Bringing back the Santa Maria Cup

For over 20 years, the Santa Maria Cup (SMC) was one of the premier events on the women’s match race circuit. For much of the time, BoatUS sponsored the event, but as they shifted focus and eventually were bought out, their sponsorship waned.

Eastport Yacht Club kept running the event even without sponsorship, to the delight of the competitors. But when match racing made the Olympics, World Sailing took over the women’s match race calendar and began scheduling in their own unique way, stepping on many established events because they were not run in Elliott 6Ms.

In 2012, EYC was unable to field enough competitors to run the event, so it was mothballed.

Over the ensuing years, EYC members have been traveling the world, racing, vacationing, and mingling with former SMC competitors, and always the question comes up – “Will EYC ever host the SMC again?” The competitors and umpires have so many fond memories of the event that it is still on their list of must-do events.

After a number of years, and so many inquiries, a small group of EYC volunteers hatched a plan which has now come to fruition for the return of the Santa Maria Cup in a special alumnae edition. The 2022 edition will showcase former SMC competitors to match race against many of their old friends, and to reconnect with them off the water.

Former competitors include Olympic medalists Anna Tunnicliffe (USA), and Shirley Robertson (GBR); US National Sailing Hall of Fame members Betsy Alison (USA) and Dawn Riley (USA); Women’s Match Race World Champions Liz Baylis (USA); Sally Barkow (USA); Claire Leroy (FRA); Nicky Souter (AUS); Lucy McGregor (GBR); Silja Lehtinen (FIN); Lotte Meldgaard (NED), and a host of top women sailors.

The event will be held in J/22s on September 14-18 and is open to all women match race competitors, though up to ten invitations will be issued by cumulative SMC experience on each of the teams. Details at https://santamariacup.org