Since 2015, EYC has held an annual Beetle Cat regatta that features a longer race across the Edgewood Basin, around Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, and back to EYC. In recent years, the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Foundation has graciously assisted in transporting EYC members and guests to the lighthouse island by launch to view the racing from the perch of the light. Each year, voluntary race fees are collected from sailors and donated to the Rhode Island Alzheimer’s Association, and over the history of the event the EYC Beetle Cat Fleet has donated over $12,000 to the organization. The event usually occurs on a late July Friday evening and serves as a shakedown race for those EYC Beetle Cat sailors competing in the Leo J. Telesmanick Beetle Cat Championships in early August.
11th Annual PRBCCR - Friday, July 25, 2025
Congratulations to Bill Shaw for winning the 11th Annual Pomham Rocks Beetle Cat Circumnavigation Regatta! After a heavy storm, the weather cleared in time for our circumnavigation race, though the wind shifted nearly 180 degrees just before the start. We ran the race starting to the north, with a starboard island rounding, and by the time we were headed back the breeze was southerly again. Then the wind died in race two, making for a truncated regatta. We raised around $1,500 for the RI Alzheimer’s Association, adding to prior year donations from the fleet!
PAST WINNERS
2015 - Ted Westcott & Jean Westcott, WHISKER
2016 - Georgia Shuster & Wayne Kezirian, YELSABET II
2017 - George W. Shuster, Jr. & Stephanie L. Van Patten, SEASHELL
2018 - George W. Shuster, Jr. & Stephanie L. Van Patten, SEASHELL
2019 - George W. Shuster, Jr. & Stephanie L. Van Patten, SEASHELL
2020 - Jeff Lanphear, NUISANCE
2021 - George W. Shuster, Jr., SEASHELL
2022 - George W. Shuster, Jr., SEASHELL
2023 - Jim Myers, KAT
2024 - Jim Myers, KAT
2025 - Bill Shaw, SCARAB