Port Washington in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Star Class Keel

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 18, 2025

1. Star Class Keel Marker

Inscription.
At this location the first 22 Star Class boats were built by Ike Smith in the winter of 1910 to 1911. The plans were drafted by Francis Sweisguth from the office of the world famous naval architect, William Gardner, who was a resident of Port Washington.

From this small boat, and under the leadership of Commodore George “Pop” Corey, from the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, and Commodore George Elder from the Port Washington Yacht Club, grew the world’s most famous one-design racing sailboat. The Star was chosen for the Olympic Games in 1932. The Star Class World Championship continues to be one of the top international sailing prizes in the world.

Presented by
Port Washington Public Library
The Nautical Center
2003

Erected 2003 by Port Washington Public Library.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Sports • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.

Location. 40° 50.137′ N, 73° 42.09′ W. Marker is in Port Washington, New York, in Nassau County. It can be reached from Shore Road north of Mill Pond Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 40 Shore Road, Port Washington NY 11050, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area

and on Long Island.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

of this marker: The Dawn of a Destination (a few steps from this marker); Sousa Nautical Bench (within shouting distance of this marker); Trash Talkin' (within shouting distance of this marker); Manhasset Bay Regattas (within shouting distance of this marker); Boating in Manhasset Bay (within shouting distance of this marker); Sand Mining in Port Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert H. Dayton Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bridging the Ocean (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Washington.

Also see . . .
1. Star Class.

The Star Class was founded at Port Washington, Long Island, in 1911. Initially 22 Stars were built. Fifteen went to owners at the American Yacht Club in Rye, New York, and the remainder to other clubs on Western Long Island Sound. Since then the rig has been improved and modernized several times, but the hull design remains unchanged. In January 1922, the Star Class Yacht Racing Association was created at a meeting in New York City. A constitution and a set of by-laws were adopted, and five fleet charters granted. This was the first one-design association, and with far-sighted leadership was nursed through its formative years into the successful international organization that its members
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 18, 2025

2. Star Class Keel Marker
The marker is embedded into a pedestal shaped like a sailboat part.
enjoy today. With over 160 local fleets in 27 countries, it is considered the world’s greatest one-design racing class. Approximately 8,000 Stars have been built to date (1989), all unified under the umbrella of the I.S.C.Y.R.A.

(Submitted on October 25, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

2. The oldest video footage of Star class keelboat racing. (Submitted on October 25, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Thomas J. Pellegrino Waterfront Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, October 18, 2025

3. Thomas J. Pellegrino Waterfront Park

The marker is located just south of the gazebo, near the Bay Walk Park Nautical Art Museum.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 44 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 25, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.