Dallas Race Week on Lake Ray Hubbard draws international field, benefits Rotary Club

by Mike Orren

Lake Ray Hubbard — Folks who follow me outside the world of Pegasus News are probably aware that about six weeks ago I stumbled into a sweet deal on a sailboat and have since taken up evening and weekend residence on Lake Ray Hubbard, as my wife and I teach ourselves to sail.

I was surprised to roll out of the slip today to see an unusual giant orange buoy and dozens of sailboats clustered on the lake. Given that we're rookie sailors neither invited nor qualified to participate in what was clearly a race, we steered clear, only getting a quick glimpse of what was apparently the start as we made our getaway. Even as we sailed to the other side of the lake, we could see colorful spinnakers unfurling.

But, when we returned to our marina, Chandlers Landing, we found the sailor party in full swing and learned that we'd stumbled onto Dallas Race Week, a twenty-seven year-old event held around the Summer Solstice.

Dallas Race Week preview

According to the Dallas Race Week website:

The first Dallas Race Week was June, 1982. Scott Self, a founding member of Chandlers Landing Yacht and Tennis Club, conceived the idea and orchestrated the event for many years. Chandlers Landing was founded in 1974 on the eastern shore of Lake Ray Hubbard as part of a large residential development, club, and marina.

Scott and 11 other members of Chandlers Landing Yacht Club went as a team to race Dean Guerin’s Columbia 56 in the 1978 Antigua Race Week. They won their division over many other boats from all over the world. It was a week-long sailing event with parties every night after the races. Scott wanted to bring that kind of fun to Chandlers Landing.

So, Dallas Race Week was modeled after that event, with changes to fit the local racing area. Dallas Race Week is always held the week of June 22, the longest day of the year. It starts on Sunday evening with the first race at 7 pm. There is one race each evening at 7 pm until Friday night. This schedule allows sailors to work during the day and race each evening. After each of the 6 evening races there is a dinner and a party. Every year there are between thirty and fifty boats. Each boat has between 3 and 10 crew members, contributing to a total of over 300 people participating every night.

The first few years the event was underwritten by Chase Bank and was an invitational regatta. The event has always attracted top sailors from around the area. America’s Cup skippers Dennis Conner, John Kolius, as well as Olympic gold medal winner Paul Foerster have raced in past years. Multi National Champions Bill Draheim, Kelson Elam, and Rob Johnston compete most years. Great rivalries have developed with the above and Dave Irwin, Jeff Progelhof, Doyle Sherman, Greg Olson, among others.

The event has always had the same format, but the biggest change was when Dallas Race Week changed from just a big party to a charity event with a big party. Helping Hands of Rockwall in 1999 became the primary beneficiary raising hundreds of thousands for those less fortunate. In 2006 the Rockwall Breakfast Rotary became the sponsoring agency raising money not only for Rockwall Helping Hands but many other worthy causes in the Rockwall Area.

Scott Self has participated in all twenty six Dallas Race Week events. In 2006, his son Billy took over as the Regatta Chairman. Scott looks forward to twenty five more years.

As an aside, we keep our boat in a rented slip at Chandlers Landing and store our trailer in a lot owned by Scott Self, who in addition to his competitive sailing history, is a former mayor of Rockwall and also operates the Sea Wolf, an amazing 40-foot handmade wooden catamaran that charters around the Lake.

Events continue through Friday, with racing and afterparties each night. You can watch the races at the Hilton Bella Harbor or on board Seawolf (for a $25 fee, benefiting Rockwall Rotary).

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Anonymous

Nevermind <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/jun/23/flying-saucer-will-open-lake-ray-hubbard-garland-l/#c55075">this comment</a>, then.

Mind is churning on how to maximize this info, Miko.

Scott Doyle Verified

5 months ago
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How do you like Lake Ray Hubbard, I'm wanting to get a boat soon and I live closer to Grapevine Lake, but I been to Lake Ray Hubbard once and I was pretty impressed. I'm not sure how big of a sailing community they have though. If they have sailing races and social events regularly or not. Also let me know if you have a good lead on where to get a great deal on a boat and how you talked your wife into it. Thanks info@tmmediainc.com

tim8155 Anonymous

4 months, 3 weeks ago
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LOVE Lake RH. It's a great size, not too crowded and everyone's really friendly. Also, I'm a big fan of the restaurants at the Harbor and over by Bass Pro.

There is one marina that is all sailboats-- they take it very seriously. There are tons of sailboats, but still fewer than powerboats. There is a community and there are regular events, but we haven't plugged into that yet.

We found our boat here: http://www.sailingtexas.com/cboats.html

Step one in talking wife into it: Have it be her idea. :-)

Mike Orren Staff

4 months, 2 weeks ago
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I learned to sail at Chandlers some years ago - they used to have a great instructional program. Also they used to have a regatta every Wednesday but I'm not sure if they still do that - you could show up and ask to crew and usually get a slot. Great way to learn.... RH is a great lake but there are certain areas where floating logs are a hazard - hit one in a ski boat one time and it was NOT fun. The harbor development is really awesome.