FLYC Race Events
The Finger Lakes Yacht Club organizes multiple sailboat racing events each season:
The FLYC Summer Series consists of eight (8) races held throughout the sailing season. In keeping with the general practices of other yacht clubs, the two worst (i.e., highest) scores for each boat will be thrown out when computing series totals. The FLYC member boat with the lowest score will be recognized as the winner of the Summer Series at the Club's Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet. Courses are defined based on weather conditions and prevailing winds.
The Commodore's Cup Race is a long-distance race (typically 10-30 nautical miles) along a course defined by the FLYC Commodore or his designee. Special rules apply for this race to allow for the Race Committee to manage the event in a manner that allows all competitors to finish the race in time to participate in after-race activities. These rules are explained in the Commodore’s Cup Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions posted prior to the event. In recent years, this race has been opened up to other clubs on Seneca Lake as an invitational event with pre- and post-race social events scheduled at the starting and finishing locations of the race.
Finally, the Club also organizes a series of "fun" races throughout the year. While these races are also scored, the scores are independent of the Summer Series. These races include:
- Rust Removal Race. Usually the first race of the season. The objective is to allow competitors to “get the rust out” after a winter without any sailing or racing.
- Cock of the Walk Race. A race typically held mid-season featuring a Le Mans start and finish where crews begin and end the race at a predetermined location on shore, sprinting to and from their boats. It is open to all sailors; one need not be a FLYC member to qualify for prizes. Special rules are posted prior to this race. This race has a special trophy for the winner.
- Grape Harvest Race. Held in the fall (late September or early October), it is typically run on a reverse-handicap basis, meaning that competing boats are assigned a starting time based on their handicap, with the finish order determined by the order in which the boats cross the finish line.
- Gear Buster Race – Traditionally, this is the season-ending race, the last one to be held each season. The name comes from the fact that winds tend to be stronger late in the fall and, without additional events scheduled, skippers tend to push their boats harder (and therefore tend to break things more frequently).
Beginning in 2026, the four “Fun Races” listed above will be scored as a series. The best 3 of 4 race scores will be included and the worst score will be discarded for the purposes of calculating the cumulative series score.
By consensus of the FLYC Board of Directors and Race Committee, no Moss Factors will be used in 2026 Fun Races.
The FLYC also participates, on an invitational basis, in races hosted by other clubs on the lake. A long-standing favorite is the Barge Race, organized and managed by the Seneca Yacht Club (SYC). Because this race is managed by the SYC, only top-scoring SYC member boats are eligible for prizes and awards, however, FLYC boats have been invited to compete for many years. It occurs the weekend following Labor Day in September, beginning and ending at the Seneca Yacht Club in Geneva, NY. The course runs from Geneva, around the Navy barge, and back to Geneva (approximately 24nm). Start times are staggered (reverse-handicap). FLYC members typically plan a dish-to-pass meal at the SYC after the race.