2026 Don Trask International Masters Regatta returns to San Diego Bay
by Karina Sandhu, SDYC 20 Oct 09:23 PDT
October 23-25, 2026
Don Trask International Masters Regatta © Mark Albertazzi / SDYC
Some of sailing's most accomplished names will gather at San Diego Yacht Club October 23-25 for the Don Trask International Masters Regatta - an annual event celebrating the competitive spirit and lifelong friendships at the heart of the sport.
With a fleet of decorated sailors, a unique racing format and decades of history behind it, the regatta promises three days of close competition on south San Diego Bay where experience, teamwork and tactical decision-making will be put to the test.
The Don Trask International Masters Regatta is an invitational series which brings together 12 skippers, each at least 60 years old, and their crews, who must be at least 45. Racing takes place in J/105 sailboats, which are provided by SDYC members, with teams rotating boats throughout the regatta. The round-robin format puts competitors on equal footing, rewarding adaptability, consistency and sharp boat handling as sailors face new challenges from race to race.
This year's fleet represents a broad cross-section of the sailing community, with skippers traveling to San Diego from yacht clubs in California and across the country, as well as Mexico. Among those competing are familiar faces from San Diego Yacht Club and other established sailing programs, alongside experienced campaigners representing clubs including St. Francis Yacht Club, Newport Harbor Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club and Acapulco Yacht Club. With so much collective experience on the water, the competition is expected to be stiff.
Skipper Scott Steele from Eastport Yacht Club discusses the upcoming regatta stating, "It (the Don Trask International Masters Regatta) is a highlight event. Under the Eastport Yacht Club banner out of Annapolis, Maryland, our team is honored and highly motivated to compete against the best master champions. We will bring our 'A' game knowing that this type of championship level offers a tremendous challenge."
Founded in 1975 by St. Francis Yacht Club member Don Trask, the regatta was created to bring accomplished master sailors together for spirited competition and camaraderie. Originally sailed on San Francisco Bay, the event moved to San Diego Yacht Club in 2012. SDYC's Staff Commodore and 2026 Masters skipper Kyle Clark discusses the change in location stating "I remember back in 2009 or 2010 when Don Trask and I started talking about relocating this event from San Francisco. He said...the wind was too strong up there and he thought San Diego was the perfect alternative. Later, we got Malin Burnham involved to put a plan together and in 2012 we were able to host the first of the new era at SDYC in conjunction with the Lipton Cup." Following Trask's passing in September 2025, the regatta was renamed in his honor, recognizing his lasting contribution to the sailing community and the tradition he established.
The weekend begins Thursday, October 22, with the 15th annual Taste of Point Loma at San Diego Yacht Club from 5-8 pm. The popular community gathering features local food and beverage vendors and offers competitors, members and guests a chance to connect before racing gets under way. Racing continues Friday through Sunday, culminating in the crowning of this year's champion.
Beyond the results, the Don Trask International Masters Regatta celebrates the kind of sailing careers built over decades: a shared love of competition, enduring friendships and the desire to keep getting out on the water. As this distinguished fleet returns to San Diego Bay, sailors will once again compete for the title while carrying forward the tradition and spirit that have made the regatta special for more than 50 years.
Skipper Tracy Usher from St. Francis Yacht Club echoes this sentiment stating, "This is my third trip as a skipper to this event in San Diego and it's always been a top level event. The club does such a good job organizing the event you can't help but have a great time even if at the back end of the fleet. Thank you to the San Diego Yacht Club for the invitation and opportunity to sail in the Don Trask International Masters."
More information at masters.sdyc.org