87th Annual Queen's Cup: Early bird registration ends May 1st

Queen's Cup © Todd Weiler

The Queen's Cup® Committee would like to remind you that early bird registration for the 87th Queen's Cup® Race ends May 1st.

Registration is open for this year's race, sailing from Milwaukee to Grand Haven, Michigan on June 26, 2026—be sure to secure your spot before the deadline!

We look forward to another great race on Lake Michigan.

Queen's Cup Registration at qc.ssyc.org

Changes and Notes for the 2026 race include:

The Finish - The Finish will be a virtual finish line between two GPS coordinates located near the Grand Haven south pierhead entrance. This change of definition of Finish has been approved by US Sailing under RRS 86.3, allowing us to use technology to be as fair and precise as possible.

A boat's YB Tracker will record the boats' position at a high frequency in real time, and the YB Tracker data will be used to determine the boat's finish position. The finish line may be marked with a stake boat near the starboard end and a buoy near the port end.

Safety Checklist and Crew Overboard Drill Certification - The Safety Checklist and Crew Overboard Drill Certification will be managed as two separate documents in the registration process. The need for checking each box on the safety list has been eliminated, with the need for the Person-in-Charge (PIC) to review and sign digitally. Crew members no longer need to sign the Crew Overboard Drill Certificate individually, though the PIC must digitally sign to confirm the completion of the drill and the details.

Ratings - ORC rating certificates, MWPHRF handicap certificates, GLMRA certificates, and One-Design certificates must be uploaded to Nautical Cloud by June 22, 2026.

Fees - Early registration fees apply through May 1, 2026. A price increase occurs on May 2nd, 2026. Late fees are charged after June 15th, 2026.

Dockage - Dockage is complimentary at SSYC for competitors the week of the race. There are slips available as well as rafting. Reservations are not mandatory, but you may reach out to the SSYC Dock Master after May 1st at 414.481.2331.

In Grand Haven, there will be docking available along the seawall with some protection, and you pay at the kiosk along the wall. Marina slips have been placed in a group hold. Once registered, you will be given a code and instructions to use to reserve a slip online at midnrreservations.com (first come, first served). There will be some availability to raft off in the slips first come, first served, day of the race.

Weather Briefing and Skipper's Meeting - We will again have the North U Weather Briefing available in the SSYC dining room and virtually on Friday morning, June 26th. A brief skipper's meeting will also take place at this time to review key points of the race.

Social Events - Thursday, June 25th is the Queen's Cup® Party, with a return performance by Five Card Studs. All day food and beverage service will be available. Details to follow. All are welcome. On Friday, June 26th, we will have food and beverage service all day, with spectators welcome on the upper deck to view the start of the race. Saturday's Finish Celebration and Awards will take place in Grand Haven with the time and place noted on the official Race Notice Board by 1200 EDT.

Please see the Notice of Race, available by February 1st for official race information (Queen's Cup Registration). The Sailing Instructions will be posted there as well, by June 12th, 2026. All other details will be available on an updated basis on both the registration page Notice Board (Queen's Cup Registration) and the Queen's Cup® web page southshoresailing.org/queens-cup.