Opera House Cup Regatta

We frequently get requests for charter flights to Nantucket during the summer months, but there’s one particular event on the social calendar that garners extra attention: the Opera House Cup Regatta. Held on the third Sunday of every August, this prestigious event has been a favorite of the yachting community for more than 45 years. Hosted by Nantucket Community Sailing, the 51st Opera House Cup gets underway on August 20, 2023. It holds the distinction as being the first all-wooden, single-hulled classic boat regatta on the East Coast.

The Opera House Cup is named after the Opera House Restaurant in Nantucket. The establishment was a favorite gathering place for the sailing community, and as a way to honor it (and it’s owner Gwen Gaillard), they proposed a sailing race for wooden boats. The rest is history. This event attracts some of the finest vessels and skilled mariners to be found anywhere, including former America’s Cup:

• Weatherly
• Columbia
• Intrepid

There are 10 primary awards up for grabs at the Opera House Cup, including:

• Cruising Division
• Day Racing Division
• Panerai Best Performance
• First to Finish
• Vintage Grand Classic
• Vintage Corinthian Yacht
• Vintage Day Racer
• Grand Prix Yacht
• 12-metre Class
• Alerion Class

And when the racing is over, crews and spectators celebrate at the OHC Awards Party, which is regarded as the marquee social event of the season on Nantucket. This event draws 500 attendees and features:

• Great food and drinks
• Slideshow presentation
• Awards presentation
• Live music

In addition to being the finale of Nantucket Race Week (the two-day Nantucket Regatta is held on Friday and Saturday), the Opera House Cup is part of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge. It is the largest international circuit of regattas reserved for classic yachts. Panerai regattas are held internationally in the countries of France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. There are also a handful of regattas on the east coast, including:

• Marblehead Corinthian Classic, Marblehead, Massachusetts
• Bristol Herreshoff Classic, Bristol, Rhode Island
• Newport Classic, Rhode Island

Arranging Charter Flights to Nantucket

With access to a vast fleet of private jet aircraft, as well as hundreds of airports across the United States, Stratos Jet Charters is a convenient option for anyone looking to avoid the rigors of commercial air travel. By booking your charter flights to Nantucket with us, you’ll no longer have to:

• Arrive hours in advance of your scheduled flight
• Spend eternity in airport lineups
• Endure intrusive security procedures

Nantucket Memorial Airport (KACK) features a 6,300-foot asphalt runway capable of accepting heavy jet charters such as the Embraer ERJ-145. It is centrally located on the island, and is just 10 minutes from the town of Nantucket. To book charter flights to Nantucket so you can watch the action at the Opera House Cup, call Stratos Jet Charters at 888-593-9066, or request an online quote.