Sailing Events and Racing

Big Boats, Big Races, Big Events, and Big Money...

On any given day, it is virtually guaranteed that there is a race or some type of sailing event going on. From local Wednesday night racing series to the America's Cup, sailboat racing takes on all forms. It can be exhilarating no matter what size your boat is and brings true meaning to the term "sport" that is often associated with sailing.

Some Important Races Around the World:

America's Cup - Get information about America's Cup racing from the official website.

Volvo Ocean Race - One of the hottest round the world races. See the official website.

Key West Race Week - Seemingly the only way to get warm during a long winter.

Sydney Hobart Race - The grueling race that has become famous for tragic events past.

Fastnet Race - Another great sailboat race, with at least one infamous race in its past.

Gotland Runt - The preeminent Swedish "Round Gotland" race.

Annapolis Race Week - Maryland - Thank you to the outstanding Race Committees from Annapolis Yacht Club, Eastport Yacht Club, the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron and Southern Maryland Sailing Association. On behalf of all the participants, CBYRA extends its gratitude for a job well done!

Big Boat Series - California - The Rolex Big Boat Series is known by sailors around the world for two things: superlative race management by host St. Francis Yacht Club and the consistent double-digit wind speeds on San Francisco Bay. Today’s racing didn’t disappoint the 900-plus sailors who have come to experience the traditionally exceptional racing, wind speeds ranged from 10 knots on the lighter areas of the course to 22-28 knots in the gustier areas, close to shore and the city front. Eight classes – three IRC and five one-design – raced two races each.

Block Island Race Week - Rhode Island - Tradition - it’s what differentiates sailboat racing from other sports. Traditionit’s
the maritime heritage of our sport, it’s the people we sail with and it’s the places we visit for regattas. For many of us, one of our most important traditions is our biennial visit to Block Island for Race Week. The Storm Trysail Club’s members and guests have gathered on Block Island for over 40 years. We have enjoyed the Island’s hospitality, eaten in its restaurants, shopped in its stores and given the Island’s economy a one-week boost. Then we leave as suddenly as we arrived...the locals get to catch their breath and the Island community picks-up where it left off trying to meet the needs of its residents.

Buzzards Bay Regatta - Massachusetts - The Buzzards Bay Regatta is one of the largest multi-class regattas in the US with approximately 450 boats and 1200 sailors across fifteen different classes. Boats and sailors come from all across the Northeast and the country as they look to enjoy the renowned sailing conditions, competition and race management. 2008 will mark the 36th anniversary of the BBR. This year it is being hosted by the Beverly Yacht Club in Marion, MA and Community Boating Center (co-host) in New Bedford, MA. Racing takes place in 5 circles throughout the north end of Buzzards Bay, with the large Laser fleet sailing out of historic Fort Taber in New Bedford. Après-sailing festivities take place on the grounds of the Beverly Yacht Club with tents, food, drinks and entertainment over the three day event. Come join the fun!

Charleston Race Week - South Carolina - Charleston Race Week offers sailors a chance to enjoy great racing and southern hospitality. Scheduled for April 23-26, 2009, Charleston Race Week is perfectly placed if you're traveling north after Miami, or if you decide to make it your first regatta of the Spring season. We offer fabulous parties and great racing in the harbor and offshore. Don't miss this great racing in what Outside Magazine calls America''s Dream Town. Charleston Race Week is an annual premiere One-Design, PHRF and IRC regatta for racing sailboats 22-70 feet in length. The regatta is an event of the South Carolina Maritime Foundation and the Charleston Ocean Racing Association (CORA). Profits from this event support the classic tall ship for education, the Spirit of South Carolina.

Cock Island Race - Virginia - Hosted by the Portsmouth Boat Club

Congressional Cup - California - The Congressional Cup is one of the oldest and most prestigious Match Racing Events in the world, and this year it is the only grade 1 match race regatta that will be sailed in the United States. Year 2008 marks the 44th annual running of the event, April 28 - May 3 at the Long Beach Yacht Club. Most of the top sailors from around the world have competed for the Congressional Cup. Dennis Conner, Bill Ficker, Ted Turner, Terry Hutchinson, Chris Law, Peter Gilmour, Peter Holmberg and Chris Dickson are past winners. Not coincidentally, many past winners of the "Crimson Blazer", emblematic of Congressional Cup victory, have often gone on to high levels in the World Match Racing rankings. Several have won the world's top sailing prize, the America's Cup. Dean Barker, who skippered Team New Zealand's boat in the winning race of 2000's America's Cup and Skippered the finalist Emirates Team New Zealand in 2007 also won the 2005 Congressional Cup. Ed Baird, who won the 2007 Americas Cup for Team Allingi, won the Congressional Cup in 2004. Semi-finalist Americas cup skippers Chris Dickson, Gavin Brady, and Franceso De Angeles also recently sailed in the Congressional Cup.

