Mass Bay Sailing Association

Rules Refresher Seminar and Social (Boston)
2026-03-25 18:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Blackmoor Bar+Kitchen, 1 Chelsea Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, United States
A social and basic Racing Rules of Sailing refresher focusing on racing rules at the start, proper course and rules at the finish. The presentation will focus on how the rules that apply change as the situation changes and applying these sailing rules to common racing scenarios: starts, mark roundings and finishes.
And a meet and greet between successful one-design and Big Boat owners looking for crew and sailors who are looking for a boat to race on. For both weekday and weekend racing.
Do you know how to navigate the US Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing book/App? It is easy with a few tricks we will teach you.
Bring a friend and come sharpen your race IQ to win races.
Agenda
6:00 – 7:00pm Cash bar/free apps/meet & greet
7:00 – 8:00pm Rules Refresher Seminar
8:00 – 9:30pm Social – crew meet with boat owners and discuss sailing
Open to all – racers, boat owners, crew, potential racers, bring friends, sailors you know, sporadic racers, club members, Jr members, high school, college, used to sail, new to sailing, looking to crew, new to the area, fun people, etc.
Boston Area – Presented by John Prafft, US Sailing Appeals Committee

When: Wednesday, March 25 @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: BlackmoorBar & Kitchen, 1 Chelsea St, Charlestown, MA 02129
Cost: Free

Weather for Sailors Seminar & Tactics
2026-03-20 17:30 - 22:30 | Eastern Yacht Club (Sailing Center), 47 Foster Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945, United States
Presented by Chelsea Freas founder of SeaTactics
Chelsea Freas is a degreed meteorologist and lifelong sailor who bridges the gap between weather science and racing strategy. She has worked with Olympic-level teams including the U.S. Sailing Team, providing weather insights that help sailors make faster, smarter tactical decisions. Through her company, SeaTactics, Chelsea offers forecasting support, race analysis, and weather education for sailors around the world. Drawing on years of experience both on the water and behind the forecast desk, she translates complex weather patterns into practical, race-day understanding.
Introduction

Types of Wind: Overview of key wind categories for sailors.
Gradient vs. Thermal Winds: Discuss differences.
Typical New England/Marblehead/Mass Bay Winds & Sea Breezes: Discussion on local wind patterns.
Clouds & On-Water Strategies: How cloud types and visual clues inform tactics.
Visual Cues: Using signs for timing, shifts, and pressure.
Coastline Effects: How geography alters wind near land.
Scenario Discussions: “What Would You Do Here?” cases.

Creating a Forecast

Race-Day Weather Plans: Steps to make a simple plan.
Trip & distance race planning
Adjusting Plans: Tips when forecasts change.

Using Weather Tools

Weather Apps: Overview of PredictWind, Windy, and more.
Models: Selecting and interpreting weather models.
Inshore vs. Offshore: Differences in tool application.

( I heard it is awesome going to the correct side on the race course!!!)
Where: EYC Sailing Center – Foster St., Marblehead, MA
When: Friday, March 20, 6:00 PM (doors and cash bar open at 5:30pm)
Who: Featuring Chelsea Freas, SeaTactics founder and ex-lead forecaster at Commander’s Weather.
Cost: $20, Students $5. Seating is limited!
Non-Members Sign Up Here
EYC Members Sign Up Here

Harbor Hacks: Tides & Tactics (North)
2026-03-05 18:00 - 21:30 | Jubilee Yacht Club, 127 Water Street, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
Howdy Mass Bay Sailors,
Think you really know Salem Bay??
Leveraging the currents off Beverly and Manchester?
Children’s Island wind tricks?
2026 Harbor Hacks: Tides & Tactics is our next Event and Social. An interactive social where the “Old Salts” and winning skippers share the local knowledge that wins races (and saves gelcoat): tidal timing, sneaky current lines and eddies, classic wind shifts, and the hazards that punish the bold.
Agenda
6:00 – 7:00pm Cash bar/free apps/Social – meet & greet
7:00 – 8:00pm Salem Sound Hacks: Tides & Tactics
8:15 – 9:30pm Social – crew meet with boat owners and discuss sailing
When: Thursday, March 5th @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Jubilee Yacht Club, 127 Water St, Beverly, MA 01915
Cost : Free to attend / Cash Bar
Register Now
Bring a friend and come sharpen your North Shore IQ to win races.
See you there, MBSA Board

