Whalers Race 2026
February 18, 2026
[name-auto-insert]New Bedford Yacht Club invites you to be part of a storied offshore tradition at the 2026 Whalers Race on Saturday, June 6, 2026, starting and finishing just outside Padanaram Harbor in Dartmouth, MA. This classic distance race, first sailed in 1932, sends competitors around iconic marks off Cuttyhunk Island, Nomans Land, Block Island, and Buzzards Horn, offering both long and short course options for monohulls and multihulls, fully crewed and doublehanded, spinnaker and non-spinnaker.
The regatta is open to all yachts 21 feet and over with a valid 2026 PHRF-NE or NEMA certificate, with entry forms and certificates due online at www.nbyc.com/racing by 1700 on Friday, May 29, 2026. The entry fee is $150, and registration and expedited tracker shipping are available through yachtscoring.com, with a Skippers Meeting and Welcome Reception at New Bedford Yacht Club (208 Elm Street, Dartmouth, MA) at 1800 on Friday, June 5, 2026.
Each boat will carry a YB GPS tracker supplied by the Organizing Authority, and all yachts must submit a signed Certificate of Compliance and return their tracker after racing to be scored.
The Whalers Race features a full range of classes, including a special 'Under 25 Fully Crewed Spinnaker' division, and competitors will race for class awards and prestigious perpetual trophies presented at the NBYC Annual Awards Dinner.
Visiting boats can reserve moorings by contacting the NBYC office at (508) 997-0762 or via VHF 68, making it easy to join a weekend of serious racing, seamanship, and camaraderie on Buzzards Bay.
For full Notice of Race details, safety requirements, and sailing instructions (available by 1700 on June 5), please visit www.nbyc.com/racing or contact Sailing Director Brianna Grenier at brianna@nbyc.com .