Previewing the 63rd Annual Trans Tahoe Regatta

Tahoe Yacht Club is hosting their 63rd annual Trans Tahoe Regatta, one of Lake Tahoe’s longest-running sailing traditions, this weekend, July 10, 11 and 12.

In addition to the many sailors this historic event attracts each year, invited Melges 24 and Moore 24 one-design fleets will also be joining the local competitors this year. Racing begins Friday, July 10, with multiple buoy races, followed by the legendary long-distance Trans Tahoe race on Saturday.

The two visiting fleets will also compete in an additional, separate one-design championship on Sunday. After Saturday’s racing, competitors, crews and race volunteers will gather at the TYC clubhouse for a hosted après-race BBQ celebration and awards ceremony.

What began in 1963 with four boats, this regatta has been held almost every year since, with as many as 100 boats competing. Often described as a “classical” regatta, the Trans Tahoe Regatta blends excellence with tradition. The long-distance race on Saturday is a longtime favorite, with nearly 20 preset course options ranging from 11 to 28 miles.

Competitors may find themselves rounding a buoy near Eagle Rock on the West Shore, then one of the mid-lake research buoys, and then heading north toward Kings Beach or Dollar Point and back to the start/finish line near Tahoe City on the North Shore. A typical summer afternoon brings a steady southwest thermal breeze, building through the day before fading with the sunset. But as many Lake Tahoe sailors know, the lake reserves the right to surprise.

For more info, NORs and SIs are available on this page: https://www.tahoeyc.com/sailing

Stay tuned for more coverage of the 2026 Trans Tahoe Regatta in the August edition of Latitude 38.