Mayor's Cup Race 1978-2000

The Mayor's Cup Race, started by the City of Plattsburgh in 1978 during the administration of John Ianelli, himself a member of the Valcour Sailing Club, has grown to be one of the largest and most prestigious races on Lake Champlain. Although not strictly a Valcour Sailing Club event per se, the VSC traditionally had been responsible for the on-water portion of this event involving hundreds of boats and sailboards from New York, Vermont, Québec, and other nearby states. There are three trophies offered in fourteen different classes making the race a little more competitive for the sailors that do not race often. Many participants have made the race their one racing event of the year. Originally run in three divisions in 1978 (Racing, Trailerable, and Working), the regatta has grown to fourteen classes in four divisions (Racing, Cruising, Portsmouth, and Sailboard). There have been minor variations in the course down through the years but it features starts near the "Black Can" in Cumberland Bay, legs around Crab Island, and a leg along Cumberland Head allowing maximum landlubber viewing.

Many of the sailboats participate in the three cruising divisions. But in order to win the major prize — the Mayor's Cup itself — a yacht has to compete in the racing division with the serious skippers and she must finish the race with the fastest overall corrected time for the course.

WINNERS OF THE MAYOR'S CUP
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990

1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004 		Ken Wolvington
Jim Corcoran
Paul Graves
Kjell Dahlen
Jeff Hill
David McDowell
Gil Mercier
Don O'Brien
Rob McDowell
Tony von Elbe
Tony von Elbe
Staples & Baille
Skorupski & Thompson
End of VSC Administration
Russell & Hobart
David Gorman
Brush & Horton
David Gorman
Andy Sajor
Gardner & Browne
Brush & Horton
John Kimura
Brush & Horton
Fritz Horton
Walter Timmerman
Mike Parson
Ed Trombley
Luis Gonzales

 

 Hesperia
Yellow Jacket
Wiki Wiki
Obsession
Golden Dazy
Chaousarou
Fling
Showtime
Chaousarou II
Going Concern
Going Concern
No Illusion
Sea Quacious
Begin AM Rotary Club
Slippery
Mohawk Warrior
Peregrine
Mohawk Warrior
Chaousarou
Bark Ode
Peregrine
Evoked Potential
Peregrine
Peregrine
IXO
Witchcraft
USA 833
K2 		Tartan 30
C&C Viking
Ranger 26
Tartan Ten
Holland 2 Ton
Metalmast 30
J-29
J-36
Olson 30 ULDB
Beneateau 456
Beneateau 456


of Plattsburgh Administration

J-35
J-33
J-35
Metal Mast
J-29
J-33
Melgis 24
J-33
J-33
J-120
J-29
Soling
J-105 		MBBC
MBBC
MBBC
VSC
LCYC
VSC
VSC
LCYC
VSC
VSC
VSC







VSC
MBBC


LCYC


VSC
VSC

MINUTES OF THE VALCOUR SAILING CLUB

Mayor's Cup Race Briefing at Valcour Lodge on May 25, 1978

ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED:  Mayor John Ianelli, City of Plattsburgh; Herb Carpenter, Plattsburgh City Police Department; Russel Trombley, Sherriff's Department; George Copeland, US Power Squadron; Clayton LaBounty, REACT; Wayne Tillman, Press Republican; Howard Westcott, US Coast Guard Auxillary; Kathy Rock, WEAV Radio; Janeen Merrill, Chamber of Commerce; Donald Benjamin, Tourist Bureau; Fred Smith, Tom Carroll Association Advertising (Tourist Bureau); Helen Ianelli, Operation Pride; Derek Allan, PSUC; Helen Allan, Clinton County Historical Museum; Connie Dubowy, Kent Delord House; Frank Pabst, Juniper; David Sweet, Dock & Coal Marina; Ron Thompson, The Mooring's (Turtle Marina); Chester Coryell, Committee Boat for the Mayor and Race Committee. CLUB MEMBERS PRESENT Dave McDowell, Ed Goodrich, Norm Lawrance, Joseph Garcia, Tom Harwood, John Higel, Bill Rowe, Nancy Altman

The meeting started at 10:15 with an opening statement from Mayor Ianelli. This was followed by an introduction from all present.

The Mayor's Cup Race will be held rain or shine on Saturday, July 8th. If there is no wind, it will be held on Sunday, July 9th.

The first order of business was to state the purpose of the Regatta which is to promote the sport of yacht racing and to commemorate the historic Battle of Plattsburgh. The Mayor will personally write letters of invitation to the skippers and various clubs on the Lake to participate in this event.

Next a description of the race followed with discussion of such points as the different classes expected to participate, approximate number of boats expected, the race course itself, traffic control both on the water and on shore (the Sherriff's Department and City Police Department will help with this aspect), safety, and general yacht support.

Awards were discussed and it was felt that a separate fund should be set up by the Sailing Club to handle monies for this purpose. First place awards donations will be $60, second place will be $30, third place will be $20 and other sponsorship to help pay for the cost of the flags would be $10. There will be eighteen awards: Six first, second, and third places. These awards will be sponsored by the businessmen of Plattsburgh. The City Plaque, which will remain in City Hall, will be donated by the City of Plattsburgh. It was felt that certificates should be given to skippers who participate in the race, sponsors who donate to the awards, and anyone else who donates his time and effort to make this event a successful one.

To commemorate the historical aspect of the race, 1814 flags will be given to the boats participating in the race and the local downtown merchants will have the 1814 flags flying outside their businesses. The Juniper will have special 1814 souvenir tickets on that day and the Clinton County Historical Museum hopefully will have a flyer out with a narrative of the Battle of Plattsburgh included. Also, Bill Rowe will try to contact one of the direct descendants of Commodore McDonough to see if he will participate in the festivities. It was suggested by Frank Pabst that we try to get this event included on the "I Love New York" campaign calender for July. Attached you will find the proposed schedule of events for the day which may be subject to change. If you have any other suggestions or ideas please contact Ed Goodrich (telephone number) or Nancy Altman (telephone number)

Media coverage was discussed and further meetings with Wayne Tillman of the Press Republican and Kathy Rock of WEAV Radio will be set up to make plans.

COMMITTEES

A communications committee was set up consisting of Sherriff Russel Trombley, Norm Lawrance, Ed Goodrich, Howard Westcott, and Clayton LaBounty. They will meet on Monday, May 29th at 10:00 am to make plans. CB, VHF, and the Civil Communications van with its PA system will also be available for coverage of the race.

Media Support:
Awards:
Parade:
Race Committee:
Yacht Registration: 		Joseph Garcia; Assistant Ed Goodrich
Dan Merin, Assistant Norm Lawrance
Helen Ianelli
Howard Altman
Tom Harwood

A $5 registration fee has been set up. A one week cut off date has been decided on. There will be an increased registration fee for anyone wishing to register the day of the race.