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Roving Reporter Larry Haynie at the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Cornerstone Cup

Delivery skipper and Club Nautique instructor Larry Haynie has been traveling the waterfront in Europe in search of a boat and checking out the sailing scene. He reports the boat market in Europe is much like that of the US, with boats selling quickly and the right boat hard to find.

His travels took him to Cowes, where, as a member of the Point San Pablo Yacht Club in Richmond, he made use of reciprocal privileges to have lunch at the Island Yacht Club, which led to a new acquaintance who took him to the Royal London Yacht Club, then lunch at Royal Ocean Racing Club, which runs the Fastnet Race. Larry was also there to catch some of the Cornerstone Cup held May 31 to June 3 by the most prestigious club on the Isle of Wight, the Royal Yacht Squadron.

St Francis YC Cornerstone Cup
Staff Commodore Bill Dana, Harrison Turner, Logan Ashcraft and Geoff McDonald were the St. Francis Yacht Club representatives in J/70s at the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Cornerstone Cup in Cowes.
© 2022 Larry Haynie

Larry wrote, “The Cornerstone Cup is a small regatta, but its size betrays its importance in the racing world: two boat vs two boat team-racing regatta, which includes teams selected from clubs like Saint Francis YC, New York YC, the Royal Thames YC and the Royal Yacht Squadron.” The races this year were on J/70s. The finals came down to a first to two wins showdown between Royal Thames and StFYC. StFYC won the first race but due to a breakdown by a RTYC boat (broken tiller extension), the race was re-sailed. RTYC went on to win the next two races and the Cornerstone Cup.

You never know where you’ll cross tacks with fellow San Francisco Bay sailors.

Royal Thames YC St. Francis YC
The full St. Francis team starting left to right, Ralph Silverman, Shawn Bennett, Harrison Turner, Kat Hunt, Logan Ashcraft, Staff Commodore Bill Dana, Geoff McDonald, and Sam White. 
© 2022 Larry Haynie

The final results from the four teams were: first – Royal Thames Yacht Club, second – St Francis Yacht Club, third – New York Yacht Club, fourth – Royal Yacht Squadron.

The Royal Yacht Squadron
The Royal Yacht Squadron mixes sailors and traditional yachting culture.
© 2022 Larry Haynie

As Larry reports, the yacht clubs across the pond are full of pomp and circumstance, with many club members sporting blazers, white slacks and officers’ caps, and every event capped with tea. A taste of the royal yachting life in Cowes was greatly expanded with a membership card from the Point San Pablo Yacht Club in Richmond. As they say, membership has its privileges. Post-Cornerstone Cup, Larry is doing a European boat delivery and resuming his boat search.

[Ed] – Thank you to StFYC team member, Harrison Turner, for correcting errors in our initial story. 

2 Comments

  1. Michael 2 years ago

    My understanding is that Captain Larry Haynie is able to make others (sailors, ladies, non sailors) happy “on both sides of the pond” – as he seems to be perfectly familiar with the sailing community in Northern California AND in Europe ! He seems to be able to perfectly deal with Californian easy-going as well as with British traditions – and all that with a smile. Being multi-language and multi-cultural certainly helps. A real Wanderer between Worlds. What an achievement ! Here in Europe we would love to see Larry do what he plans to do: sail single-handed, sometimes with friends, across the Med, in the Baltic Sea, in the North Sea. Wishing good luck with his search for a yacht in Europe. Suggestion: why not in Northern Europe ? One thing is certain: single-handed sailors from SF/Bay Area may and certainly can count 100 % on the utmost support anywhere in Europe ! Many interesting and charming encounters guaranteed !!! Best whishes for Larrys upcoming adventure !

  2. Tony Bourque 2 years ago

    Go Larry!!

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