About Races
Lanier Cup Club Winner 2016 and 2017
Barefoot Sailing Club (BFSC) offers major racing circuit events each year, including the annual two-day "Barefoot Open Regatta" each fall. The club sponsors racing series for its PHRF and Portsmouth fleets from January through November with awards to skippers and crew for each series. Regular club races are held on Lake Lanier and include both buoy and long-distance (around the islands) racing. The club's sailing instructions (click race name hyperlink) detail the rules of racing with Barefoot. The Races are started using the staggered start system (pursuit race). Consult the Pursuit Handicap Table for details.
Visitors are invited to crew for races - just attend the skippers' meeting held 2 hours before each race to see which skippers need crew.
Annually, we award a "Racing Skipper of the Year". To qualify, the skipper must have raced in at least 4 races of either BFSC series, at least 2 races of the other BFSC series, and must have served on Race committee at least once during the Dorton Cup Series.
Barefoot is a member of the Lanier Auxiliary Racing Committee (LARC) formed by members of sailing clubs on Lake Lanier to coordinate racing between the various clubs. LARC coordinates the racing calendar events to minimize conflicts and also allows the clubs to share in the burden of mark maintenance, repair and replacement.
Many members also compete in LLSC Keelboat Fleet's John McCarthy Dogwood Regatta (Spring) and several Wednesday night series (late Spring - Fall).
Lanier Auxiliary Racing Committee (LARC):
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BFSC - Barefoot Sailing Club
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LLSC - Lake Lanier Sailing Club
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UYC - University Yacht Club
Additionally, there are university-sponsored clubs such as Georgia Tech Sailing Club and University of Georgia Sailing Club.
We encourage Barefoot racers to participate not only in Barefoot races, but all OPEN events hosted by LLSC and UYC! Below are the races and regattas by season. You'll notice the spring and fall race series often initiate in the prior season.
WINTER (JAN-FEB)
Dean Holcomb Poker Run & Chili Cookoff - Come out and have fun in the annual Poker Run/ Mad Hatter on Friday, January 1, 2027, hosted by Barefoot Sailing Club. It will be Five-Card Stud with the first card being handed out at the Skipper’s Meeting. The participants will round the prescribed marks grabbing a single envelope from each mark. Envelopes are to remain sealed until the post-race gathering at Branch House Tavern, where we'll gather to reveal poker hands and partake in the fiercely competitive Chili/Chowder/Stew/Soup Cook-off.
LARC Winter Race Series - Hosted by UYC, LARC sponsors a four race series each winter.
Spring Race Series - BFSC's six race series is held each winter/spring.
Hot Ruddered Bum (UYC) - Sponsored by the UYC Maritime Foundation and hosted by UYC, the annual Hot Ruddered Bum is one of the oldest open regattas on Lake Lanier, inviting sailors from around the lake to compete in the first regatta of the year.
SPRING (MAR-MAY)
Spring Race Series - See above.
Joan Holcomb Memorial Women Skippers Regatta (BFSC/LLSC)
The regatta is held in memory of Joan Holcomb, BFSC’s 1994 and LLSC's 2002 Commodore. Both Joan's widow, the late Dean Holcomb, and subsequently, his widow Dee Rosenbaum, have been generous supporters of the regatta. In these races co-hosted with LLSC, a woman must helm the boat and make tactical decisions.
John McCarthy Dogwood Regatta (LLSC Keelboat Fleet) - Hosted by the LLSC Keelboat Fleet, the open John McCarthy Dogwood Regatta invites Lanier sailors to kick off spring racing on the lake.
Around Alone Regatta - The long time–honored tradition of the premier solo regatta, the Around Alone Regatta, it is usually held in the early spring on Lake Lanier. Come on out with the rest of the hardy single-handers on a race from the Chattahoochee Bay area of the Lake, to Buford Dam and back! The perpetual trophy is a framed Barefoot Burgee autographed by Robin Davie, 3 time solo circumnavigator. Our 27th(!) solo race was held this past spring.
LLSC Keelboat Wednesday Night Series - The Wednesday Night Races consist of two 10-race series and one 5 race Encore series. The first series usually runs April through June; the second series, July through September; and the Encore series, September and October.
"LARC After Dark" Moonlight Race Series - Hosted by BFSC, LARC sponsors a four evening race series each late spring-summer (May-August) as close to the full moon nights as possible for Saturday evening races. The series is intended to be a fun sail where sailors are out late enjoying fresh night breezes and the full moon.
SUMMER (JUN-AUG)
LLSC Keelboat Wednesday Night Series - See above
"LARC After Dark" Moonlight Race Series - See above.
Reggae Open Regatta (LLSC) - Hosted by LLSC, the Reggae Open Regatta is a popular Reggae-themed race open to Lanier sailors and celebrated each late spring/summer. Saturday evening, racers enjoy delicious Jamaican food and music at the dinner party.
LARC Fall Race Series - Hosted by LLSC, LARC sponsors a four race series each fall (August-November).
BFSC Fall Race Series - Held each fall, the six race series are typically held at 1pm w/Skippers meeting at 11am in the parking lot of Pig Tales at Aqualand Marina.
FALL (SEP-NOV)
LLSC Keelboat Wednesday Night Series - See above.
LARC Fall Race Series / BFSC Fall Race Series - See above.
Barefoot Open Regatta - Long anticipated each year, the 2026 BFO will mark our 52nd year!
From the Friday night Skipper’s Meeting with pizza social, to the two full days of racing for all fleets, and the fantastic Saturday night party with Thunder Gypsy. All of this is on top of one of the best venues for lake racing, plus knowledgeable and experienced race committee and judges - a formula for a great weekend of sailing! Open to all sailboats on Lake Lanier with a current PHRF or PCRF certificate.
Oh, and a pro tip: Stay at the lake by overnighting with friends on a boat or nearby campsite/hotel/vacation rental for Friday through Sunday night. You're welcome.
LLSC Halloween Open Regatta (LLSC) - Sponsored by LLSC, this weekend-long open regatta is another highly anticipated event celebrated each October close to Halloween. Arguably one of the most fun regattas, costume for the Saturday evening dinner and costume contest.
UYC Lanier Cup - Sponsored by the UYC Maritime Foundation and hosted by UYC, the Lanier Cup Regatta invitational is eagerly anticipated by Lanier racers each November. Teams from BFSC, LLSC and UYC fiercely compete for bragging rights to the prized "Lanier Cup." Barefoot Sailing Club captured the cup in both 2016 and 2017!
Dorton Cup Series - This closed regatta is for Barefoot Sailing Club skippers only, though crew do not need to be Barefoot members. The results of the Dorton Cup count toward the Skipper of the Year standings.
Race times given are for the pre-race skippers meeting. Unless noted otherwise, Barefoot skippers meetings are held in the parking lot of Aqualand's Pig Tales restaurant and Ship's Store. One exception is the New Year's Day Dean Holcomb Poker Run. The skippers meeting is held at Branch House Tavern to accommodate easy transfer of the chili crock-pots.
For the regattas, we need volunteers willing to ride on the Race Committee boat. If you want to experience the thrill of watching the race up close, please contact 2026 Racing Captain Matt Geiger. Hope to see you out there!