The Camellia Cup Regatta returns to the waters of Folsom Lake this weekend for its 58th consecutive year. Hosted by the Folsom Lake Yacht Club (FLYC), the two-day event will take place Saturday and Sunday, April 12–13, at Brown’s Ravine inside the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area.
The Camellia Cup marks the official start of the boating season in the Sacramento Valley and draws participants from throughout California and neighboring states. The event includes multiple classes of sailboats racing over two days. Races begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday, concluding at 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Sailboats in the regatta typically range from 13 to 25 feet in length, with classes expected to include Banshees, Lasers, Lido 14s, Thistles, Buccaneers, VX Ones, Day Sailers, Vanguards, Santana 20s, Catalina 22s, Capri 22s and 25s, Cal 22s and 250s, Wavelength 24s, Hunter 270s, and multihull boats.
At the 2024 Camellia Cup, 26 sailboats competed in six different classes. The overall winner was Elliot Drake of San Francisco, sailing in the nine-boat Laser class. Drake won two races and placed third in a third to secure the Open Centerboard Perpetual Trophy. Other winners included Gary Preston (Keelboat class, Hunter 270), Jon Kim (Multihull, Corsair F24), Douglas McWilliams (Open Centerboard, Flying Dutchman), Don Hare (Open Keel Blue Fleet, Catalina 22), and Kerry Johnson (Banshee class).
Conditions last year varied from moderate winds to near calm, which affected final race results. This weekend’s forecast should provide superb conditions for the event.
More information on participation visit www.flyc.org. There is no cost to watch the races from various shorelines of Folsom Lake over the weekend, though state park entrance fees apply in those areas.
Event concludes just before boating restrictions begin on April 14
Starting Monday, April 14, all trailered and motorized boats launching at Folsom Lake will be subject to mandatory inspections and a 30-day quarantine. This policy is being implemented by California State Parks and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in response to the detection of invasive golden mussels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Boats must receive a red quarantine seal after inspection and remain out of the water for 30 days. Beginning May 14, vessels with unbroken seals may return to the water. Boaters can request resealing upon exit to maintain their eligibility without repeating the full quarantine.
The new regulations apply to trailered and motorized boats only. Non-motorized vessels such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and rowing shells are exempt, as are electric trolling motor craft like some fishing kayaks.
Officials from Folsom Lake State Recreation Area state the inspection and quarantine program is intended to prevent the spread of golden mussels, which can impact infrastructure and aquatic ecosystems.
More information is available at https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/inspections.
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