Register now! Philadelphia Cup Regatta set for October 3, 2026 - Hosted by the Liberty Sailing Club
by Carol Bareuther 15 Sep 13:40 BST
October 3, 2026
Sailboats racing on the Delaware River with the Ben Franklin Bridge as a backdrop in the 2025 Philadelphia Cup Regatta © Irina Bernatsky
Over 30 boats from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware have already signed up for the 2026 Philadelphia Cup Regatta. Add your boat to the fleet now at www.philadelphiacupregatta.com.
Set for Saturday, October 3, on the Delaware River, Center City Philadelphia's only sailing regatta delivers competitive racing with the city skyline as a one-of-a-kind backdrop and a chance to earn a place on the prestigious Philadelphia Cup perpetual trophy. Hosted by Liberty Sailing Club, Riverton Yacht Club, and The Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia, racing is open to J27, J22, Lightning, Flying Scot, Mariner, V15, Laser, Thistle, Corinthian Sloop, and Sunfish classes, plus PHRF boats. Sail something else? Rally two other boats in your class, and you've got a race!
"We look forward to welcoming sailors from across the tri-state area to race in the heart of Philadelphia, where the Delaware River and city skyline create a dynamic venue that's every bit as exciting for spectators along the waterfront," says Laura Ness, regatta director. "New this year, the Awards Ceremony adds a patriotic-themed reception celebrating America's 250th anniversary."
Purchase Awards Ceremony and Reception Tickets here
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The entry fee is only $40 for Lasers and Sunfish, $55 for all other Dinghies, and $80 for Keelboats. Late entry on October 2 and 3 is $115 per boat. This fee includes a light breakfast for competitors, one skipper bag per boat, and launching service for One Design boats (Sunfish, Laser, Flying Scot, and Lightning) at the Independence Seaport Museum's boat basin or via a boat access ramp at Race Street and Columbus. Boat slips are available at Penn's Landing Marina, Pier 3 and Pier 5, and Wiggins Park Marina, but are not included in the entry fee and are not guaranteed. A lift will be available for trailered boats such as Flying Scots and Lightnings. The competitors' check-in will be at the Independence Seaport Museum in The Seaport Boat Shop. The regatta will be governed by The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2025-2028 (RRS), including the prescriptions of U.S. Sailing except as modified by the Sailing Instructions.
Racing boats will launch from the start line off Penn's Landing for round-the-buoy racing, navigating current, fellow competitors, and wind in the Delaware River. The first start is at 10:30 a.m., with the last race starting no later than 3:30 p.m. Racecourses will be set north of the Ben Franklin Bridge south to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay base, only a little over a 1-mile long in distance, so that spectators can catch some of the action all along the waterfront. The Awards Ceremony and waterfront afterparty follow.
Ready to race
Dinghies and keelboats, from 14' Laser to 30' J/30, are ready to race.
One of these is the 19' Flying Scot, named Flying Scot, skippered by Riverton, NJ's Arthur Littleton. This isn't Littleton's first Philadelphia Cup Regatta. He sailed several years ago in a Sunfish. This year, he and his crew are one of three Flying Scots representing the Riverton Yacht Club in this one-design.
It is not often you get to race in front of Penn's Landing with the Philadelphia skyline in full view. For me, it has been 10-15 years. Supporting sailing events like this helps keep sailboat racing alive. A lot of effort goes into planning a regatta, and Riverton Yacht Club is helping promote and support Liberty in making it a success," says Littleton.
The historic Delaware and Tinicum, 24-foot Corinthian Sloops, designed by Philadelphia naval architect Thomas Bowes in 1951, will be on the start line this year. The Delaware was rebuilt in 2018 and the Tinicum in 2023 at Independence Seaport Museum's Seaport Boat Shop to help revive one-design Corinthian Sloop racing on the Delaware River.
"I've always seen the Philadelphia Cup as a great way to showcase the recreational sailing that is thriving on the Delaware River. Now that the event has returned to the Delaware, it seems like a great opportunity to get two historic Philadelphia boats racing on the river again. The hope is to garner interest not only in this class of boat but in all boats, both modern and traditional, and to continue growing recreational sailing in Philadelphia. Crew for both boats is still being assembled. In the meantime, we are freshening up paint and varnish on both boats and preparing the rigging for race day," says Dormond, director of Boat Shop and Waterfront Operations.
Organizers of The Philadelphia Cup Regatta thank Con Murphy's Irish Pub, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, SeaPhilly, Mainstay, Campari, Penn's Landing Marina Pier 3 and Pier 5, and Live! Casino & Hotel for their sponsorship.
Past to Present
The Philadelphia Cup Regatta was first hosted by Liberty Sailing Club, Riverton Yacht Club, and The Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia from 2011 to 2016 and returned in 2024. The Cup itself dates back over 40 years.
For more information, visit www.philadelphiacupregatta.com or contact the regatta director at . Check out the Philadelphia Cup Regatta on Facebook and Instagram @philly_cup_regatta.