The Vineyard Cup Sailing Regatta
The 2012 Vineyard Cup will be the biggest and best ever! Sail Martha’s Vineyard is expecting over 100 sailboats of all descriptions, designs and ages from schooners to catboats to modern design racers. Based out of Vineyard Haven harbor on Martha’s Vineyard Island the 2012 Vineyard Cup will take place on July 13th, 14th and 15th. The race courses have been designed to both test the skills of the skippers and crews and to provide great shore-side viewing of boats on the racecourse from a variety of Island perspectives from the East an West Chop Lighthouses to Eastville Beach to State Beach between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs to the beach at the entrance of Lake Tashmoo.
Charter boats like the venerable Black Dog tall ship Alabama out of Vineyard Haven harbor will be available to take those interested out to watch the racing. Some may even be racing! Keep an eye on www.vineyardcup.com for updates on charter opportunities. Also, www.yachtscoring.com will maintain a bulletin board of crew needed and crew available. Just link into the Vineyard Cup on their site to get on the board.
Each day after racing there will be parties with food, drink and entertainment under the tents on Beach Road Extension down by the Black Dog Tavern. And oh by the way, this year there will be a free street concert by a well known band on Saturday night. The parties are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC with the purchase of an entry bracelet ($30 a night or $75 for all three nights) entitling the wearer to all s/he can eat and drink. Talk about a great deal!! …and it gets better, all yes all (thanks to our incredible sponsors) of the proceeds go to support the many programs that Sail Martha’s Vineyard offers to year round and seasonal residents and vacationers. Party goers will be treated to all of the fun and craziness that any group of sailors will provide when gathered in a group. The many event sponsors will be on hand displaying their wares and participating in the daily (not-so-serious) awards. Regatta merchandise will be on sale.
If you can’t make it, you can follow all of the action almost live on Facebook and Twitter and see what you’re missing.
