About the Opera House Cup Regatta

A cherished tradition, the Opera House Cup Regatta, is held on the third Sunday of every August on Nantucket, and serves as the capstone event of Nantucket Race Week.

The Opera House Cup Regatta was the first all-wooden, single-hulled classic boat regatta on the East Coast. Soe of the world's most legendary yachts journey to the Island each summer to sample Nantucket Sound's steady seabreezes, the Island's legendary hospitality compete in one of the sailing world's great spectacles.

Past participants include former America's Cup winners (Intrepid, Weatherly, Columbia), well-known competitors (Ticonderoga, Wild Horses, Blackwatch) and such other notable yachts as the Mystic Seaport schooner Brilliant and General Patton's When and If. On the smaller side, prestigious boats in the Wianno Senior class and the classic Herreshoff-designed and Nantucket-built Alerions challenge the big boys. Boats are scored using the CRF rating system within the divisions of the Classic Yacht Owners Association (CYOA).

The Opera House Cup Regatta is part of the CYOA Classic Yacht Series. As the grand finale of Nantucket Race Week, race day begins with the beloved Rainbow Parade around Brant Point, and the Parade of Wooden Boats departing Nantucket's harbor for their lap around Nantucket Sound. The day culminates with the OHC Awards Party, held under the tents on Jetties Beach on Sunday evening. Camaraderie, good food, raw bar, drinks, photos of the race, presentation of the awards and a band keep the party jumping into the evening. The OHC Awards Party is considered "the party of the season" on Nantucket, and is limited to OHC participants and sponsors.

The OHC Regatta and Awards Party benefit Nantucket Community Sailing.