‘La Volpe’ Races in America’s Schooner Cup on Her 100th Anniversary
Continuing its longstanding tradition on San Diego Bay, Silver Gate Yacht Club will host the 38th America’s Schooner Cup Charity Regatta on April 18. The 46-ft staysail schooner La Volpe, winner of the 2022 America’s Schooner Cup, will return from her home port of Long Beach to celebrate her 100th anniversary at the 2026 America’s Schooner Cup. La Volpe was designed by Hugh Angelman in 1926 and built at Wilmington Boat Works. Owner Tim O’Brien had La Volpe restored to a very high standard over several years by Wayne Ettel of the Maritime Preservation Trust in San Pedro.
Uncharacteristically fresh breezes in the 2025 ASC Race propelled the schooner Bill of Rights to her first Schooner Cup win. She will defend her 2025 Schooner Cup win against all comers.
Another blast from the past, the 48-ton schooner Spike Africa (built 1970–1977 in Newport Beach) will compete under her new owner, Wade Hall. Bob Sloan designed and built Spike Africa as a working schooner to carry cargo and passengers. Despite this, she is a fast boat, finishing first overall in the 1981 Ancient Mariners Sailing Society’s San Diego to Maui Race. Now permanently in San Diego, the ship is set to engage in youth sail training and charter work.
The America’s Schooner Cup regatta draws schooners of all sizes and vintages from up and down the West Coast. Public viewing of the start and finish of this annual race is best found off the sandy beach south of the launch ramp on Shelter Island beginning at 11:30 a.m. Currently 15 schooners are expected to compete, ranging in size from the 30-ft Lively to the 136-ft Bill of Rights. The public is invited to watch the regatta from the decks of San Diego Maritime Museum’s topsail schooner Californian, which will be carrying charter passengers while racing.
The schooner rig is a rarity today and its roots lie in early American cargo hauling and fishing. The working schooner was chosen 150 years ago to develop speed under sail. Today they are treasured examples of “Living History” and are widely regarded as the most beautiful of all sailing ships. “More than any other type of vessel, the schooner has migrated from the pages of history and into the world of legend, art and poetry that we all claim as part of our culture,” said Dr. Raymond Ashley, president/CEO emeritus of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
This year’s regatta will again support the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, which provides financial, educational and post-combat support to members of the Naval Service, including eligible family members and survivors. The America’s Schooner Cup has raised over $160,000 for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society in the last few years. For more information on this event visit sgyc.org/america’s-schooner-cup.
The public is encouraged to join us April 18 for viewing on the beach at Shelter Island, or racing aboard the Californian. Tickets will be available at: sdmaritime.org.