Windward Beat

The racing schedule on Oahu runs from February to October each year, and the Waikiki Yacht Club hosts a variety of challenging regattas. To participate in the regattas or to volunteer on the WYC Race Committee contact the WYC Rear Commodore for Sail.

The Beach Fleet Series offers a number of buoy races staged off Oahu’s south shore, principally in the picturesque Diamond Head area. These PHRF handicap, time correction races provide competitive sailing and camaraderie to sailors from yacht clubs around the island. The WYC awards season’s points for each of its races and presents awards to winning club members during the Sailing Banquet held at the end of the year.

The Offshore Series is comprised of six major regattas for Hawaii Yacht Racing Association member boats that meet the ISAF Offshore Regulations for Category 2, 3, or 4. These regattas include the DJ Johnson 3-day around Oahu race and other deep-water or point-to-point races. The WYC awards season’s points for each of its races and presents awards to winning club members during the Sailing Banquet, at the end of the year.

The Waikiki Offshore Series offers big boat racing in the Kenwood Cup and Clipper Cup formats. A variety of competitive venues includes: offshore buoy races along Oahu’s south shore; a 40-mile race along Oahu’s beautiful southeastern coastline; and a 145-mile roundtrip race from Oahu, past the sheer cliffs of the north shore of Molokai to a mark off the northwest coast of Maui, and back to Oahu. For detailed information on the Waikiki Offshore Series, go to www.waikikioffshores.com.

To access the Waikiki Yacht Club racing schedule click here and here to see photos of the club’s recent races

The Waikiki Yacht Club shares rotating duty with its fellow clubs, the Hawaii Yacht Club and Kaneohe Yacht Club, to host the 100-year-old, world-class Transpac Yacht Race. WYC members eagerly donate their time to officiate the race and warmly welcome the sailors as they arrive from southern California. For current information on Transpac go to www.transpacificyc.org.

Roy Disney is adding another first to the 2007 Transpacific Yacht Race. He has put together the youngest crew in the race's 100-year history, which will race a Transpac 52 in the July 2, 225-mile contest from Los Angeles to Hawaii. Disney's film production company will film the entire Morning Light project, but Disney himself will be on another yacht in the race, his famous Pyewacket. From January through April the Morning Light and its crew will be in Hawaii to train, with the Waikiki Yacht Club as its headquarters. For details of the Morning Light project, and to follow its progress, go to their website at www.pacifichighproductions.com.

To view the Hawaii Yacht Racing Association calendar click here.