Registration is open for SDYC's 50th Yachting Cup

Yachting Cup © San Diego Yacht Club

Built on tradition, camaraderie and competitive sailing, San Diego Yacht Club is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its signature regatta, the Yachting Cup, on April 29 - May 1, 2022.

Compiled of competitive buoy racing and random leg racing for a variety of classes, the Yachting Cup encompasses an aspect of sailing that is cherished in the community: inclusion and a love for the water. Over 50 years, the Yachting Cup has evolved into a great weekend of high-profile racing for those with a passion for the sport of sailing.

The Notice of Race is posted and registration is now open for the event at www.yachtingcup.com.

Similar to years past the 2022 running of the event will be split between two W/L courses in the ocean. Different than years past will be the inclusion of a "Classic" division and a "Navigator" division which will start in the ocean and finish in the San Diego Bay and sail a random leg course. On Friday, April 29, Yachting Cup registrants are invited to sail in the Ton Cup, a long-standing tradition of the event that has been on hiatus for the past two years.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Yachting Cup will start on the sailors' respective courses at 1135. Yachting Cup results will be scored separately from those of the Ton Cup.

Eager to race, Schock 35 Whiplash, owned by Ted Thompson, John Rossbach and Felix Basadre, was the first boat registered. Whiplash won their division in both the 2018 and 2019 editions of the regatta.

"We do five or six major regattas a year and Yachting Cup always goes in the books as a crew favorite. We love how fun and competitive it is and after two off-years, we can't wait to get back on the water in San Diego. We get Schock 35's from as far away as Santa Barbara to come to the event, so we have a solid representation of boats with close racing. The hospitality of SDYC, the competition, the camaraderie, and the beautiful sailing venue all combine to make it a fantastic event," said Thompson.

The Yachting Cup has a rich history in San Diego. The regatta was founded in 1972 by John Gerald "Gerry" Driscoll III (1924-2011), the international yachting champion and businessman, a 7th generation Californian, and sailor with a successful resume on the water. Gerry Driscoll worked with Bill Center of the (then) San Diego Union to draft the Deed of Gift for what was originally called the Yachting Ton Cup. Sponsorship was secured from Yachting Magazine.

The Ton Cup originally had classes set at ¼ ton, half ton, ¾ ton, 1 ton, and 2 ton under IOR rules. As the IOR fell out of favor, the races reverted to a straight handicap to allow more boats to participate; eventually they moved to PHRF. The first running of the Yachting Ton Cup was over the Memorial Day weekend in 1972.

Now, in 2022, the Yachting Cup resumes on its newer traditional date, usually the first weekend of May. The event is home for the weekend to around 100 boats.

The overall winner of the 2021 Yachting Cup was Stewart Cannon's J/105, J-OK. According to Cannon, it helps to win when you have consistency in your crew over the years. "Our crew has been practicing and racing together for a long time now and everything meshed for the 2021 Yachting Cup. We practice on a regular basis and put a lot of effort into boat preparation. We participate in the monthly One Design Weekends and spend a lot of time listening to some of the excellent sailors at SDYC at the bar afterward!"

Cannon and his crew will be sailing again in the 50th anniversary of the regatta.

Part of the anticipation of the Yachting Cup is preparing for the high-level competition. SDYC Waterfront Director Jeff Johnson commented, "Yachting Cup was conceived 50 years ago as modern yacht design and construction really began to evolve. The event was a proving ground of sorts for some great local designers, turning out highly competitive offshore racing boats. Today, the Yachting Cup seeks to stay true to that heritage and provides a field of play for highly competitive keelboats. Windward/leeward racecourses with passing lanes going up and down the course, and a 'seven races over two days' schedule gives competitors numerous opportunities to test their sailing knowledge and tactical skills."

In celebration of the 50th anniversary, sailors and guests can enjoy a weekend full of social events. This includes a Mount Gay Rum Lounge with lawn games and reserve rum tastings on the Sail Wash Lawn on Friday night. Saturday features a party with live music by StylusOverhang. On Sunday, the weekend concludes with an Awards Ceremony following racing.

Chairing the regatta for the first time is SDYC member Traci Miller. "I'm thrilled to be back to a full racing and social schedule for the 50th Yachting Cup. The past two years have seen a quieter version of the regatta, so to celebrate the anniversary and resume as usual will make for an exciting weekend. Our team is working hard to host a memorable regatta both on and off the water."

Learn more or register for the Yachting Cup at www.yachtingcup.com.