included more sailing classes and stopped holding power races. In 1936, TAYC requested that CBYRA designate August 14-16 for the Oxford Regatta, starting the long tradition of racing in Oxford on the second weekend of August. By then, the regatta consisted of a long-distance race to Oxford for cruising yachts on Friday, followed by two days of racing for smaller classes.
98 August 2011 SpinSheet
Originally, the distance race started off Gibson Island. But by 1950, the start was moved to Annapolis because of construction on the new Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Entertainment was always a big part of the regatta and usually included dances, meals, and a formal presentation of a large collection of historic and beautiful memorial trophies to the winners. This year, the Oxford Race for cruising boats will start in Annapolis August 12 and finish off TAYC. Course racing August 13-14 will be held in the Tred Avon and Choptank rivers for 420s, Comets, Cruising boats, Lasers, Log Canoes, Optimists, Penguins, Shields, and Stars.
New this year is a changed format for the Saturday Robson Round-theBuoys Race for PHRF and the Robert W. Downes, III Race for the Shields fleet. The Robson Race will consist of two sanctioned races on windward/leeward courses. PHRF competitors now can race three sanctioned races over the weekend, including the Friday race to Oxford. To register, visit tayc.com /racing. The 80th Oxford Regatta promises to be as much fun for today’s racers and spectators as it was for the original founders. Join the fun as Oxford Regatta provides a unique tribute to years of sailboat racing.
Racing on the Tred Avon River in the 1930s. SpinSheet counts more than 100 vessels in this iconic photo above Oxford, MD. Photo courtesy of Richard Slaughter and friends
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