IC37 Class signs brokerage agreement with Thoroughbred Yacht Sales

IC37 North American Championships osted by the New York Yacht Club © Paul Todd / Outside Images

In just a few short years, the IC37 class has reshaped the landscape of big-boat sailing.

As the chosen class for the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup and the Canada's Cup, two of the world top sailing trophies, and the preferred one-design for top Corinthian sailors in North America and Europe, the 37-foot Mark Mills design has carved out a sizeable niche in the sport.

To help the class take the next step, and equal some of the great one-design keelboats in the history of sailing, the IC37 Class Association has signed an exclusive brokerage partnership with Thoroughbred Yacht Sales, a leading source for high-performance raceboats for more than 30 years, with more than $100 million in total sales.

"We want to thank Harry Melges, Andy Burdick, and the entire team at Melges Performance Sailboats for their considerable contribution to the creation of the IC37 and development of the IC37 Class Association," said New York Yacht Club Commodore Christopher J. Culver, a devoted IC37 sailor. "With a 20-boat fleet at the New York Yacht Club and the further construction of 15 private boats, the IC37 Class is ready for the next phase in its international growth in partnership with Thoroughbred Yacht Sales."

The IC37 class was created in 2018 by the New York Yacht Club in partnership with industry leaders Mills Design, North Sails and Melges Performance Sailboats. The vision was simple: A boat that would provide grand-prix performance for Corinthian sailors. The IC37 Class Association crafted the class rules to create the most-level playing field in the sport, a boat that would emphasize teamwork and create opportunity for both female and youth sailors. As the boat was to be used for the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, sailing premiere Corinthian championship, it had to be fast and nimble—planing easily in 15 knots of wind—but also relatively easy to sail and durable. The initial fleet of 20 was purchased by the New York Yacht Club for member charter and use in the Invitational Cup.

After three seasons of exhilarating one-design racing in the Northeast United States and Florida, the class has set its sights on establishing itself as a truly global one-design keelboat and attaining international status with World Sailing, which would enable it to host an official world championship. The IC37 has also proven a potent weapon in handicap racing scoring wins under IRC, PHRF and ORC, in the United States and Great Britain, and recently adding a victory in ORR B at the 2021 Rolex Big Boat Series in San Francisco.

"We see tremendous potential in the IC37 class," said Greg Tawaststjerna of Thoroughbred Yacht Sales, which will serve as both the marketing office for new builds and a brokerage for used yachts. "The strict one-design class rules make this an easy class for an experienced skipper to jump into and quickly climb the learning curve. Success takes work, as it does in all forms of competitive sailing. The technical element characteristically found in some one-design classes can be a prohibitive barrier to entry. The emphasis in the IC37 class is on great crew work and solid tactics, not on sail development, rig tune or bottom preparation."

A 2021-'22 winter circuit will start in late November and include three regattas sailed out of the Lauderdale Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The class's 2022 summer season will kick off in Newport in early June and will include both the fourth IC37 National Championship and the class's second North American Championship.

More information at ic37class.org