On Wednesday, May 7, Rye Country Day School hosted the Ryan B. Mahoney Memorial Regatta at American Yacht Club. The annual memorial regatta, established in 2016, honors RCDS alumnus Ryan B. Mahoney ’98, a passionate sailor and proud Wildcat. Following graduation from RCDS in 1998, Ryan attended Dartmouth College and was a member of the sailing team. He went on to represent the United States in the International 420 Class World Championships on three occasions, competing in Australia, Belgium, and Newport, Rhode Island. In 2012, at the age of 31, Ryan passed away after a courageous battle and complications from Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

The 2025 race was a remarkable afternoon, marking the largest Ryan B. Memorial Regatta since the event’s founding and one of the largest high school regattas hosted by the American Yacht Club. RCDS delivered an impressive performance in the c420 fleet, securing 1st, 2nd, and 4th place out of 14 boats. The Wildcats also sailed well in the FJ fleet, finishing third among seven teams.

It was especially meaningful for Zack Wirth ’27, a member of the RCDS Varsity Sailing Team and nephew of Ryan Mahoney, to compete in honor of his late uncle. This is Zack’s third year sailing in the Ryan B. Mahoney Memorial Regatta, and he is proud to carry on his uncle’s legacy on the water. Zack is the son of Melissa Mahoney Wirth ’97, who founded the regatta in loving memory of her brother. Zack’s grandparents are Daniel and Susan Mahoney ’69 who raised their family in Rye, NY, and are multi-generational members of American Yacht Club, where all three of their children sailed. 

It was a truly meaningful community tribute to Ryan that celebrated both his memory and his love of sailing.