There will be no shortage of things to do this weekend around the Albemarle. There will be mud slinging at the tractor pull in Morgans Corner and ski jumping in Gates County. But it will be the beauty of Elizabeth City on display when the Carolina Cup Regatta comes to town on Saturday and Sunday.
Along with the inboard hydroplanes, which can reach speeds of over 160 mph, the popular Jersey Speed Skiffs will be racing in the Pasquotank River just off the water front. There will also be more than a dozen vintage boats on display on both land and water and there will be about 10 boats in a junior class for the first time. The J class is for kids between the ages of nine and 16.
"The vintage part was (requested) from our own community, because of the history on the Pasquotank of the regatta," said Shirley Outlaw, secretary of the Carolina Cup Regatta committee.
The boats will be coming in from all over the country, including High Society from South Carolina. That boat's owner, Bill Steinfield, won a race on the Pasquotank River in 1959.
The American Power Boat Association sanctions the event and Elizabeth City will be the sixth stop on the 28-race Eastern Division tour.
Organizers of the third annual event are expecting close to 10,000 people to converge on the water front for the two days of racing.
Last year, there were about 7,500 attendees, an increase of 40 percent from 2006. Despite the busy weekend, Outlaw is not too concerned that attendance to the Carolina Cup will be affected that much.
"Yes, it's a concern, but we're hoping that Elizabeth City has grown enough that there will be enough spectators for all the events," she said.
As racers come into town on Friday, their boats can be viewed in front of the Museum of the Albemarle. The museum has several historical items on display, including the International Cup, an original trophy from 1955, as well as some 1950s era power boats and equipment.
Racing begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday and runs until 5 p.m. both days. There is no cost to watch the races, which can be seen from anywhere along the water front.
More information on the regatta can be found at www.carolinacupregatta.com
Thanks to Will Harris, Sports Writer, Daily Advance. The full article can be read at: http://www.dailyadvance.com/local/content/sports/stories/2008/06/0606CarolinaCup.html
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