The 16^th Annual Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta takes place over the weekend of July 11-13 in Deltaville. An exciting change this year is that all onshore activities will be hosted by the Deltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park on its spacious grounds.

Twice voted the Best Regatta on the Bay by the readers of Chesapeake Bay Magazine, Fishing Bay Yacht Club, Stingray Harbour Yacht Club, and Wilton Creek Cruising Club will continue to sponsor this popular regional sailing event.

The Leukemia Cup kicks-off Regatta Weekend with a reception on Friday evening, July 11, at the Deltaville Maritime Museum where participants will pick up their race instructions and enjoy adult beverages and a splendid crab cake dinner catered by J&W Seafood.

New on Friday this year, the dynamic musical duo of ‘Mike and Ed’ will present their extensive repertoire of boomer tunes from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Both area sailors, their performance is interspersed with humorous commentary.

The warm-up on Friday will prelude Regatta racing activities to be officiated by the Fishing Bay Yacht Club on Saturday & Sunday, July 12– 13, and the Gala and traditional Leukemia Cup Auction on Saturday evening, July 12, at the Deltaville Maritime Museum.

Saturday’s offerings include fun, good food, and the live music of Sweet Justice, returning again this year for an encore performance. You don’t need to register your yacht in the Regatta or even own a boat to feel welcome at this community event.

Tickets will be available at the door, space permitting, for those unable to register in advance, online or by telephone or mail. However, because of the expected demand for dinner tickets this year, it is strongly advised to register in advance to avoid disappointment.

A special treat this year at the Deltaville Maritime Museum for Leukemia Cup visitors and participants will be John Barber’s Chesapeake: 50 Years of Maritime Art exhibit in the brand-spanking-new museum building. Barber, one of the nation’s foremost marine artists, is assembling a retrospective of more than 50 original paintings of his most important works. Museum members enter free; others will pay a reasonable charge.

Registration for the Regatta is now available online at www.leukemiacup.org/va. All entries are due before Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 1200. Registrations received by June 13will receive a $25 discount and ensure that the name of the participating yacht is printed on the official Regatta t-shirt. A portion of the registration fee will be tax-deductible. There will be PHRF Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker Divisions, a J105 Division, a Classic Division, and a Cruising Division for a more casual racing format.

Skippers don’t even need an official PHRF rating to participate in the Classic and Cruising Divisions. With only a boat’s specifications, a temporary rating will be assigned for the series. It’s easy to do, and it’s all online at www.leukemiacup.org/va.

The Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta has raised almost $2 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society since the Regatta’s inception and is typically honored as one of the top Leukemia Cup fundraisers in the nation each year.

Leading up to the Regatta, sailors and their crews raise funds for the Society to compete for prizes and a "Fantasy Sail" with Gary Jobson. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is also grateful to returning sponsors SunTrust Bank, Middle Peninsula Insurance, J & W Seafood, Norton's Yacht Sales, Deltaville Maritime Museum, Virginia Sportsman, Local Accent, Chesapeake Bay Magazine, Virginia Living, Motley's Auctions, and Marlow Hunter Marine. And more generous sponsors are expected to come on board before the event.