Dauphin Island Race - Alabama - The Dauphin Island Race is a well recognized and publicized event that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2008. Few events endure for 50 years but the Dauphin Island Race has through the continuous support of the four Mobile Bay yacht clubs that alternate as host. From its humble beginning it has grown to be arguably the largest single day point to point sail race in the U.S.A. D.I. was recognized as one of the premier “fun races” in America in the June 2007 edition of SAIL magazine.

Essex Rum Cup - Connecticut - Welcome to the Essex Yacht Club’s summer regatta. Are you looking for intense and exhilarating racing? Then participation in our RUM CHALLENGE REGATTA is a must. The regatta includes handicap and one design racing. This year’s offshore regatta is an ECSA event and is one of the qualifying races for the LONG SAND SHOAL CUP. We expect a large fleet and some very competitive racing for both spinnaker and non spinnaker classes. The one design racing will be in the Ideal 18 class and will be held in the Connecticut River off of the EYC clubhouse We expect a number of participants from area yachts clubs with Ideal 18 programs. This year’s major sponsor is Gosling’s Rum, our partner in the quest to bring you a memorable post race awards party.

Figawi - Massachusetts - Serious fun, camaraderie, and sailing... that's what Figawi Race Weekend is all about. Over 240 boats & a thousand+ sailors will convene for the Northeast's first major regatta to kickoff every summer. Over the last twenty years the Figawi Charity Ball has become the largest single night of fund raising for local charities. Now each year our event attracts 1200 zealous and diverse individuals and is considered to be the premier social event of the season. It is not only famous as a great night out, but thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and proceeds from our raffles and silent auction, Figawi Charities Inc. generates nearly $200,000 each year and has provided over $2.2 million in support to local organizations who would otherwise go without. The Figawi Race, now with over 250 entrants, has certainly grown into one of the premier sailboat races on the east coast.

Key West Race Week - Florida- Farr 40 - M30- Melges 32 class - Melges 24 class - Swan 42s - J/Boats featured very impressive J/105 and J/80 fleets. 18 other J-designed and built boats competed in 5 of the handicap classes. - Corsair 28Rs, the only multi-hull class in Key West

Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit - Louisianna - The Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit (L.P.R.C.) was established in 1985 by the four Gulf Yachting Association affiliate clubs: Southern Yacht Club; New Orleans Yacht Club, Pontchartrain Yacht Club and Tammany Yacht Club, which existed on Lake Pontchartrain at the time. The event was and continues to be a milestone of cooperation between these clubs. The intention was to hold a series of races on Lake Pontchartrain sponsored by all four clubs, which would determine a Lake Champion and eventually grow to an event of national prominence. Regatta entries have ranged from the first year’s 96 to a high of 132. In an average year, entries are approximately 120 boats. An average of 20% of the entries has come from outside of the Lake Pontchartrain area, including as far away as Lake Michigan and the West Coast. Along with perpetual trophies for each of the two divisions (Spinnaker and Non Spinnaker), over 150 individual trophies are presented over the course of the regatta. The winners of each race in each class receive trophies after the days racing.

Larchmont Race Week - New York - Classes Competing: Racer/Cruisers in IRC, PHRF, One Design and Non-Spinnaker and Senior One Design boats including Etchells, IODs, Shields, S-Boats, Ideal 18's, RS K6's, and 5o5's. Additional classes may participate with enough registrants.

Level Regatta - New York - The Regatta shall be governed by the International Sailing Federation Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008, the prescriptions of US Sailing and the rules of each Class concerned, except as any of these are modified by the Notice of Race, and by the Sailing Instructions (and any amendments thereto). The Regatta is subject to the Advertising restrictions as defined in RRS Appendix 1 (Advertising). Those classes satisfying Appendix 1 qualifications for Category C may carry advertising subject to the restrictions of Appendix 1, Category C. All racing will be on a boat-for-boat basis with no handicaps applied, except the Grand Prix Division(s), Offshore Multihull Division(s) and the No Flying Sails Division(s), which will be scored based on PHRF handicaps or converted equivalents utilizing the time on time method.

