Supporter Corner

Wednesday Night Fleet Racing with Sagamore

As a supporter, you can sign up to sail one of Oakcliff’s Match 40s or Shields at Sagamore Yacht Club’s Wednesday Night Fleet Racing! You are welcome to  sign up as an individual and have us place you on a team or you can start to form your own team. Sign up on our Calendar. Sailors should report to Oakcliff at 5:30 for a pre-brief and team assignments. Please bring a water bottle, PFD if you have one (if not, we can lend one), sunscreen, and gloves (also available for purchase at Oakcliff base). This is a great way to polish your fleet racing skills and learn all the positions on our Match 40s and Shields. Debriefs will happen on the dock after mooring the boats at Sunset. Before you come, please review our How to Rig a Match 40 video and documents. Please be prepared to do all positions on the boat as this is for learning, winning is just the bonus.

All sailors must be Current Year Oakcliff Supporter. If you really want to jump ahead of your competition, consider an Acorn Program.

Supporter Open Sails

Supporter open sails are select Friday afternoons, from May to September.  Feel free to bring your family and friends to visit as one time guests, and enjoy all Oakcliff has to offer.  We’re happy to convert an individual supporter to a family supporter, as we are sure they will love it.

You may sail Match 40, Lasers, Sunfish, and  paddle(one) board. You shall be qualified to do this safely though. See below for rigging instructions. On Thursdays and Fridays, the Shields are encouraged to race with the Classics. For that you do need to be here by 4 for a 4:30 start.   Sign up on the Calendar. There we ask you to choose- 2-4pm, 4-6pm or both.  All sailors must be Oakcliff supporters. 

For those sailing Lasers, the Sunfish or paddleboard: Report to Oakcliff’s High Performance Beach, 1 Bayview Ave, to get rigged and launch. If you park by the beach, parking is only allowed on the same side of the street as our beach. Parking is not allowed on the opposite side of the street. You can also park at Oakcliff and walk. See our rigging guides down below. 

For Match 40s or Shields: Report to Oakcliff base, 4 South Street, 15 minutes before your scheduled time to let us know you’re here and  to pick up a radio. An Oakcliff staff member will take you to Oyster Bay Marine Center and ferry you to the mooring field.  Please read the rigging instructions for your boat. If you need assistance of any kind, please radio Oakcliff Base on VHF 69. After sailing and de-rigging, wash-down the boat on the mooring with salt water, rinse with fresh water from your blue jug, and then radio “Oakcliff Base” on VHF 69 for a pickup. We are very busy here at Oakcliff, so please bear with us if there is a delay.

All sailors: Remember your  PFD, VHF Radio, sunscreen, hat, water, and sailing gloves

CLICK ON A BOAT FOR THE RIGGING GUIDE AND INFORMATION

OFFSHORE RACING WITH OAKCLIFF

For Supporters interested in Offshore, we have pathways to evaluate your skill and ease you into the distance racing. One way is to sail the American Spring Practice weekend and Race Series with Oakcliff on a Farr 40s. Another excellent time to get some miles in is on deliveries - make sure to watch your email for those opportunities. The next step is do one of the three overnight races: Around Block Island, Ida Lewis, or the Vineyard Race. After that, based on your skill level, you will be eligible for one of the three ocean races: Newport to Bermuda, Annapolis to Newport, or Marblehead to Halifax. The very best way is to jump all in and join an Offshore Acorn Program. Email development@oakcliffsailing.org for more information. 

Match Racing with Oakcliff

Match racing is a great way to test your sailing skills! If you are new to match racing, we suggest you start by familiarizing yourself with our Match 40 sailboats at Wednesday Night Racing. Once you’ve done that, gather your team and sign up for our Thursday Supporter Sails in the Match 40, where we run match racing drills for those interested.  Drills are the best way to learn the ins-and-outs of match racing. When you and your team feel confident with the match racing basics, put in an application for one of our Grade 5 events, the entry-level match racing regattas. Each Grade 5 is a one-day event held on Sunday, with optional skills & drills on Saturday. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have my boater’s license?

Yes!

Can I bring friends for supporter sails? 

Have a friend who is considering becoming a supporter and want to take them out? We allow non-supporters to come to supporter open sails or Wednesday night fleet racing once before they must become supporters. Supporter donations are what make us able to run these fun programs – so please become a supporter if you can. 

Can I bring my kids? 

Sure! Just make sure you have a life jacket or tell us ahead of time so we can accommodate you – in New York, children under the age of 16 MUST wear a life jacket when on the water. 

Can I eat or drink on the boats?

Picnic lunches or bagged lunches are totally fine, provided you bring all your trash back with you and make sure the boat is clean. We do not allow glass or alcohol on the boats. 

Can I take a boat out by myself?

If you would like to sail the boats on your own time, or with your own crew,  you can look into a charter with us. 

Does Oakcliff provide learn to sail courses or Private Coaching?

We are a “learn to race” program for those who are looking to advance their sailing ability. We can arrange private coaching for those who have resources but not time.  All sailing has some level of group coaching,  but we are hands-off where you learn by doing. If you have an urgent question on the water and are not near a coach, please radio Oakcliff base on VHF 69. We thank you for respecting our time and bearing with us!