Race for the Rum | Saturday July 18, 2026

Long Island Sound’s Premier Race and Awards Party for 31 Years

Race to Win a 10-Liter Goslings Essex Rum Challenge Trophy!

Come for the Race and
Stay for the Party!

Sponsored by Goslings, this race is run in two parts - a preliminary one-design race run in the river on the Saturday preceding the Rum Challenge and then the big boat race run in open water on Long Island Sound. The Awards Ceremony is the capstone of the after-party, with drinks, dinner and dancing on the Club’s riverside grounds.

One of a five-race series necessary to qualify for the LongSand Shoals Cup, the Rum Challenge offers awards for top finishing boats in each class. The ESSEX RUM CHALLENGE CLUB TROPHY is awarded to the yacht club with the best combined class scores of ANY THREE CLUB YACHTS.

Sign Up to Race Now at yachtscoring.com!

Important Dates & Times

  • The entry fee is $50 per yacht or $40 if paid before July 1, 2026. A $5 discount is offered to US Sailing members. Late entries (after July 15, 2026) shall be subject to a late-entry fee of $20.

    Boats must register by 1200 on Friday, July 17.

    Sign Up Now at yachtscoring.com.

  • The Skippers Meeting will be held at the Essex Yacht Club at 1800 on Friday July 17, 2026. The skipper’s package, including Goslings’ hats, party tickets, and the regatta program, will be available at the Skippers Meeting and at the Awards Party.

  • The First Warning will be at 1200 on Saturday July 18, 2026.

    The Race Committee may decide to sail two races.

  • The post-race party begins at 1700 on July 18 on the grounds of Essex Yacht Club at 13 Novelty Lane, Essex, CT.

    Awards Ceremony, Live Music, Dancing, Food, Goslings Rum Cocktails and Beer.

    Rum Party tickets are $30, or $20 when purchased in advance with race entry on YachtScoring.com.

    Advance tickets may be purchased with registration on YachtScoring.com.

Additional Details

  • The starting area will be approximately ¼ mile west of the Old Saybrook Outer Light.

  • There will be PHRF Spinnaker (Windward/Leeward), PHRF Spinnaker (Round the Buoys (RTB)), PHRF Non-Spinnaker (RTB), ORC and Multihull Classes. A minimum of three entries is required to start a class.

    If there are sufficient entries, a separate Nonsuch class will be started, otherwise such entries will be placed in the PHRF Non-Spinnaker class.

  • Prizes will be awarded to the first-placed boats in each class. Second-place prizes will be awarded in each class with 4 or more entries. Third-place prizes will be awarded in classes with 5 or more entries.

    A prize will be awarded to the Nonsuch entry with the lowest corrected time if there is no separate Nonsuch Class.

    The Hot Flash Trophy shall be awarded to the yacht with the lowest combined elapsed times of all races in the fastest class.

    The Tom Lentini Memorial Trophy shall be awarded to the yacht with the lowest corrected time in the Non-Spinnaker classes.

    The Essex Rum Challenge Club Trophy shall be awarded to the yacht club with the best combined class scores of any three yachts. See online Notice Board for details.

  • Essex Yacht Club
    Free moorings and dock space may be available at the Essex Yacht Club on a first come - first served basis. Call the EYC Waterfront Manager at (860) 581-4612 for details.

    North Cove
    A harbor of safe refuge, this space should offer plenty of moorings at low cost. The North Cove Yacht Club offers limited launch service.

    Safe Harbor
    For overflow, contact Safe Harbor, which has a number of marinas located in Essex and the surrounding area.

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