Boston Harbor Hacks: Tides & Tactics (South)
2026-03-04 18:00 - 21:30 | Savin Hill Yacht Club, 400 William T Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA, 02125, United States
Howdy Mass Bay Sailors,
Think you know Boston Harbor?? The Islands?
Dorchester Bay for the Boston Harbor Ladies Challenge?
Hingham Bay for the Great Chase?
2026 Boston Harbor Hacks: Tides & Tactics is our next Event and Social. An interactive social where the “Old Salts” and winning skippers share the local knowledge that wins races (and saves gelcoat): tidal timing, sneaky current lines and eddies, classic wind shifts, and the hazards that punish the bold.
Agenda
6:00 – 7:00pm Cash bar/free apps/Social – meet & greet
7:00 – 8:00pm Boston Harbor Hacks: Tides & Tactics
8:15 – 9:30pm Social – crew meet with boat owners and discuss sailing
When: Wednesday, March 4th @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Savin Hill Yacht Club, 400 Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA 02125
Cost : Free to attend / Cash Bar
Register Now
Bring a friend and come sharpen your Boston harbor IQ to win races.
See you there, MBSA Board

Boston Harbor Hacks: Tides & Tactics (Boston)
2026-02-25 18:00 - 21:30 | Blackmoor Bar+Kitchen, 1 Chelsea Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, United States
Howdy Mass Bay Sailors, Think you know Boston Harbor??
2026 Harbor Hacks: Tides & Tactics- Boston Harbor is our next Event and Social. An interactive social where the “Old Salts” and winning skippers share the local knowledge that wins races (and saves gelcoat): tidal timing, sneaky current lines and eddies, classic wind shifts, and the hazards that punish the bold.
Agenda
6:30 – 7:00pm Cash bar/free apps/meet & greet
7:00 – 8:00pm Harbor Hacks: Tides & Tactics – Boston Harbor
8:15 – 9:30pm Social – crew meet with boat owners and discuss sailing
When: Wednesday, February 25th @ 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Where: Blackmoor Bar + Kitchen, 1 Chelsea St, Charleston, MA 02129
Cost : Free
Registration and details : https://www.regattaman.com/def_soc_page.php?soc_id=133&yr=2026&cancel_dest=calendar.php
Bring a friend and come sharpen your Boston harbor IQ to win races.
See you there, MBSA Board

Debrief To Increase Regatta Participation in 2026 (North)
2026-01-15 18:00 - 21:30 | Swampscott Yacht Club, 425 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, MA, 01907, United States
Spread the word/forward email to your YC members, crew and friends.
A structured review to discuss the 2025 sailing season. The purpose of the discussions will be on: what went right, what was not so good, and most importantly – how we can improve for 2026. Let’s work together to make the 2026 Mass Bay Regatta season great. We need you there to be the “voice of our racing community”.
We need YOUR feedback, experiences from other regattas, and ideas. All to increase regatta participation in an open forum. We will have a panel, cash bar and a few questions to get the Debrief started, then it is all you!!
Focus Areas:

Building the Mass Bay Sailing Community
Communications
Regatta Management

Agenda:
6:00 – 6:50pm Cash bar/free apps/meet & greet
6:50 – 7:00pm Introduction to the evening’s event
7:00 – 8:15pm Debrief and ways to increase regatta participation in 2026
8:15 – 9:30pm Social time – crew can meet with boat owners and discuss sailing
Register now
When: Thursday, January 15th @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Swampscott Yacht Club, 425 Humphrey Street, 01907
Open to all – racers, boat owners, crew, potential racers, bring friends, sailors you know, sporadic racers, children with their parent (s), Jr members, high school, college, used to sail, new to sailing, looking to crew, new to the area, fun people, etc.

Debrief To Increase Regatta Participation in 2026 (South)
2026-01-14 18:00 - 21:30 | Savin Hill Yacht Club, 400 William T Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA, 02125, United States
Spread the word/forward email to your YC members, crew and friends.
A structured review to discuss the 2025 sailing season. The purpose of the discussions will be on: what went right, what was not so good, and most importantly – how we can improve for 2026. Let’s work together to make the 2026 Mass Bay Regatta season great. We need you there to be the “voice of our racing community”.
We need YOUR feedback, experiences from other regattas, and ideas. All to increase regatta participation in an open forum. We will have a panel, cash bar and a few questions to get the Debrief started, then it is all you!!
Focus Areas:

