Jr Big Boat Team Makes History at Around Long Island Regatta
The WaterFront Center is excited to announce that our Junior Big Boat (JBB) team is currently racing in the Around Long Island Regatta (ALIR), marking a historic first for our program in this prestigious 207-nautical-mile offshore race! The race began yesterday, July 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM in New York Harbor, and our team is now navigating the challenging course from Long Island’s South Shore to Montauk Point, through Plum Gut or The Race, and into Long Island Sound, aiming to finish in Hempstead Harbor by Saturday midday, July 26, 2025.
Our crew, led by coaches Cormac and Jon, includes Jr Sailors Olivia and Isabella Silvestrini (15), Dylan Longobardi (14), and Rowan Shenoy (17).
A Milestone for Our Junior Sailors
This is no small feat—our JBB team is the only Junior Program competing in this year’s ALIR, racing alongside four Youth Challenge Cup (YCC) teams with 25% of their crew under 18. Few junior programs have tackled this race in the past, and we’re determined to complete it successfully and showcase the talent and resilience of our young sailors. Our crew, led by coaches Cormac and Jon, includes Jr Sailors Olivia and Isabella Silvestrini (15), Dylan Longobardi (14), and Rowan Shenoy (17).
Follow the Race Live
Want to cheer on our team in real-time? The ALIR uses YB trackers to provide live race tracking. Follow our Jr Big Boat team’s progress as they navigate the course:
Behind the Scenes: Preparation and Support
Getting to this point has been a labor of love. Coaches Jon and Cormac have poured countless hours into preparing our J105, Little Texas, since winter, from a full bottom paint job to installing a chart plotter and AIS system. Their dedication paid off when we confirmed our readiness just days before the race! We’re incredibly grateful to Sea Cliff Yacht Club Commodore Keith Maler and the ALIR Committee for waiving our entry fee in support of community sailing and the future of the sport. In return, we’re excited to share our team’s experience with the sailing community and beyond.
Capturing the Journey
We’re documenting this historic race with a GoPro to capture footage, and there’s even an award for the best picture this year!
Join Us in Celebrating
We’re immensely proud of our Jr Big Boat team for taking on this challenge and representing The WaterFront Center.
