North American Regattas 2026
North America hosts some of the world's most prestigious and storied sailing competitions — from ocean races that have run for over a century to regional one-design regattas that define the local sailing calendar. The 2026 season spans every coast, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico, offering racing at every level from club weeknight series to international offshore events.
See also our full 2026 marine events calendar for a month-by-month view.
Offshore & Ocean Racing
Transpac Race — Los Angeles to Honolulu
Run since 1906, the Transpac is one of the oldest and most celebrated ocean races in the world. The roughly 2,225-mile passage from Los Angeles to Diamond Head attracts fleets from around the world in its biennial format. Next edition: 2025 (odd years). The 2026 season sees regional Pacific offshore events in its place.
Newport Bermuda Race
Held in even years, the Newport Bermuda Race covers approximately 1,070 miles from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda. First run in 1906, it is one of the longest-running ocean races in the world and draws competitive fleets across multiple divisions. 2026 edition scheduled for June.
Chicago-Mackinac Race
The "Mac" has been run since 1898, making it one of the oldest freshwater races in the world. The 333-mile course from Chicago to Mackinac Island on Lake Michigan draws hundreds of boats each July. A fixture of the Great Lakes racing calendar and one of the largest point-to-point races in the world by number of entries.
Swiftsure International Yacht Race
Run out of Victoria, British Columbia since 1930, Swiftsure sends fleets into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the open Pacific in late May — one of the premier offshore events on the Pacific Northwest coast. Multiple courses ranging from 136 to 240 miles.
East Coast
| Event | Location | Approx. Date |
|---|---|---|
| Key West Race Week | Key West, FL | January 2026 |
| Charleston Race Week | Charleston, SC | April 2026 |
| Newport Bermuda Race | Newport, RI | June 2026 |
| Marblehead Race Week | Marblehead, MA | July 2026 |
| Annapolis-Newport Race | Annapolis, MD | June 2026 |
| Block Island Race Week | Block Island, RI | June 2026 |
| Stamford-Vineyard Race | Stamford, CT | August 2026 |
| Annapolis Fall Regatta | Annapolis, MD | October 2026 |
West Coast
| Event | Location | Approx. Date |
|---|---|---|
| Master Mariners Regatta | San Francisco Bay, CA | May 2026 (Memorial Weekend) |
| Swiftsure International | Victoria, BC | May 2026 |
| Pacific Cup | San Francisco to Hawaii | July 2026 |
| Santa Barbara to King Harbor | Santa Barbara, CA | May 2026 |
| Ensenada Race | Newport Beach to Ensenada | April 2026 |
| Race to Alaska (R2AK) | Port Townsend, WA | June 2026 |
| Strictly Sail Pacific | Oakland, CA | Spring 2026 |
| Jessica Cup | San Francisco Bay, CA | October 2026 |
Great Lakes
| Event | Location | Approx. Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Mackinac Race | Chicago to Mackinac Island | July 2026 |
| Port Huron-Mackinac Race | Port Huron, MI | July 2026 |
| Bayview Yacht Club Mackinac | Detroit, MI | July 2026 |
| Lake Ontario 300 | Lake Ontario | August 2026 |
| Cleveland Race Week | Cleveland, OH | June 2026 |
Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean
| Event | Location | Approx. Date |
|---|---|---|
| Key West Race Week | Key West, FL | January 2026 |
| St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta | St. Petersburg, FL | March 2026 |
| Pensacola Race Week | Pensacola, FL | May 2026 |
| Galveston Bay Challenge | Galveston, TX | Spring 2026 |
Classic & Traditional Boat Regattas
Alongside the modern racing circuit, a parallel world of classic and traditional yacht racing brings together gaff-rigged schooners, wooden yawls, and historically significant vessels. These events celebrate the craftsmanship and heritage of pre-fiberglass boatbuilding, often in the same waters where the earliest American regattas were sailed.
- Master Mariners Regatta — San Francisco Bay, Memorial Weekend
- Eggemoggin Reach Regatta — Maine, August
- Gloucester Schooner Race — Gloucester, MA
- Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta — April
- Wooden Boat Festival Regattas — Port Townsend, WA, September
Full 2026 Events Calendar → | History of Regattas in the US →