ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. - The St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) Governor's Cup Yacht Race is coming to the Chesapeake Bay Aug. 3-4. Registration is still open and ahead of last year's registration at this time, say SMCM officials.
To request a form, call 240-895-3039, e-mail govcup@smcm.edu, fax 240-895-4484 or visit www.smcm.edu/govcup/. The registration fee is $75 per boat until July 27 and $125 until August 1.
The Governor's Cup Yacht Race is the oldest and longest overnight race on the Chesapeake Bay. The race begins Friday, Aug. 3, at the entrance of the Annapolis Harbor and finishes Saturday, Aug. 4, on the shores of St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) with a post-race party. This year marks the 34th running of the race from Maryland's current capital city to its first capital in St. Mary's City. Housing at the College and a bus ride back to Annapolis are also available for the race crew.
The schooner Sultana will serve as the start boat in Annapolis, with the Maryland Dove, a replica of a 17th-century square-rigger from Historic St. Mary's City, as the finish boat at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
The College expects a large fleet of participants this year and is actively recruiting the involvement of cruising class competitors. There are eight classes for scoring. Again this year, Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD) is partnering with the college.
The eight classes are: Multihull, PHRF A-0, PHRF A-1, PHRF A-2, PHRF B, PHRF C/D, and PHRF N. Boats can also compete for the Patuxent Partnership trophy, The St. Mary's Alumni class trophy and the new Maryland Special Olympics Class Award.
Celebrate next year's 35th anniversary of the Governor's Cup Yacht Race that started in 1973. Enter photos taken during the first Governor's Cup Yacht Race and the celebration the following day that best exemplify the spirit of this Chesapeake Bay sailing tradition. Entries for the photography contest must be submitted by June 1, 2008. Winners will be announced at the Governor's Cup Skipper Party on Saturday, August 2, 2008. There will be a prize of $1,000 given to the first place winner, and trophies given in various other categories, such as most humorous and most dramatic. The photographs should include as much information as the submitter can provide. Note that photos submitted do not need to be taken by the photographer. Awards are given to the submitter. Request entry forms by email from Marc Apter. Photographs should be sent to Apter at mlapter@smcm.edu, or mailed to him at 18952 E. Fisher Road, St. Mary's City, MD 20686-3001.
RELATED INFORMATION:
Photos/Videos from Previous Races
http://photos.somd.com/showgallery.php/cat/49