What is Nantucket Race Week?
Nantucket Race Week is a five-day experience that marshals the entire Nantucket community together for a fun-filled week of regattas, awards ceremonies, and parties. Races provide sport for everyone from young dinghy sailors and families in household one designs to grand prix racers at the very top of their profession. Racing begins Wednesday, August 16, 2023 with events scheduled daily through Sunday, August 20,2023. Sailors of all levels are welcome to participate in our events. We want to extend a special thank you to our visiting teams -- 12 Metre, IOD, PHRF, and classic wooden boats.
Nantucket Race Week is proud to be recognized as a Clean Regatta by Sailors for the Sea since 2009 and every year following has achieved gold-level certification. It is important that we and our participants do all we can to protect Nantucket's pristine and unique environment.
Below are a few Clean Regatta initiatives we're implementing:
- No discharge in the harbor
- Bilge sponges for every boat
- Promote environmentally friendly bottom paint
- "Green team" to collect trash and recyclables
- Water refill stations
- Use of reusable water bottles
- Encourage green cleaning products
- Recycle glass, plastic, metal and paper
- Use bicycles and public transportation
- Support land-based water quality initiatives
Nantucket Race Week is hosted by the Nantucket Yacht Club and the Great Harbor Yacht Club to benefit Nantucket Community Sailing (NCS), a non-profit, educational organization that provides affordable access to sailing and water sports to the public. NCS offers free sailing and water sports through community outreach programs to the community, including the Nantucket High School Sailing Team, scholarships to year-round island youth, adaptive sailing for children of all abilities, and therapeutic sails for senior citizens.