Race Week News

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE

2018 OPERA HOUSE CUP

We are excited to announce the opening of registration for the 46^th Opera House Cup Regatta, to be held August 19, 2018.

In 2016, the Opera House Cup Committee created two divisions -- and two winners -- for the regatta. The Cruising division celebrates the history of the Cup as a race for wooden boats designed for ocean crossings and crewed by family and friends. The Day Racing division recognizes exquisite classic racing craft as well as those boats in the spirit of tradition utilizing modern designs and techniques. We will continue with these divisions to celebrate all classic wooden boats, and congratulate last year's winners NIRVANA and VALIANT. Last year we were delighted to have our first schooner division, and look forward to building on this class for 2018. As is our tradition, no spinnakers are allowed for the OHC.

All boats will require a current CRF MkII rating, which has been developed by the Classic Yacht Owners Association (CYOA) and is available at classicratingformula.com. The certificate is $50, although it is free for CYOA members. The rating formula has been updated since last year, so you may see a change in your rating. For further information, please refer to the FAQ section on the CRF website.

Last year we implemented the OHC Sponsor's Trophy, to recognize the person or boat making the largest donation to Nantucket Community Sailing. The Opera House Cup is intended to be a fundraiser for Nantucket Community Sailing, but most years we struggle to break even with the event. Please consider making a contribution to the OHC "Friends of the Cup". Thank you in advance.

We also encourage you to participate in the two day Nantucket Regatta, August 17-18, 2018. Formerly called Sail Nantucket, we changed the name to reconnect the regatta to its historical roots. The Nantucket Regatta began in 1930 as part of a regional summer series among yacht clubs on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. We will continue to invite both classic and PHRF boats to accommodate as many sailors as possible. Spinnakers and all sail types are welcome. The schooners will have a separate course. Both the Opera House Cup and the Nantucket Regatta are part of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge.

There are great social events every night: Thursday evening (August 16) is the NRW Regatta Dinner, Friday evening (August 17) is the fun and casual Sponsors Party and Sailors Picnic for owners and crew; both events are at the Great Harbor Yacht Club. On Saturday (August 18) there is the Classic Yacht Exhibition at the Nantucket Boat Basin, where you can go aboard special, historic craft - which will be competing on Sunday for the Opera House Cup. Then, after Sunday's Opera House Cup race, the best event of Nantucket's summer, the Opera House Cup Awards Party, will be at Jetties Beach. While it is limited to sailors and guests, there is increased capacity which should accommodate all our OHC participants.

Thanks to the generosity of the Nantucket Yacht Club and the Great Harbor Yacht Club, we are pleased to once again offer a limited number of complimentary moorings for our visiting guests. Moorings and dock space fill quickly in Nantucket Harbor, so please make your reservations soon. Please let us know if you need help, and we will do our best to assist.

Registration is available now at www.operahousecup.org and at www.nantucketraceweek.org. We hope to see you on Nantucket in August!

Sincerely,

The Opera House Cup Committee