A Sneak Peek at Yacht Racing in July
Destination Races From the Yacht Racing Association
“Come on out on July 18 for the annual race down through the South Bay,” writes the YRA. “This always-fun race has racers go around Alcatraz and then rocket downwind with the flood to Redwood City, where there is a great dockside get together at Westpoint Harbor. Everyone is then welcome to overnight at Westpoint Harbor and the Port of Redwood City Marina. We’ve got divisions for PHRF, multihulls, one-design fleets, non-spinnaker boats and a shorthanded division. Any one-design fleet with five boats registered will qualify for their own start.” Entries close on July 15 at 5 p.m., but enter by July 8 to avoid a late fee. See www.jibeset.net/YRA000.php?RG=T005378940.
As of this morning (July 1), registration was not yet open for the YRA’s Encinal Regatta (ex-2nd Half Opener). That race will sail out to Point Bonita and finish down the Estuary at Encinal Yacht Club on July 25. Keep an eye on www.jibeset.net/YRA000.php?RG=T008043662 for that one.
Elsewhere in the Bay Area
Bay View Boat Club’s Plastic Classic Regatta now invites all fiberglass boats built in the 1960s through all of the 1990s to race on the waters south of the Bay Bridge. This year’s race will be on July 11. See www.bayviewboatclub.org/plastic-classic. Don’t miss the party back at BVBC!
Greg Carter of the Bay Area Multihull Association writes, “The 2026 Corsair Nationals are coming to Encinal YC in Alameda on July 17-19.” Racing includes “Friday short courses off Alameda, a Saturday Bay‑tour distance race, and Sunday heats in the Berkeley Circle. The shoreside plan looks almost as busy as the racecourse. Boats will gather Thursday evening at Encinal for ‘welcome beverages aboard,’ followed by a Friday social dinner for entrants at a local Alameda venue, Saturday dinner back at EYC, and awards and prizes at the club Sunday afternoon.” See sfbama.org/2026corsairnationals.
Benicia YC invites sailors to the Benicia Waterfront Festival Regatta on July 25, part of a larger weekend-long festival. “Put your sailing skills to the test for a chance to win our stunning, artisan-made trophy for first place,” says the club. “Plus, all winners will receive free day passes to the festival.”
Head Inland
Stockton Sailing Club will host a Delta ILCA Regatta on July 25-26. “There will be a club evening race on Friday,” says Laser sailor Chris Boome. “Camping is allowed in the parking lot or grass. It would be great to get Bay Area sailors and Lake Washington sailors to come to Stockton.”
San Francisco YC has rebranded their Midnight Moonlight Maritime Marathon as the Moonrise Maritime Marathon this year. The pursuit race takes racers from the Tiburon area to San Pablo Bay and back. “Boats will start at staggered starting times, based on their individual handicaps from highest to lowest, beginning at 1400 hours.” Moonrise on July 25 will be around 6 p.m., and it will be waxing four days short of full.
Head to the High Country
Tahoe YC will welcome Melges 24 and Moore 24 classes for a One Design Invitational on July 10-12.
High Sierra Regatta chairman Mike Trela writes, “Huntington Lake will come alive for the 2026 High Sierra Regatta. With 22 fleets already registered across both weekends and numerous championships scheduled for the weekdays, this is shaping up to be an incredible summer of sailing. Sign up now for the discounted price.” Weekend 1 on July 11-12 will welcome Moth, Snipe, Day Sailer A and B, Lido 14 A and B, Laser, Laser Radial, Banshee, RS Aero, Optimist A and B, Vanguard 15, San Juan 21 Spinnaker and Working Sails, International 14, Melges 14, and Open Centerboard (Portsmouth rating) fleets. A late fee of $25 will apply after July 4.
Weekend 2 on July 18-19 will welcome Windsurfer LT, Thistle, Melges 15, Moore 24, Coronado 15, Ultimate 20, Wylie Wabbit, Victory 21, Santana 20, J/70, VXOne, Viper 640, Open 5.70, Melges 20, Catalina 22 and PHRF fleets. A late fee will apply after July 11.
“We are amping up the onshore action with a brand-new Saturday night social,” adds Trela. “Join us at the Lakeshore Dock from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to swap race tales and enjoy the mountain views. All racers and guests are invited. Refreshments: Complimentary heavy appetizers, soft drinks and water. Drinks: Each registration includes two drink tickets for beer or wine (cash bar also available). We look forward to seeing you on the water for another season in the Sierras!”
The Mercury Regatta on Huntington Lake will take place on July 25-26. See the Mercury Class YRA webpage, www.mercury-sail.com, for more.
In Southern California
The C420 Nationals will race out of Long Beach YC on July 8-10. LBYC will also host an Olympic Classes Regatta for QFoils and Kites on July 11-16. Then Los Angeles YC will host the Olympic Classes Regatta for ILCA 6 & 7 and 470 classes on July 20-24 in San Pedro.
The J/70 fleet will contest their Nationals at Santa Barbara YC on July 10-12.
Cabrillo Beach YC in San Pedro will host the ILCA North Americans on July 9-12.
Sail to Hawaii
The Pacific Cup fleet will start the 2,070-mile course from San Francisco to Kaneohe on July 6, 7 and 10. Race committee volunteers will run the starts from the race deck of St. Francis YC. Their counterparts at Kaneohe YC, on the east side of Oahu, will welcome the finishers. See https://pacificcup.org.
Missed your chance to sail to Hawaii this summer? Never fear, there’s always next year. Registration is already open for the 2027 Transpac from Los Angeles to Honolulu, and the 2027 Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race from San Francisco to Hanalei Bay, Kauai.
Find oh so many more great races and maritime events on our monthly and annual calendars.
Happy Canada Day to our friends north of the border!