Registration is open for the Philadelphia Cup Regatta 2025
by Carol Bareuther 12 Aug 14:23 PDT
September 27, 2025
Liberty Sailing Club's J/27s and other keelboats racing in the 2024 Philadelphia Cup Regatta © Irina Bernatsky
Register now for the Philadelphia Cup Regatta. Competition and camaraderie on one of America's Great Waterways, with the incredible backdrop of Center City, Philadelphia, makes this must-do sailing event one not to miss!
Entry is open to one-design classes, including J27, J22, Lightning, Flying Scot, Mariner, V15, Laser, and Sunfish, as well as PHRF-handicap boats, both Spinnaker & Non-Spinnaker. Other designs are invited too! A minimum of three boats registered by August 30 is all that is required to constitute a class.
Early entry discount ends September 1
The entry fee is only $30 for Lasers and Sunfish, $45 for all other Dinghies, and $70 for Keelboats by September 1. From September 2 to 25, entries are $40 for Lasers and Sunfish, $55 for other Dinghies, and $85 for Keelboats. Late entry on September 26 or 27 is $115 per boat. This fee includes a light breakfast for competitors, one skipper bag per boat, and launching service for One Design boats (Sunfish, Laser, Flying Scot, and Lightning) at the Independence Seaport Museum or via a boat access ramp at Race Street and Columbus. Boat slips are available at Penn's Landing Marina, Pier 3 Marina, and Wiggins Park Marina, but are not included in the entry fee and are not guaranteed. The competitor's check-in will be at the Independence Seaport Museum. The regatta will be governed by The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2025-2028 (RRS), including the prescriptions of U.S. Sailing except as modified by the Sailing Instructions.
"We invite dinghy and keelboat sailors from clubs across the tri-state area to set sail with us for a day of exhilarating racing on the Delaware River. There's no more beautiful a venue, and it's a magical experience to enjoy the city from this perspective. The Philadelphia Cup Regatta's date change this year, to September, aims to capitalize on the typical fall breeze. Spectating is spectacular from the city's waterfront, and the Delaware River Festival activities offer a fun way for non-sailors to enjoy the river," says Mark Sidell, Commodore of the Liberty Sailing Club.
Racing boats will launch from the start line off Penn's Landing for round-the-buoy racing, navigating current, fellow competitors, and wind in the Delaware River. The first start is at 10:30 a.m., with the last race starting no later than 3:30 p.m. Racecourses will be set north of the Ben Franklin Bridge south to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay base, only a little over a 1-mile long in distance, so that spectators can catch some of the action all along the waterfront. An Awards Ceremony and waterfront afterparty follow. Each class champion will have their name engraved onto The Philadelphia Cup.
The Delaware River Festival takes place on September 27 at two locations: Penn's Landing in Philadelphia and Wiggins Park in Camden and is organized by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE), Center for Aquatic Sciences, Philadelphia Water Department, and Independence Seaport Museum (ISM).
"The Delaware River Festival offers the perfect opportunity to learn more about the Delaware River, the backdrop for the Philadelphia Cup Regatta," says Chesa Blom, PDE's Estuary Engagement Manager. "Our environmental exhibitors will be set up throughout the entire event from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., and will each have an interactive activity or learning experience for attendees. The Independence Seaport Museum and RiverLink Ferry will also be free during event hours. We will also have a bird show in Philly (inside ISM) at noon, and a bird meet-and-greet in Camden from 2-3 p.m. Event attendees can also enjoy free face painting, pedal boat rides, and crafts throughout the event." More information can be found at DelawareRiverFest.org.
More information
To register and for more information, visit philadelphiacupregatta.com or contact the regatta director at . Check out the Philadelphia Cup Regatta on Facebook and Instagram at @philly_cup_regatta