Cruising Class

The Hyannis Port Yacht Club holds two races for cruising yachts, The Senator’s Cup in July and the McKelvy Cup in August.  

 

The Senator's Cup had its inaugural July Cruising Class race in 2020 when the Class put into competition a perpetual trophy to honor Senator Kennedy whose daily sails on Mya inspired many members of the cruising class's love of sailing and competition.  

 

Prior to the race each year, the race participants will sail past the Hyannis Port Pier to salute the Senator's Cup Honorary Captain. The Fleet will select an individual who has made great contributions to our Hyannis Port community through voluntary service to serve as Honorary Captain.   In 2020, the Fleet proudly selected Liz Mumford as the Senator’s Cup inaugural Honorary Captain.

 

The McKelvy Cup began in 1969 then commodore John E. McKelvy, Jr. donated a silver trophy to HPYC in honor of his late father John E. McKelvy, who had been a longtime club supporter and former treasurer. A sailing race was established for the handicap cruising class, the winner of which was to be awarded the John E. McKelvy Memorial Trophy. The competition was was held annually from 1969 through 1972 when interest seemed wane and the handsome prize was retired. 

With the trophy out of sight for the next three decades, the existence of the race was virtually forgotten when John McKelvy, Jr.’s widow, Nancy, came upon the "cup" in her barn in 2004. She generously offered it to the club if we wished to revive the competition. Tim O’Keeffe organized the first “new” McKelvy Trophy race in the summer of 2004 and the cup has been sailed for every year since. 

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The Senator’s Cup will be raced Sunday, July 11 and The McKelvy Cup will be raced Sunday, August 29th.