2025 H20 National Championship – March 20-22, NHYC

The Harbor 20 National Class Championship is not held every year. This year, Newport Harbor Yacht Club will be hosting the event and we hope to have great participation from outside our fleet.

For those of you questioning whether this event is for you, please consider the following:

The entered skippers will sail 6 races to determine which fleet they will placed into; Gold or Silver.  There is no level of experience necessary to enter and sail in this event. It’s a fabulous learning opportunity!

Don’t be intimidated. Everyone will be on their best behavior.

The social events are open to all sailors and non-sailors (non-sailors will pay a fee for participation in the events and the dinner). We’re going to crank our So Cal hospitality “all the way up!”

The social gatherings will present an opportunity to talk with Harbor 20 sailors from our fleet and outside of our fleet. Who knows? You may get an invite to their fleet to participate in one of their events.

The bottom line, there is no better way to improve as sailor, than participating in events like this.

Don’t miss out!

Enter now! A late entry fee kicks in on February 7!

For the event page click here.

Event Coordinators:

Bill Menninger & John Drayton

If you have any questions you can find our contact information in the harbor20.org members roster.

H20 Class Bylaws – Amended May 1, 2024

Class Bylaws Updated

The class board of directors is working to keep our boats one-design with fair competition for all sailors.  We are making a series of bylaw updates to specify the Harbor 20 more precisely.  The latest update adds Section IV with a full set of design drawings for the boat.  It also adds approved upgrades III.B.1.q, allowing the backstay adjuster line to be led forward, and III.B.1.r, allowing fleets to approve alternatives to the standard motor mount.

These updates are NOT intended to put any existing unmodified boat out of compliance. Their purpose is to ensure that modifications to boats maintain the one-design character of the Harbor 20.

Click the links below to view or download the bylaw text, the sail drawings and the boat drawings.

Bylaws

Sail Drawings

Boat Drawings

2024 Class Board Election Results

Here are the results of the election of Harbor 20 Class directors that concluded in January. Class owner-members voted for the following directors:

FleetDirectors
1Peter Haynes   Newport Beach
1Ed Kimball   Newport Beach
1Gary Thorne   (President)   Newport Beach
1Kari Bretschger   Newport Beach
1Bob Yates    (Measurer)   Newport Beach
3Joe Highsmith   Hilton Head
3Eric Norman    (Assistant Measurer)   Hilton Head
4Lee Cushman   Santa Barbara
4Richard Miller   Santa Barbara
5Marino di Marzo  Annapolis
5Bill Chapman   (Treasurer)  Annapolis
7Richard Brown    Smith Mountain Lake, VA
8Michelle Wood  Eugene, OR
9Grant Williams  Mission Bay, CA

Class Bylaws Updated

The class board of directors is working to keep our boats one-design with fair competition for all sailors.  We are making a series of bylaw updates to specify the Harbor 20 more precisely.  The latest updates include specs for:

  • Keel bulb (bylaw III.B.2.f)
  • Rudder (bylaw III.B.2.g)
  • Mast and boom (bylaws III.B.2.i/j)
  • Mast rake (bylaw III.B.2.n) [Note: Fleet 5 has set a limit on rake, but other fleets haven’t yet.]

These updates are NOT intended to put any existing unmodified boat out of compliance. Their purpose is to ensure that modifications to boats maintain the one-design character of the Harbor 20.

For the updated Class Bylaws click here.

2023 Class Board Election Results

Here are the results of the election of Harbor 20 Class directors that concluded in January. Class owner-members voted for the following directors:

Fleet
11Peter HaynesNewport Beach
21Ed KimballNewport Beach
31Gary Thorne(President) Newport Beach
41Anne Wiese(Treasurer) Newport Beach
51Bob Yates(Measurer) Newport Beach
63Joe HighsmithHilton Head
73Eric Norman(Assistant Measurer) Hilton Head
84Lee CushmanSanta Barbara
94Richard MillerSanta Barbara
105Marino di MarzoAnnapolis
115Bill ChapmanAnnapolis
127Richard BrownSmith Mountain Lake, VA

H20 Midwinter Regatta – Port Charlotte, FL, February 3-5, 2023

Hello H20 racers:

Fleet 6 is inviting all Harbor 20 sailors to enter a Harbor 20 mid-winter regatta over 3 days in Port Charlotte, FL Feb 3,4,5 2023.  The event will be organized by the Charlotte Harbor Regatta Inc, whose annual event’s proceeds support the local community youth sailing programs.  A few local charter boats may be available.  We have an excellent RC, protected waters and beautiful warm weather.  

To get an idea of how many will be able to attend, especially from out-of-town, please REPLY NOW to Rob Sisk, H20 Fleet 6 Captain, and let us know if you are interested in attending.  An official NOR and registration link will come out shortly.

Best regards,

Rob Sisk, Fleet 6 Captain

robsisk7@gmail.com

H20 National Class Championship Starts This Week

Twenty-five Harbor 20s from six fleets coast-to-coast will battle it out for the class championship in Annapolis this coming week.  They’ll sail 10 races from Friday through Sunday on Chesapeake Bay, and swap stories at the Friday dinner and other social events at Annapolis YC.

The dinner isn’t the only chance for sailors to get to know each other.  Annapolis Fleet 5 members are hosting all the out-of-state sailors who wanted to stay in homes, and some Fleet 5 members will be crewing for out-of-staters.  Competitors will also get to mingle in the AYC boatyard, as all boats in the regatta will be brought to the club, hauled out and stored there each night.

Racing starts each day at 11am Eastern. Click here to see the event page including results as they are posted.

Phil Ramser

Phil Ramser, one of the founders of the Harbor 20 Class, passed away peacefully on June 18th. He was surrounded by family – his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Phil was instrumental in establishment the Harbor 20 Class at Newport Harbor Yacht Club and ultimately across the country. Phil had a successful sailing career spanning over 75 years. He will be sorely missed. We all remember his kindness and generosity and his warm salutation “Sea ya!” As information becomes available about services, we will let you know.

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