With a steady breeze of ten knots and a blue-stained sky, Sunday, Sept. 2 promised to be the perfect day for the sailors of the Third Annual Friends of the Bay Race. Hosted by Sagamore Yacht Club, this year's race was open to all members of the public and was organized jointly with Friends of the Bay, the local non-profit environmental organization for whom the race was named.

Ten boats set sail as committee members Bob Austin and Bud Rappuhn sounded the starting horn. For the first half hour, captains and their crews were busy tacking north through the harbor, out past Seawanhaka Yacht Club and into the Sound. And then the wind died.

The sun suddenly became oppressive as frustrated sailors sat, becalmed and bobbing in place from the wake of powerboats. By mid-afternoon, most captains gave up and went home to their barbecues or to the Sagamore bar to swap stories of seamanship (or near seamanship) and enjoy refreshments provided by the Club.

Two persistent boaters finished the race: Blue Bayou, captained by Alan Orr came in first, and Luff Story, captained by Jack Bernstein, second. A perpetual trophy, inscribed with the winner's name will be presented at the annual awards dinner later this year.

Each captain received a Friends of the Bay T-shirt with his entry fee and two sailors joined the organization as new members that day. FOB volunteer Penn Berens sailed a friend's Seabird and Executive Director Denise Woodin crewed with Darren Martin on Comanche.

Prior to the race, Sagamore Commodore Chris Lorenzen noted, "The partnership between Friends of the Bay and the Sagamore Yacht Club couldn't be more fitting. As boaters, our members enjoy Oyster Bay's pristine waters and scenic shoreline and applaud Friends of the Bay's efforts to protect this wonderful natural asset."

Jack Williams, president of Friends of the Bay said, "Friends of the Bay was founded by avid sailors who love this harbor. We're therefore delighted that the Sagamore Yacht Club has chosen to name one of its races 'Friends of the Bay.' Like Friends of the Bay's supporters, Sagamore's members know the value of protecting water quality, wildlife habitat and natural vistas."

Founded in 1944, the Sagamore Yacht Club is a year-round member owned club for sail and power boaters. In addition to summer races, Sagamore hosts a range of activities for its members, including family nights, junior sailing programs, trips and harborside dinners.

Friends of the Bay is a widely respected non-profit environmental organization. "Working to keep the oyster in Oyster Bay," the group's mission is to protect the Oyster Bay-Cold Spring Harbor estuary and its surrounding watershed.