About the Regatta
Windermere Real Estate and the University of Washington are excited to host the 34th annual Windermere Cup Regatta in 2020. Scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd, the regatta is held as part of Seattle’s Opening Day of Boating Season and is followed by the Seattle Yacht Club’s Opening Day Boat Parade. This year’s regatta will include 23 races featuring athletes ages 14-70. More than 1000 rowers earn a spot to compete in this prestigious event, which culminates with the women’s and men’s Windermere Cup races
Teams
This year competitors for the Windermere Cup trophy will include the women’s national team from Great Britain, the men’s national team from the Netherlands, and of course the men and women’s varsity eights from the University of Washington.
Coaches: Lauren Fisher and Peter Sheppard
The Great Britain women's eight won the silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and has qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Yasmin Farooq, UW Women's Rowing Head Coach explains "The last time we raced Great Britain was in the semifinal of the Remenham Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in the UK in 2018. It was an epic race that came down to the final sprint. Henley is one of the most prestigious rowing events in the world and we brought home fantastic memories. Hosting Great Britain’s national team development squad here in Seattle for the Windermere Cup is an opportunity for us to showcase the American version of a rowing spectacle. We can’t wait for them to experience this amazing crowd, in the traditional Windermere Cup and at the Night Sprints on Friday which will surely be unlike any race they have ever rowed.
Coaches: Sigrid Dogger and Ronald Florijn
The Dutch won the bronze medal in the men's eight at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and has qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Michael Callahan, UW Men's Rowing Coach says, "The Netherlands National Team is one of the most elite and competitive international teams. They have deep talent from their junior level all the way to their Olympic level. We have a strong relationship with the Netherlands national team with many of their student athletes rowing for UW currently. They are one of the leading national teams from the Olympics to juniors worlds, medaling at the U23 Championships last summer. We have wanted the Netherlands National Team to come to Windermere Cup for many years and it finally fits in their competition schedule as a lead up to their world championships."
University of Washington Teams
Coach: Michael Callahan
The Washington men have won seven of the last 12 Intercollegiate Rowing Association varsity eight national titles, while also winning the Ten Eyck 12 of the last 13 years.
Coach: Yasmin Farooq
The Washington women head into the 2020 season as the defending NCAA Champions, having swept the 2019 national championship regatta's three grand finals to win the UW's second NCAA crown in the last three seasons.
Race Schedule
Boat Parade Schedule
The Seattle Yacht Club partners with the University of Washington and Windermere Real Estate to put on the Opening Day of Boating Season, one of Seattle’s most-loved Spring traditions.
Many changes have taken place since the first Opening Day celebration in 1913, when the Montlake Cut opened Lake Washington to Lake Union. Today, Washington is one of the top ten boating states in America and the Seattle Yacht Club’s Opening Day Boat Parade is one of the biggest in the world.
The 2020 parade theme is Rock Around the Dock... a Celebration of Rock, Rhythm & Blues... and more.
Log Boom - Saturday, May 2nd
For those of you that want to watch the races from your boat, you can tie your boat to the log boom that lines the course. You must complete a 2020 boat moorage application to reserve your spot.
For all the early birds out there, tie up to the log boom begins on Thursday, April 31st at noon. But all those who donate in advance will be assured a place on the boom if they arrive before 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 2nd. Location along the boom is allocated or assigned (you pick) on a first-come, first-served basis within the reservation area. Staff will assure your boat is tied up in a safe location based on its size. Boats wanting to be next to specific boats MUST arrive together - no exceptions.
For more information contact uwharbor@uw.edu
Shore Attractions
Awards Stage – Starting at 12:30 p.m. there will be an award ceremony on the north side of the Montlake Cut, west of the Montlake Bridge
Bouncy House for Kids – Children 10 and under can enjoy the Pirate Ship bouncy house
Build a Boat Station - Presented by The Home Depot, children can build their own souvenir boat to take home
Dawg Pack Student Section – Current University of Washington students have access prime seating for races and parade
Food & Drink Vendors - There will be ten food and drink vendors on the north side of the Montlake Cut, west of the Montlake Bridge
Merchandise – Windermere Cup gear and commemorative items will be for sale on the north side of the Montlake Cut, west of the Montlake Bridge and on the log boom
Photo Booth – Jump in the photo booth for lasting memories
Food & Drink Vendors
We will have food and beverage vendors on the north side of the Cut west of the Montlake Bridge. This year we are excited to welcome the following vendors at Windermere Cup:
Stay tuned for more! If you are interested in being a vendor, please contact us at events@windermere.com.
Windermere Cup Merchandise
2020 Windermere Cup Merchandise Coming Soon!
FAQ
The viewing areas along the north and south shores of the Montlake Cut on race day are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You may also watch from the Montlake Bridge. The bridge closes to car traffic from 9:40 AM - 3:00 PM and you can watch the races from the bridge from 9:40 AM -11:45 AM, but you need to be off the bridge by noon when the cannon blast signals the beginning of the Boat Parade. That is when the bridge goes up to let the boats through.
Yes, there are a select group of food and beverage vendors on the north side of the Cut west of the Montlake Bridge.
The area around the Montlake Cut gets very congested on the morning of the races. Consider taking Metro, Light Rail or riding your bike down to the event.
The Windermere Cup races begin at 10:00 a.m. but the Montlake Bridge closes to car traffic at 9:40 a.m. It is best to arrive between 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. to get a spot on the Cut to watch the races.
After the races, all of the competing crews, with the exception of the teams competing in the Windermere Cup and Erickson Cascade Cup, will wait at the west end of the Montlake Cut in Portage Bay until all the races are over and then they will row back through the Cut to the Conibear shellhouse to put their boats away. This creates quiet a spectacle every year. Afterward there is an awards ceremony on the JumboTron Stage on the North side of the Montlake Cut, west of the Montlake Bridge, where awards are handed out, approximately between 12:30 - 2:00 PM. Many of the athletes gather there after the races.
