Edgewood Opti Invitational 2026: Regatta Report

AUTHOR: George Schuster, Commodore of Edgewood Yacht Club

On August 2, Edgewood Yacht Club & Edgewood Sailing School hosted their 13^th Annual Edgewood Optimist Invitational.

This small-format regatta, geared toward newer Opti racers but open to all, is run with the northeast corner of the EYC marina serving as the “committee boat.” “This is the same way we run EYC Wednesday night Beetle Cat races and Summer Sunfish Sunday races,” said George Shuster, EYC Past Commodore and ESS Vice President. “It allows families and friends to watch the starts right from the docks, and it allows kids extra support when needed between races.” This year, the regatta drew (coincidentally) 13 sailors, mostly Edgewood kids but also a few visitors. Over its many years, the numbers of Edgewood and visiting sailors has ebbed and flowed depending on the availability of coaches and the rest of the summer regatta schedule.

Regardless, the event has always served as a confidence-builder for novice racers. There are awards for first through tenth place—this year, handmade, routed plaques with EYC letters in red, white, and blue—and coaching is permitted on the racecourse. Two sailors this year went on to sail in the NBYA Opti regatta hosted by Edgewood just two days later, something at least one of them would not have done without the experience of the Invitational. “We look forward to hosting this event again next year,” George said, “it’s one of our favorite days of the summer.”