The Inter-Livery Regatta, run by the City Livery Yacht Club, is the most prestigious sailing event of the Livery calendar, and the first of the year open to all sailors of all Livery Companies.
In 2026, this will be the 57th anniversary of the Inter-Livery Regatta!
Across the weekend, we see Livery Companies of the City battle off the coast of Cowes throughout two or three races to decide the winner of the sought-after Lord Mayor’s Cup. We are also joined by members of the City Sailing Series in order to compete for the Visitor’s Vase, and in recent years have added a new racing fleet of Sonars for sailors who are keen on racing smaller keelboats!
The weekend is a pillar of the Livery calendar and combines the camaraderie and conviviality of the Livery world, with the gentle competitiveness of sailing. Really, a weekend not to be missed!
WHY ENTER?
You will have the opportunity to race against some of the finest sailors from London’s historic Livery Companies, regardless of your own level of experience. The weekend is professionally managed but intended as a relaxed, sociable event to allow attendees to network and strengthen Livery bonds.
The Lady Mayor has been invited to attend this year’s competition, and will be presenting the trophies at the Saturday Evening Presentation dinner – an unmissable opportunity to meet her in a spectacular sailing location, renowned around the world.
IF YOU WANT TO BOOK IN FOR THE EVENT, EMAIL CLYC’s CLUB SECRETARY NOW USING: clubsec@clyc.co.uk
ENTRY ELIGIBILITY
The regatta is open to all members of London’s Livery Companies. Each Livery Company may enter one or more boats, providing an excellent opportunity for companies to field competitive teams and showcase their sailing prowess. You need not enter or use your own boat, as many companies charter a boat(s) for the weekend’s activities.
If you would like to hire a Sonar for the weekend, you must have a minimum of 3 crew members for each Sonar, with a maximum of 5 crew.
Important: Each boat must be skippered by a member of the City Livery Yacht Club in order to qualify for entry for the Lord Mayor’s Cup. Where there is no CLYC member onboard, the boat will only be entered for the Visitor’s Vase.
If your Livery Company wishes to participate in the Lord Mayor’s Cup but doesn’t have a CLYC member, we can help connect you with experienced skippers.
CLYC will be running a Crew Boat for the weekend, intended to be made up of sailors from a range of Livery Companies though competing under the CLYC banner. A skipper will be provided. Please contact CLYC Club Secretary if you would be interested in joining the Crew Boat.
The cost to enter the racing is £100.00 per boat/team, payable on entry. The Sonars will have a race cost of £50.00 per boat.
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TIMELINE OF THE WEEKEND
| Lunchtime onwards | Boats can arrive at Cowes Yacht Haven for pre-arranged berthing, provided the CLYC Club Secretary has been notified. |
| 19:00 | Crew Dinner at the Royal Ocean Racing Club, Cowes – a less formal hot buffet, to allow crews the opportunity to mingle ahead of racing. |
| 08:30 | Briefing by the CLYC Race Officers on the dockside at Cowes Yacht Haven |
| Mid-morning | First race start for the first fleet just off Cowes breakwater. The second fleet will start shortly after. Once the starts are fully underway, the Race Officers will brief the Sonar fleet. |
| Late morning | The Sonar fleet will commence their back to back races. |
| Lunch | Competitors will stay afloat for lunch, with shore contingents welcome to dine in one of Cowes’ many offerings, including Royal London Yacht Club (affiliate of CLYC) or the Island Sailing Club. |
| Early Afternoon | Second start for the first fleet, with the second fleet starting shortly after. |
| 18:30 | Presentation Dinner and Prize-Giving Ceremony at the Royal Yacht Squadron. |
| Mid-morning | Potential for a third race of the weekend starting and finishing outside Cowes Breakwater, though without an obligation for boats to come back into Cowes. The award for this race will be presented the following year.
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| By Midday | All boats to have departed their berths at Cowes Yacht Haven. |
RACING FORMAT
Each boat entering the Inter-Livery Regatta will be required to have a YTC Handicap (YTC HANDICAP FORMS) in order to participate. This is free of charge to obtain, and should not cause you to spend hours taking measurements! The CLYC Race Officers will use this handicap system to calculate the results of the racing. If you do not have an existing YTC Handicap, please contact the CLYC Club Secretary who can provide you with assistance where possible.
