ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. (June 18, 2008) - The start date for the Chesapeake Bay's #1 regatta is just weeks away. Voted first among races in Chesapeake Bay Magazine's "2008 Best of the Bay Awards," the St. Mary's College of Maryland Governor's Cup Yacht Race begins Friday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m., in Annapolis. It ends Saturday, Aug. 2, on the shores of the College with post-race awards and party.
Online registration for the race is available this year at http://www.smcm.edu/govcup or by telephone at 240-895-3039.
New this year, as of July 1, Governor's Cup shirts, posters and other logo items will be available for ordering online. Details on the Online Store will be available on the race website.
Another innovation planned in celebration of this 35th annual race is a video screening on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 2, of the racers underway. The Tucker Thompson film will be shown in the awards tent and will also be posted afterwards on the T2 Productions website, www.t2p.tv. A video production crew will be aboard their own boat to film every moment of the race, from start to finish.
Saturday afternoon tours of the College's new River Center are also on tap. The River Center will become permanent home of Governor's Cup Yacht Race trophies, awards and memorabilia.
The schooner Adventurer is the start boat in Annapolis, with the Maryland Dove, a replica of a 17th-century square-rigger from Historic St. Mary's City, serving as the finish boat at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
Rated by Sailing World as "one of sailing's 10 best parties," special 35th annual post-race festivities star rockers and Key West Race Week performers Joe Bachman and the Crew. Their first-ever Governor's Cup post-race performance will be in the evening. Live music in the afternoon will be by the Nautical Wheelers, whose playlist includes Buffett-style island music, country and classic rock. A variety of food and beverages will be available from vendors. The awards ceremony will be held in the afternoon in the entertainment tent. A ticketed dinner will be held next to the State House for the racers.
The race's eight yacht classes for scoring 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 and the St. Mary's Alumni class trophy.