Perpetual Regatta Sets Up Tahoe Cup Showdown
Seven boats (four Express 27s and three Melges 24s) took to the water for the South Lake Tahoe Windjammers Yacht Club’s (SLTWYC) Perpetual Regatta on August 29 and 30. Five buoy races over two days delivered a little bit of everything, from big southwest breeze to classic Tahoe shifts.
Saturday proved to be yet another exciting buoy race in South Lake.
The southwest breeze came in strong and gusty, averaging around 14 knots with gusts into the upper 20s. Three double-lap races kept the fleet busy in conditions that rewarded boats that could shift gears quickly. The ability to depower in the big puffs and accelerate again through the lulls made the difference.
Hunting Song (Melges 24) got the day started with a win in race one. New Wave (Express 27) answered with bullets in races two and three to close out the day on top.
Sunday brought more forgiving conditions, but competition remained intense. The breeze settled into a more manageable eight knots from the north, with occasional little puffs filling in from the northeast. Two more double-lap races rounded out the series. Due to a course miscommunication, race-four scoring resulted in a redress, with competitors receiving the average of their other race results. Finally, race five closed out the weekend, with Dianne (Express 27) taking the bullet.
After five races, New Wave took the overall win. “It was another exciting weekend of buoy racing in South Lake Tahoe! Lots of action and close crossings that kept us active both days,” said Ashley Farr of New Wave.
Perpetual Regatta Final Results:
- New Wave (Express 27) Ashley Farr
- Hunting Song (Melges 24) Ed Hancock
- Dianne (Express 27) Steve Katzman
A huge thank-you to our volunteer race committee for putting in the time and effort to make the weekend happen: Steve Sheldon, Mike Simmons, John Siegel, Jerry McNaboe, Craig Forsberg and Michelle Langlois-Ott. Running races on Tahoe takes flexibility, preparation and plenty of time on the water, and we appreciate the commitment to keeping the racing moving and continuing to improve the process.
And now, the 2026 Tahoe Cup comes down to the wire!
With the results of the Perpetual Regatta, the Tahoe Cup series is tied between two Express 27s: Eagle, sailed by Ross Groelz, and New Wave, sailed by Ashley Farr. There is only one race left, and the Fannette Island Regatta on Saturday, September 19, will decide the 2026 Tahoe Cup champions!