Participating boats will be split into two fleets for the larger cruisers, and a third fleet for the Sonars. There are individual trophies awarded for each fleet in each of the races, though the combined results of the Saturday races will be used to ascertain the winner of the Lord Mayor’s Cup and Visitor’s Vase.
The third race on the Sunday morning will be run if there is sufficient interest declared by participants. A prize for the third race will be presented at the following year’s Inter-Livery Regatta, though participants will be notified of the results following the event.
TROPHIES UP FOR GRABS
| Lord Mayors’ Cup | Overall winner across the Saturday races with a CLYC Skipper (Previous winners – Leathersellers (2025,2024,2023,2021), Innholders (2022), Plumbers (2020)) | |
| Visitor’s Vase | Overall winner of the Saturday races without a CLYC member onboard (Previous winners – Bar Yacht Club (2025), Dark Horse Sailing Club (2024)) | |
| Sonar Cup | Overall winner of the Sonar races | |
| Champion Cup | 1st Place Livery Company – to be displayed at all the year’s functions of the Livery of the winner! (Previous winners – Leathersellers (2025,2024,2023,2021), Innholders (2022)) | |
| Leathersellers Cup | 1st Female Helm | |
| Ann Glover Cup | Highest place Innholder boat | |
| Class winners of the first and second races (excluding overall winners) (Previous winners – Leathersellers (2025), Carpenters (2025), Innholders (2024), Saddlers (2024), Scriveners (2024), Innholders (2023,2022), Entrepreneurs (2023), Carmen (2022,2021), Wheelwrights (2021), Blacksmiths (2021), Actuaries (2021), Dyers (2020), Girdlers (2020)) | ||
| Commodore’s Discretionary Trophies | ||
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- When is this year’s competition? 15-17 May 2026
- Where is the Inter-Livery Regatta Located? All events are held within West Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. Cowes Yacht Haven and each of the evening venues are about 15 minutes’ walk of each other, and taxis/water taxis are available.
- How do I enter the racing? Express your interest in the event now to clubsec@clyc.co.uk and our Club Secretary will notify you when the entry forms are live.
- Do I need to pre-book the evening events? Yes, though these will be separate bookings to the race entry. There are number limitations for each of the venues, so it will be best to book tickets early to avoid disappointment when the forms go live.
- Are the venues accessible? Each of the venues in Cowes is disability friendly, with non-steps access to each indoors venue. If you require any specific access arrangements for your berth at Cowes Yacht Haven please let CLYC Club Secretary know, and she will liaise with the Haven as to your requirements.
- How do I secure a berth at Cowes Yacht Haven? When you express your interest in entering, and when you complete the entry form, you must specify that you wish to have a berth at Cowes Yacht Haven. If you do not request a berth, the CLYC Club Secretary will be unable to ensure that there is space available for you on what will be a busy weekend in Cowes.
- Do I do anything differently to book a Sonar? The entry form will be the same, you simply need to include ‘Sonar’ as the type of boat you plan to race for the weekend. CLYC’s Club Secretary will then liaise between you and the Island Sailing Club about the hire costs and requirements.
- Can I join in even though my Livery isn’t sending a boat? Certainly! Ask about the CLYC Crew Boat and book on a space.
- Do I need to be a CLYC member to take part? No, but it’s always best if you are! Each boat competing for the Lord Mayor’s Cup must have at least one CLYC member onboard.
- If I am not racing, will there be anything for me to do? West Cowes has a lovely high street full of shops and cafes to explore, though there will also be premier race viewing available at both the Royal London Yacht Club (one of our affiliates) or the terrace at the Island Sailing Club throughout the day. All guests are welcome to book tickets to the Friday and Saturday evening events whether they are racing or not.
- Is there a spectator boat? No, but there is nothing to stop you from attending by boat to act as your own spectator base! You will not need to complete any entry form, but it is imperative that you notify the CLYC Club Secretary if you will require a Cowes Yacht Haven berth.
MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER YOUR INTEREST TODAY BY CONTACTING – clubsec@clyc.co.uk
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