Building the Mass Bay Sailing Community

Communications

Regatta Management

Agenda:
6:00 – 6:50pm Cash bar/free apps/meet & greet
6:50 – 7:00pm Introduction to the evening’s event
7:00 – 8:15pm Debrief and ways to increase regatta participation in 2026
8:15 – 9:30pm Social time – crew can meet with boat owners and discuss sailing
Register now

Locations and Dates:
Boston Area
When: Wednesday, January 7th @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Chart House, 60 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
FREE PARKING in the back of Chart House
South Shore
When: Wednesday, January 14th @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Savin Hill Yacht Club, 400 Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA 02125
North Shore
When: Thursday, January 15th @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Swampscott Yacht Club, 425 Humphrey Street, 01907
Open to all – racers, boat owners, crew, potential racers, bring friends, sailors you know, sporadic racers, children with their parent (s), Jr members, high school, college, used to sail, new to sailing, looking to crew, new to the area, fun people, etc.

2025 Debrief To Increase Regatta Participation in 2026 (Boston)
2026-01-07 18:00 - 21:30 | Chart House, 60 Long Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, United States
A structured review to discuss the 2025 sailing season. The purpose of the discussions will be on: what went right, what was not so good, and most importantly – how we can improve for 2026. Let’s work together to make the 2026 Mass Bay Regatta season great. We need you there to be the “voice of our racing community”.
We need YOUR feedback, experiences from other regattas, and ideas. All to increase regatta participation in an open forum. We will have a panel, cash bar and a few questions to get the Debrief started, then it is all you!!
Focus Areas:

Building the Mass Bay Sailing Community

Communications

Regatta Management

Agenda:
6:00 – 6:50pm Cash bar/free apps/meet & greet
6:50 – 7:00pm Introduction to the evening’s event
7:00 – 8:15pm Debrief and ways to increase regatta participation in 2026
8:15 – 9:30pm Social time – crew can meet with boat owners and discuss sailing
Register now
Locations and Dates:
Boston Area
When: Wednesday, January 7th @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Chart House, 60 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
FREE PARKING in the back of Chart House
South Shore
When: Wednesday, January 14th @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Savin Hill Yacht Club, 400 Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA 02125
North Shore
When: Thursday, January 15th @ 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Swampscott Yacht Club, 425 Humphrey Street, 01907
Open to all – racers, boat owners, crew, potential racers, bring friends, sailors you know, sporadic racers, children with their parent (s), Jr members, high school, college, used to sail, new to sailing, looking to crew, new to the area, fun people, etc.

2025 MBSA Awards Banquet
2025-11-15 18:00 - 22:00 | Cottage Park Yacht Club, 76 Orlando Ave, Winthrop, MA, 02152
The MBSA Board invites you to the 2025 Mass Bay Sailing Awards Banquet on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at Cottage Park Yacht Club to celebrate together a great 2025 racing season.
The evening will honor the achievements in our racing community with a focus on the social aspects of the Mass Bay Sailing Community: new and old friendships, sharing great memories on and off the water, and discussing our passion for racing.
Evening Agenda:
– 6:00pm – Cash bar, appetizers served and social
– 7:00pm – Italian themed buffet dinner
– 8:00pm – Awards ceremony, with a new award category for 2025
– 8:30pm to 1000:pm – Continued social, cash bar and desserts served
When: Saturday, November 15, 2025 @ 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Where: Cottage Park Yacht Club, 76 Orlando Ave, Winthrop, MA 02152
Cost: $45 per person, less $5.00 MBSA member discount
After November 9, 2025: $50 per person less $5.00 MBSA member discount
You can reserve a table of 10 for your Yacht Club or Crew
Registration Link: https://www.regattaman.com/def_soc_page.php?soc_id=124&yr=2025
See you at the MBSA Awards Banquet,
MBSA Board

2025 Flip Flop Party on the Pier
2025-08-09 18:00 - 22:00 | Courageous Sailing, 197 8th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, United States
Welcome to the Flip Flop Party on the Pier! Join us for a fun-filled evening at Courageous Sailing located on Pier 4 in Charlestown (197 8th street for GPS).
Get ready to kick off your shoes, put on your favorite pair of flip flops, and dance the day away by the water. We’ll have music and drinks to keep the party going. Don’t miss out on this awesome event – grab your friends and help us celebrate one of the best events summer has to offer! Our party is for land-lubbers and sailors alike.
Sailors interested in joining us on the water before the event begins should check out our website for details about the regatta. See you there!