Long Beach Race Week - California - Join us for 3 days of racing on the beautiful waters of Long Beach and the unique nightlife which Belmont Shore's 2nd Street offers. Race with the Champions. Long Beach Race Week will be the fourth and final stop of the Inshore Series.

Contact Long Beach Race Week
Race Week Boat Charter
Want to sail LBRW but don't want to bring/transport your boat? Charter a
Catalina-37 and sail in the Catalina 37 US National Championships. Boats can be
chartered by completeing the CATALINA 37 ENTRY AND CHARTER FORM. and
contacting Long Beach Sailing Foundation for more information.
Catalina 37 National Championship
Melges 24 Gold Cup
Open 5.70 West Coast Championship
J/29 West Coast Championship
Flying Tiger 10 Pacific Coast Championship
Olson 30 Pacific Coast Championship
Schock 35 Pacific Coast Championship
Beneteau 36.7 Southern California Championship
J/80, J/105, J/109, AND J/120 Southern California High Point Series
Carl Kendrich Cup for Cal 25's

Mackinac Race - Illinois - 2008 marks the 100th running of the world’s longest annual freshwater sailing race. Chicago Yacht Club has plans underway for a spectacular series of events marking the historic running of the 333-mile race from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Mich. The 100th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, better known as 'The Mac,' will set sail for Mackinac Island on Saturday, July 19, 2008.

Miami to Key Largo - Florida - First held in 1956 with 33 boats, the annual Miami to Key Largo Race represents the "rites of spring" to South Florida sailors. This race now has as many as 200 boats participating. Boats start just south of the Rickenbacker Causeway and proceed directly to Jewfish Creek area of Key Largo. Everyone starts at once! All boats must be greater than a 14' minimum and include both monohulls and multihulls in various classes. Proceeds go to the Miami Yacht Club Youth Sailing Foundation.

Mills Trophy Race - Ohio - The Mills Trophy Race is organized by the Mills Trophy Race Committee in conjunction with the Toledo Yacht Club and the Storm Trysail Club. Four courses, all starting in the vicinity of Toledo Harbor Light and ending at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, to be sailed

Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race - California - Created by the Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA), the founding members met in 1947 to organize a small, just-for-fun race for sailors coming out of World War II. Newport Harbor Yacht Club hosted the first race, called at the time, The Governor’s Cup. A total of 117 boats paid $22.50 each to compete in the first 125-mile race from Newport Beach, California to Ensenada, Mexico on April 23, 1948. With winds estimated at 25–35 knots, only 65 boats finished the race that year.

NYYC Race Week - Rhode Island - NYYC Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex will consist of TWO different segments to offer great racing opportunity to a wide variety of sailors. Entry is open to yachts with a minimum LOA of 25 feet in IRC, PHRF, Classics, 12 Metres or One-Design classes. One-design classes and handicap classes will be permitted to enter with a minimum of eight entries or at the discretion of the Organizing Authority.

Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge - Maryland - The Organizing Authority of the Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge 2008 is the Southern Maryland Sailing Association, Inc. (SMSA). Race management will be conducted by the Screwpile Challenge 2008 Race Committee, Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge Inc. Racing will be held at the mouth of the Patuxent River.

The Lobster Run - Connecticut/Maine - THE CORINTHIANS STONINGTON TO BOOTHBAY HARBOR RACE- The first major ocean race to be inaugurated in almost 30 years, starting on July 27, 2008 - The course length is 332 nautical miles. It will be a navigator's race, since yachts will have to choose whether to sail north or south of Block Island. A similar choice will be posed at Squirrel Island, on the approach to the finish.

Yachting Cup - California - In 1993, the Ton Cup was added to the Yachting Cup as a Friday afternoon "tune-up" race. Since 1997, the Ton Cup's participants have raised contributions to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as part of their Leukemia Cup Series. Last year, we raised over $92,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Leukemia Cup Regatta is part of a series of 45 sailing events across the US to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - the US's largest charity sailing series. The national series was founded by former America's Cup winner Gary Jobson in 1994.