FAQ

What is The Leukemia Cup Regatta?

The Leukemia Cup Regatta started as an event held by the Pine Harbor Yacht Club for the benefit of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Alabama Chapter in April 1988. Funds were raised in memory of a member of the club who lost his life to leukemia, and the Pine Harbor Yacht Club presented The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) with a $5,000 at the conclusion of the event.

The Eastport Yacht Club, in Annapolis, MD, pioneered the concept of competition among boats and crews to raise funds for the fight against blood cancers. Their June 1993 event raised $30,000 for LLS's mission, with the yacht club handling all sailing and water-related logistics. LLS's Maryland Chapter coordinated all land-based fundraising and event activities. A total of 40 boats vied for The Leukemia Cup, presented to the crew that raised the most funds, with other prizes awarded to other fundraising crews and sailors.

Enthusiasm for the event spread across the country into other markets after a presentation at an October 2003 national LLS leadership conference by noted sailing expert and ESPN commentator Gary Jobson, who now serves as The Leukemia Cup Regatta's national chairman. Jobson, a lymphoma survivor, is actively involved with LLS to help organize other Regattas and recruit sponsors and participants on the national, regional and local levels.

In 2009, the sailing community raised more than $3.8 million at 38 Regattas, bringing the overall campaign results to more than $31 million. More than 9,600 participants took part in the 2008 series.

Sailing World magazine is again serving as the media sponsor of The Leukemia Cup Regatta and will run a series of full-page ads promoting the series throughout 2010, with additional ads to run in Cruising World. Other national sponsors include West Marine, Mount Gay Rum, North Sails, John Mecray and Ken Gardiner.

How can I sign up? Do I have to have my own crew? How do they sign up?

Click here to get more information about registering for an event in our area.

How soon do I have to register?

The sooner you register the better. You'll need time to recruit others to participate as crew members or even other skippers who want to compete. And the longer a fundraising window you have, the more opportunity you'll have to grow the donations.

How does fundraising work?

Whatever your style, we'll help make fundraising fun and easy.

For a super-simple approach, make use of the efundraising page you'll be given when you register. Your Leukemia Cup Regatta chapter staff will provide you with a packet filled with great fundraising tips, ideas, samples and instructions on how to create a personal fundraising Web page. You can use the site as is or add your own photos and messaging. Then, email your contacts a link to your site and watch the dollars start coming in!

In addition to raising funds online, you can also send letters to friends and contacts or be creative and hold fundraising events - parties, sales or auctions. Contact Elizabeth Perry, Rhode Island Leukemia Cup Regatta Director (410.943.8888) , for more ideas and instructions on collecting and submitting donations.

How are funds used?

Proceeds from The Leukemia Cup Regatta help advance The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. This mission is carried out through funding extensive research for treatments, cures, government advocacy, patient assistance programs, community outreach and education programs.

For a copy of our annual report please contact Elizabeth Perry, Rhode Island Leukemia Cup Regatta Director(401.943.8888).

Do I have to be an expert sailor to participate?

Not at all! Even if you're not a sailor, you can join in on the fun! From being a crew member to watching the action on a spectator boat to attending the parties, sailors and non-sailors alike can participate in The Leukemia Cup Regatta.

How do I qualify for the Fantasy Sail with Gary Jobson?

Sailors who raise $8,500 or more prior to October 1, 2012 are eligible to participate in the Fantasy Sail with Gary Jobson, taking place location and time TBD! Please contact your local Leukemia Cup Regatta staff for additional information and guidelines.

Can power boaters and junior sailors participate?

At this time, the Rhode Island Chapter's Leukemia Cup Regatta does not offer opportunities for Junior Sailors or Power Boaters to race. However, we are in the process of forming a Junior Regatta Committee! If you know a local High School Student that is interested in combining a love of sailing with an opportunity to serve the community please reach out to Joyce Muir-Pastore (Joyce.Muir-Pastore@lls.org) for an application.

I have a One Design Dinghy, can I participate?

If you have a class of boats that is not currently represented on our registration page please contact us. We would be thrilled to include other classes of boats in our regatta but don't often have enough participation to include Lasers and other similar classes of boats.

I am interested in the CR-914 regatta, how can I participate?

We are thrilled to be offering an opportunity for model yacht enthusiasts to join the Leukemia Cup Regatta this year. We are still in the process of solidifying plans, but racing will take place on the afternoon of Saturday, June 4th at The New York Yacht Club in Newport, Rhode Island. Early registration is recommended as space will be limited. Please visit our registration page to register your boat. Please note that all CR-914 registrations must include a sail #, radio manufacturer and channel number. All other questions on the registration forms are either optional or specific to other types of boats in the regatta. Please note that your registration in the CR-914 race includes a ticket to our Saturday post-regatta BBQ which is a change from last year's registration process.

Visit our website often as we will be updating the site with information and details soon!

Where can I find the Notice Of Race and Sailing Instructions?

The Notice Of Race is available now. Click Here to view the NOR.

The 2011 Sailing Instructions are available now. Click here to view the 2011 Saiing Instructions.

Sailing Instructions for the June 4th regatta will be posted on our website a few days before the event. Registered sailors will also be emailed those instructions prior to the event along with a schedule of weekend events and other key reminders.

How can my yacht club hold a Leukemia Cup Regatta?

Please contact Elizabeth Perry, Rhode Island Leukemia Cup Regatta Director(401.943.8888), and ask about hosting a Leukemia Cup Regatta.