ALBEMARLE PLANTATION — The Edenton Yacht Club won the Albemarle Challenge Cup Sailing Regatta for a second year in a row. It was certainly a proud moment for the Edenton Yacht Club and the Town of Edenton as well.
The three-day event, organized by the Albemarle Sound Sailing Association, was held at the Albemarle Plantation and hosted by Osprey Yacht Club September 11-13, 2026. Since 1985, the Albemarle Challenge Cup has been awarded to the club with the best four overall finishers. Four of five clubs in the Albemarle Sound participated, yielding 15 boats in three tightly grouped classes.
The racers got in three races on Friday even though sailing was suspended at times due to lack of wind. Saturday was a very different story. One medium-length race was completed by all; the second race planned for the day was eventually abandoned when a storm to the SW created gale-force conditions (winds in excess of 40 mph) in minutes. Everyone had a story to tell and learned something from the experience. Sunday morning came with the forecast of thunderstorms and lightning, and with the memory of the previous day’s experience in mind, the Race Committee voted to cancel racing for the day.
Edenton Yacht Club had a strong showing with four boats racing in the regatta: Ken and Ruffin Attkisson on Lift Ticket; John Sams and Dan Bohl on Ember; Mike Burke, Rod Fears, Tom Sullivan, Ceira Sullivan, and Chris Haislet on Time Machine; and Hal Murray, Doug Lane, and Jeff Jones on Evil Twin.
Ken and Ruffin on Lift Ticket took the first-place trophy in the “Fast-boat” class, a tough group of five competitors from three other clubs. Hal Murray, Doug Lane, and Jeff Jones on Evil Twin took first place in the C-division, while John Sams and Dan Bohl on Ember took second place in the same division. This regatta is one of individual competition as well as coordination with other racers in their club. It was a team effort.
Let us know what you think by leaving a comment. Comments are subject to approval.