The Rhumbline Regatta is an off-shore style sailboat regatta, founded in 2006 and hosted by the St. Joseph River Yacht Club. It’s the insight of club member Jeff Alisch whose intention with the support of other club members was to bring nationally recognized competitive sailboat racing to Michigan’s western shores.
This event is broken up into two primary events. The first is the LMSRF recognized sailboat racing on Lake Michigan. This is a one race event. The fleet is limited to four sections. The course is designed similarly to a popular regatta held in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Each section sails its own separate race course within a single larger course. Each course includes a multitude of buoy rounding’s and is designed to last approximately 5 hours. Boats of different sections do cross each other’s paths and sometimes share buoy rounding’s. Free docking is provided to all participating boats at the Yacht Club and in the Municipal West Basin Marina. Awards are presented to the top three finishers in each section. Brag flags from this regatta are easily spotted at all major Lake Michigan off-shore sailing events. For interested persons, spectator boats are provided courtesy of the club membership to any interested persons.
The second portion of this regatta is a large party, hosted by the SJRYC on the YC grounds. The party open to the general public typically includes an inexpensive yet lavish dining opportunity, discounted beverages served at the clubs outdoor Rhumbline Bar, and entertainment provided by top entertainers from all across the mid-west. It’s common to see well over 1000 persons enjoying this party at the SJRYC.
