Welcome to Black Bear Yacht Racing Association. BBYRA is a sailing, racing and social club located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The club conducts sailboat races, classroom instruction, on-the water training and various social events throughout the year.
Sailors,
Racing is underway, past mid-point of season, mid-way through Series 2 scheduled races. See Scores & Standings for race results.
Watch video from June 13 race taken by Tom Bain on his Paceship 23.
Crew Available: Benjamin Tierney of Mahtomedi is looking to help crew boats. Contact him at bentierney@gmail.com
Click for member application for 2026 Sailing Season –[pdf]
View new tri-fold club brochure –pdf
Race Commentary
Posted: Monday, July 27
I finally got around scoring last Tuesday’s (actually did that on Friday) and this past Saturday’s races.
Well, Tuesday has some excitement with Kestrel losing a shroud. Thanks to their seamanship they recovered the sails quick enough not to lose the mast or getting someone hurt…fine job!
Other than that it was actually a very nice evening with plenty wind and some close racing, causing Bizzilu to have to take a few penalty turns (3 after discounts) …hit the windward mark and fouled a boat…well one misfortune never comes alone …or so the German saying translates.
Winds of Change tend to always be in for a surprise and beat both Echo and Hausboat. Just get it all a bit more consistent and you will kill it! Not literally though….
The Saturday races were also well attended despite the heat warning which did not really get serious until we all settled at the VFW’s air-conditioned room for a late lunch and adult beverages.
In the Capri fleet kind of back to normal with Echo and Hausboat trading firsts. But Winds of Change was not attending so you wonder…
PHRF fleet also back to normal: License2Chill way up ahead, Bain and myself duking it out for second and Bizzilu hot on my heels. Certainly, good motivation to keep concentrating when otherwise I would be just trying to keep Bain close enough to correct over. BTW: Bizzilu has their work cut out for Race 5 and 6 to defend their (current) podium place. It will certainly help to beat me just in case I do not correct over him. I know, this almost sounds like laying out the path how the Vikings would make it to the playoffs despite the usual so-so seasons. Kind of like “When the Moon is in the Seventh House and Jupiter aligns with Mars”
Trivia Question: What song is that line from?
May the wind stay with us and our coolers be well stocked,
Jochen
Tuesday evening June 16, was very windy but after our race started at 6:30 the wind dropped off quickly, making for a frustratingly slow second half. However, look how beautiful the evening was!
BBYRA Now Accepts Donations
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Keel Boat Racing FYI
Boating Terms & Resources
Sailboat racing is easier than you think … more
Click here for Racing Rules Quiz – used at racing seminars.
Get cut off from a race? File a Protest Form.
2026 Race Season
Race Scores – Click here.
Calendar – Click here.
Boats For Sale – Need a keel boat to sail? Click on link. Or use tab in top menu.
Media
“Racing Season Begins on White Bear Lake” ~ White Bear Press (click)
Lake Superior 2016: Small boat cruising on Lake Superior’s North Shore and Nipigon Bay in a Precision 165.
2016 Leech Lake Regatta: Drone footage from a Phantom 4.
“How an All-Woman Sailing Crew Proved the Critics Wrong,” Article published 6/13/2019 in Wall St. Journal. Read pdf
Documentary ‘Maiden’ tracks the 1989 journey of Tracy Edwards, who led the first female crew in the grueling Whitbread Round the World Race See trailer: https://youtu.be/OMBM10cBhIs
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