The 2026 America’s Schooner Cup race was held off the coast of San Diego yesterday. The regatta, organized by the Silver Gate Yacht Club, raised money for the Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society.
Three classes of schooner, small to large, raced from a point off Shelter Island, out of San Diego Bay through the channel, around a couple of buoy markers, and back. Participants came from up and down the West Coast.
I was privileged to be aboard Bill of Rights out of Chula Vista. Our primary antagonist of similar size (Class C) during the Schooner Cup was Californian of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Bill of Rights began its journey out of Chula Vista Harbor under its diesel engine. At this time we got our sails ready. Once the race began under watch of the SGYC Race Committee boat off Shelter Island, it was all wind power!
Several dozen people were aboard–crew members plus passengers–and many volunteer hands were employed pulling on lines when raising the sails and tacking during the race. The ship’s dog Justice kept watch on all the activity!
I took lots of photos!
Mind you, I’m a complete novice when it comes to sailing. I asked a bunch of questions, and I hope my descriptions here have been accurate.
Who won? As of this moment I don’t know where to find the results. (If you know leave a comment.)
I do know Californian came in last–we left her far behind. However, as I understand it, we DNFed because we missed out first mark! No matter. It was a fun, wonderful day for all on an amazing, historic tall ship, sailing out on the sunlit water.
My photographs begin as we start out from Chula Vista Harbor…
We’re near Shelter Island, where the various schooners are sailing around before the race begins…
Maneuvering for position as the America’s Schooner Cup race is about to begin!
Here we go!
Soon after this dramatic moment out on the Pacific Ocean, the schooners chose different tacks and became widely separated. No more close up photos of our competitors.
Finally, sailing back into San Diego Bay. That’s Justice the ship’s dog keeping lookout!
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