The biggest party of the season is less than a week away, when the Governor’s Cup Yacht Race spills onto the shores of St. Mary’s College of Maryland in Southern Maryland. The college will host a throng of party-goers at the post-race bash on Saturday, Aug. 5 beginning at noon.
The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Governor’s Cup Yacht Race is the oldest and longest overnight race on the Chesapeake Bay. It begins on Friday, Aug. 4 from the entrance of the Annapolis Harbor and finishes the next day on the shores of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Dubbed “one of sailing’s 10 best parties” by Sailing World magazine, the celebration is on the campus waterfront and includes live entertainment, food and drink. There will be music from The Nautical Wheelers, a tropical rock band and later from a local favorite ’Round Midnight, who take the stage at 7 p.m.
This year Maryland Special Olympics sailors will sail the race to raise awareness of the Special Olympics Maryland Sailing Program. Torre Meringolo, vice president for development of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, said “the pairing of Special Olympics Maryland with other sailors will bring a new level of awareness to this event and the Special Olympics sailing program.”
On Saturday there is a $5 fee for alcoholic beverage purchases. No coolers are allowed. The awards ceremony begins at 5 p.m. This year a silent auction will benefit the Special Olympics Maryland Sailing Program. For more information, contact the SMCM events office at 240-895-3039 or visit the Web site at www.smcm.edu/govcup.
The deadline to register boats is Aug. 1. Completed registrations, along with a $125 registration fee, must be received at the College by 5 p.m. Aug. 1. Forms are available online. Visit the Web site at www.smcm.edu/govcup or e-mail govcup@smcm.edu. To submit registration forms, fax the form to 240-895-4484.
Special Olympics Maryland is a year-round sports organization dedicated to providing quality sports training and competition opportunities to Maryland’s children and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or closely related development disabilities. Special Olympics Maryland currently serves 10,000 athletes statewide, and offers 28 sports, all at no cost to the athletes or their families. The Special Olympics sailors train at the college weekly, and the college hosts the annual Special Olympics Regatta for about 100 sailing teams.
For more information about Special Olympics Maryland visit www.somd.org or call 410-789-6677.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s elite sailing team has won 10 national championships and produced more than 100 collegiate All-American sailors since 1991.
