Tennessean Regatta

THE TENNESSEAN REGATTA. In 1954 a handful of Penguins converged on a small lake in north Nashville to compete in the first Tennessean Regatta sponsored jointly by the Nashville Sailing Association and Nashville's morning newspaper, The Tennessean. The winner of that regatta won the first challenge trophy established by the publisher of The Tennessean, the late Silliman Evans, Jr., a yachting enthusiast.

After holding the regatta on Kentucky Lake for a short time, HIYC brought it home to Old Hickory Lake where it cranks up each year in early Spring under the chairmanship of the Vice Commodore. HIYC's most important and popular regatta, The Tennessean, often draws over 100 boats to compete in the two-weekend competition. Cruising class boats participate on the first weekend of racing, competing for the Harbor Island Cup. The Harbor Island Cup is an overall trophy established in 1968. On the Open Class weekend, competitors race for the Silliman Evans Trophy.

Both of these rotating trophies are among the most coveted silver awarded by Harbor Island. The original Harbor Island Yacht Club Challenge Trophy established in 1969 was retired in 1983.The Tennessean Regatta has changed from a large open dinghy competition with a formal Ball to a two-weekend series that tries to cover all potential classes in both dinghies and cruising boats.

While the festivities are somewhat less formal, the racing is still top notch with great competition on both weekends.