Photo: Louisa Gould

Exciting news – the Classic Yacht Owner's Association (CYOA) has announced the addition of the Vineyard Cup to its prestigious Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) calendar for 2024. Set to take place from July 12th to 14th in Vineyard Haven and hosted by Martha's Vineyard Shipyard, this event fills a gap in the CYCS calendar and adds another opportunity for teams to qualify for the series.

Under the leadership of Race Chair Andrew Nutton, the Vineyard Cup has embraced the CRF Mk II rating rule since 2021, resulting in a surge in participation each year. With pursuit start races ranging from 5 to 21 nautical miles, teams are challenged by engaging navigation-style courses that test their skills and strategy on the water. The festivities extend beyond the racecourse, with evening socials held at the Sail MV boathouse and Martha's Vineyard Shipyard, fostering camaraderie and community spirit among sailors.

The Vineyard Cup has been seeing an increase in participation among the classics with 18 gracing the waters of Vineyard Haven in 2023, including notable vessels like Wendy Schmidt’s Santana, Ben Sperry's NY32, Gentian, and Nat Benjamin's Schooner, Charlotte. Courses send the teams around the buoys in Vineyard Sound.

Not only does the Vineyard Cup offer thrilling racing opportunities, but it also serves a noble cause. Hosted by Sail Martha's Vineyard, the event aims to raise funds for the community sailing center, supporting initiatives that introduce people of all ages to the joys of sailing.

Timmy Dittrich, Chair of the CYOA Board, emphasized the significance of adding the Vineyard Cup to the CYCS calendar, filling a mid-July gap and offering another opportunity for regional boats to earn a Division award. Fitting between the NYYC Annual Regatta in June and the Shipyard Classic in Boothbay, Maine in July, the Vineyard Cup brings the total CYCS events to 14.

The Notice of Series for the CYCS 2024 is now available on the CYOA website, explain the scoring process among the three regions from June to October. Registration for many events is already open, with more opportunities to sign up coming in the following weeks. Be sure to mark your calendars and save the dates for these exciting events.

For more information and to view the Notice of Series, visit classicyachts.org/cycs/. Don't miss out on the thrill of classic yacht racing and the camaraderie of the sailing community – we'll see you on the water!