Opera House Cup News
OHC 2015 Invitation
April 26, 2015
Dear Fellow Opera House Cup Competitor,
Greetings from Nantucket!
The harbor has thawed, the daffodils are in bloom, and it is time to think of warm August winds, wooden sailboats, Nantucket Sound, and the 43rd Opera House Cup.
This is your invitation to the 43rd Opera House Cup, Sunday, Aug 16, 2015. Registration and the NOR are posted at www.operahousecup.org and we hope you’ll join us once again for the grand dame of all classic sailboat races. The Opera House Cup, always held on the third Sunday of August, is the second in the three part North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge.
As the oldest wooden boat regatta on the East Coast, the Opera House Cup continues to uphold time honored traditions. But that does not mean that changes don’t occur. We want to make sure that the Opera House Cup is one of your most fun and rewarding regattas, and to make that so, we continue to make the OHC even better. For example, we are honoring our loyal friends who return year after year with a commemoration for yachts that have competed in the Opera House Cup for five or more years. Many have been coming much, much longer, so when you register, please confirm your yacht’s record.
To ensure competition among more similar yachts, and therefore even more opportunities to take home silver, we’ve subdivided our Classic/Vintage and Spirit of Tradition/Grand Prix divisions into 5 different classes —Vintage Grand Classics, Vintage Corinthian Yachts, Vintage Day-Racers, Grand Prix Yachts and Grand Prix Day- Racers. We will award 1st, 2nd and 3rd places (and 4th if more than 12 competitors are in one class). Also new, awards will be given for One Design classes with 5 or more competitors, plus we will continue Panerai’s Best Performance Award, and the OHC awards for First to Finish, Gwen Gaillard Spirit of the Race, and the Robert H. Tiedemann Classic Award. Lastly, rest assured that the most important tradition remains---the engraving on the silver champagne bucket (and the carved quarter board) continues to go to the yacht with the best overall corrected time.
We are also bringing back the Saturday Night Opera House Cup Skippers Party. Join us for the night-before-celebration, and while there make sure to pick up your final scratch sheet and starting flag. No more early Sunday morning scrambling necessary—but the Panerai Hospitality Lounge will still be open Sunday morning for coffee and last minute scratch sheet and flag pick up for anyone who cannot attend the Skippers Party. Scratch sheets will also be posted on-line.
Saturday, August 15 stroll along the docks and admire some of your fellow competitors at the 2nd Annual Opera House Cup Classic Yacht Exhibition. Last year this event sold out, so we recommend you purchase tickets in advance. All proceeds from this event directly benefit Nantucket Community Sailing.
Sunday, August 16 OHC harbor start is 0930, and first start is 1100. As in recent years, the smaller boats will start first. Awards will be presented at 1900 at the OHC Awards Party under the tents at Jetties Beach. The party starts at 1800, so come join us after the race for dinner, libations, and dancing after the awards ceremony.
If you have not yet reserved your mooring or slip, make sure that you make accommodations as early as possible. Nantucket’s harbor is expected to be full during Nantucket Race Week and the Opera House Cup. The mooring contact information is in the NOR.
All proceeds from the Opera House Cup regatta and OHC party directly benefit Nantucket Community Sailing (a 501c3 non-profit organization). NCS teaches over 1000 children and 1000 adults annually. Your registration and support helps NCS provide $150,000 in scholarships and community outreach.
Please register and reserve your accommodations early. You don’t want to miss the 43rd Opera House Cup. We look forward to welcoming you back to Nantucket—
The 2015 Opera House Cup Committee
For more information:
www.operahousecup.org
OR
Nantucket Community Sailing
508.228.6600
info@operahousecup.org