Become a Better Crew - Part 3
2025-05-19 20:00 - 22:00 | MA
In most boats, racing success depends on good teamwork. As the old saying goes, two heads are usually better than one, and four or five heads are better than two. Sailing is a complex sport with a lot of variables, so it’s extremely valuable to have all members of a crew engaged and helping sail the boat fast and smart. That’s what this webinar is all about.
Topics include decision-making processes, crew communication topics, sail trim guidelines, crew movement advice, things all crew members should know, plus a bunch of other tips and tricks for boat handling, sail handling and being an effective team.
The webinar begins Monday, May 5, at 8:00 pm US Eastern time (GMT -5) and
continues on the following two Mondays. Each session is 90+ minutes and includes videos, diagrams, animations, and quizzes. Participant questions are welcome throughout! Group discount available.
When:
Part 1 – May 5 – Crew Communications
Part 2 – May 12 – Boat & Sail Trim
Part 3 – May 19 – Crewing Tips & Tricks
Register Now
Open to all – racers, boat owners, crew, potential racers, bring friends, sailors you know, sporadic racers, club members, Jr members, high school, college, used to sail, new to sailing, looking to crew, new to the area, fun people, etc.

North Shore / Boston Sailing Season kick Off Party
2025-05-15 18:00 - 21:00 | Eastern Yacht Club (Sailing Center), 47 Foster Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945, United States
Please come to the 2025 North Shore / Boston MBSA Kick Off Party and celebrate the start of the 2025 Mass Bay Sailing Season. Each Yacht Club will present a summary of their regattas; qualifiers, pursuit, W/L course, family fun, start time, regatta party, race de-brief, slide show of the racers, etc, to the boat owners and sailors.
Before and after the presentations will be a meet and greet with one-design and Big Boat/PHRF/ORR-EZ owners looking for crew and sailors who are looking for a boat to race on. While enjoying a great buffet. Great opportunity for owners and sailors to meet and go sailing this summer. “Race Engagement People” will be there to assist. We will be presenting both weekday and weekend racing.
Agenda:

Cash bar/buffet/social opens at 6:00pm
Presentations of Regattas by the Yacht Clubs and the Marblehead Racing Association (One Design racing): 6:45pm
Meet & greet continues to approx 9:00pm

Register Now
Cost: $25.00/person, MBSA members $5.00 discount
Open to all – racers, boat owners, crew, potential racers, bring friends, sailors you know, sporadic racers, club members, Jr members, high school, college, used to sail, new to sailing, looking to crew, new to the area, fun people, etc.

Become a Better Crew - Part 2
2025-05-12 20:00 - 22:00 | MA

2025 South Shore / Boston Mass Bay Sailing Season Kick Off Party
2025-05-08 18:00 - 21:00 | Savin Hill Yacht Club, 400 William T Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA, 02125, United States
Please come to the 2025 South Shore / Boston MBSA Kick Off Party and celebrate the start of the 2025 Mass Bay Sailing Season. Each Yacht Club will present a summary of their regattas; qualifiers, pursuit, W/L course, family fun, start time, regatta party, race de-brief, slide show of the racers, etc, to the boat owners and sailors.
Before and after the presentations will be a meet and greet with one-design and Big Boat/ORR-EZ owners looking for crew and sailors who are looking for a boat to race on. While enjoying a great buffet. Great opportunity for owners and sailors to meet and go sailing this summer. “Race Engagement People” will be there to assist. We will be presenting both weekday and weekend racing.
Register Now
Agenda:

Cash bar/buffet/social opens at 6:00pm
Presentations of Regattas by the Yacht Clubs: 6:45pm
Meet & greet continues to approx 9:00pm

Open to all – racers, boat owners, crew, potential racers, bring friends, sailors you know, sporadic racers, club members, Jr members, high school, college, used to sail, new to sailing, looking to crew, new to the area, fun people, etc.

Become a Better Crew - Part 1
2025-05-05 20:00 - 22:00 | MA

North Shore / Boston - Racing Rules of Sailing Refresher and Social
2025-04-24 18:30 - 21:30 | Swampscott Yacht Club, 425 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, MA, 01907, United States
Back by popular demand after the Boston Rules Refresher.
FREE EVENT, but need you to register so we can get a count on food to order and seating.
A social and a basic Racing Rules of Sailing refresher focusing on racing rules at the start, proper course and rules at the finish. The presenter will be Jason Maher, local racer and US Sailing National Judge, on how the rules that apply change as the situation changes and applying these sailing rules to common racing scenarios. And a meet and greet between successful one-design and Big Boat/PHRF owners looking for crew and sailors who are looking for a boat to race on. For both weekday and weekend racing.
Agenda:
6:30 – 7:00 Cocktails Cash bar/apps/social opens
7:00 – 7:15 Mass Bay Sailing Association Introduction
7:15 – 8:15 Chalk Talk with Jason Maher
8:15 – 8:30 MBSA season race discussion
8:30 – 9:30 social time – crew can meet with boat owners and discuss sailing
Register Now for this FREE event
Food will be served
Open to all – sailors, boat owners, crew, potential racers, bring friends, sailors you know, sporadic racers, club members, Jr members, high school, college, used to sail, new to sailing, looking to crew, new to the area, fun people, etc.

South Shore / Boston - Racing Rules of Sailing Refresher and Social
2025-04-23 18:30 - 21:30 | Savin Hill Yacht Club, 400 William T Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA, 02125, United States
Back by popular demand after the Boston Rules Refresher.
FREE EVENT, but need you to register so we can get a count on food to order and seating.

A social and a basic Racing Rules of Sailing refresher focusing on racing rules at the start, proper course and rules at the finish. The presentation will focus on how the rules that apply change as the situation changes and applying these sailing rules to common racing scenarios: starts, mark roundings and finishes. And a meet and greet between successful one-design and Big Boat/PHRF owners looking for crew and sailors who are looking for a boat to race on. For both weekday and weekend racing.

Agenda

Cash bar, apps & social opens at 6:30pm

Rules Refresher presentation starts at approx. 7:00pm

Meet & greet continues to approx 9:30pm

Register Now (Free event)

OPEN TO ALL – sailors, boat owners, crew, potential racers, bring friends, sailors you know, sporadic sailors, club members, Jr members, high school, college, used to sail, new to sailing, looking to crew, new to the area, fun people, etc.

Racing from Newport to Bermuda: Challenges & Lessons Learned
2025-04-16 18:30 - 21:00 | Boston Yacht Club, 1 Front Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945, United States

Clipper Race on Tour
2025-04-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Savin Hill Yacht Club, 400 William T Morrissey Blvd, Dorchester, MA, 02125, United States

The Northeast Ocean Race Symposium
2025-03-22 | Bentley University, 175 Forest St, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02452, United States
We are excited to announce that the Northeast Ocean Race Symposium, building on its great successes in 2023 and 2024, is returning in 2025! The 2025 symposium, an in-person only event, will feature all new topics presented by marine industry leaders and renowned speakers on a range of topics sure to be of interest to ocean racers and cruisers. We will be at the same venue (Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts) that has consistently received rave reviews from our attendees. The Marion Bermuda Race, as the lead organizer, is once again joined by the Marblehead Halifax Race and the Bermuda 1-2 Race as sponsors. And in 2025 we are being joined by the Newport Bermuda Race as a new sponsor. So, all four of the northeast ocean races are now participants!
Registration is now open. Check back here for more information as the program evolves. As of now, our sessions include:

Approaches to Offshore Route Planning
Alternative Energy Generation Options for Offshore Sailboats
An Update on Rope and Line Technology
Sail Materials, Selection, and Offshore Repairs
Offshore Personal Kit Options – Gear, Boots and Gloves
An Incident Report from the Newport Bermuda Race
Crew Recruitment, Selection, Alignment, and Care

And since this is an odd-year symposium, we will have three parallel breakout sessions for the Marion Bermuda Race, the Marblehead Halifax Race and short-handed topics presented by the Bermuda 1-2 race. Hope to see you there!

Racing Strategy, Tactics, and Rules
2025-03-08 | MA
If you are looking to improve your tactics then the American Sailing Performance Racing Seminars powered by North U are for you. Taking place all across North America, these in-person seminars involve a full day of classroom-based instruction. The interactive presentations are taught by experienced North U sailing coaches.

Snowflake Kickoff Social
2025-02-26 18:00 - 22:00 | Finz Restaurant, 86 Wharf Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Support Children’s sailing through Sail Salem. And a great social event to cure the winter blues and talk with your fellow sailors. There will be Rumson Rum and tickets for great prizes. Cash bar. See you there.
This event is open to all – racers, potential racers, friends of racers, club members, Jr members, crew, new to sailing, new to the area, etc.
