Mudhead Benefit Regatta & Sails Up 4 Cancer Shoreside Party
Mudhead Benefit Regatta & Sails Up 4 Cancer Shoreside Party brings sailors and non-sailors together in Mystic on Saturday, August 15, but you don’t need to spend the day racing to take part. Once the boats are coming back in, the focus shifts ashore to Rocks 21 for a public celebration with a BBQ buffet, DJ, silent auction, prize drawings and the announcement of the day’s race results. (Sails Up 4 Cancer)
This year’s party also marks two milestones for organizations deeply tied to southeastern Connecticut’s sailing community: 15 years of Sails Up 4 Cancer and 50 years of the Mystic River Mudhead Sailing Association. That makes the post-race gathering more than the usual celebration at the end of a regatta. It’s an anniversary party and cancer fundraiser rolled into one.
Most importantly, the shoreside party is open to the public, and you do not have to sail in the regatta to attend. Party tickets are $50 in advance or $65 at the door and include the BBQ buffet and one drink ticket.
The Party After the Race
The sailing may give the day its name, but for plenty of people the main event begins when everyone comes ashore.
The Sails Up 4 Cancer Shoreside Party takes place at Rocks 21 at 3 Williams Avenue in Mystic at 5pm. Racers coming off the water mix with friends, supporters and people who skipped the sailing altogether.
A DJ provides the music, while the evening includes prize drawings, a silent auction and presentation of the regatta results.
Tickets also include a BBQ buffet and one drink ticket.
It’s an easy way to support the cause without knowing port from starboard. Come for the food, stay for the party, bid on something in the auction and help raise money for people affected by cancer.
Celebrating 15 Years of Sails Up 4 Cancer
The 2026 event marks the 15th anniversary of Sails Up 4 Cancer, the Mystic-area nonprofit behind the fundraiser.
The organization uses sailing as the foundation for raising money to support cancer education, prevention, care and research. Its work also extends directly to people dealing with cancer through the SU4C Spinnaker Fund, which provides financial assistance to individuals in the community.
Funds raised through events like the Mudhead Benefit Regatta help support that work.
SU4C’s calendar now includes fundraisers throughout the year, but sailing remains at the organization’s core. The annual regatta and party bring that mission back to the Mystic waterfront where it began.
And 50 Years of the Mudheads
There’s another birthday at this year’s party.
The Mystic River Mudhead Sailing Association celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026.
The Mudheads have long approached sailing as both competition and community. The club promotes racing at multiple skill levels while placing an unusual amount of emphasis on camaraderie and the social side of the sport.
You can see both halves of that personality on August 15.
During the day, sailors compete for results and ECSA points. Once the racing ends, crews head ashore and the atmosphere changes quickly from competition to celebration.
About the Mudhead Benefit Regatta
For those following the racing itself, the Mudhead Benefit Regatta welcomes both serious racers and recreational sailors.
Boat registration is $50 per boat, and skippers are encouraged to recruit crews who can also help raise money by seeking donations from friends, family members, employers and other supporters. /
The competition provides the framework, but fundraising is the larger purpose.
The regatta has also participated in the Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas program, an international sustainability initiative designed to reduce waste and keep trash and other pollution out of waterways. Sails Up 4 Cancer reports that the Mudheads earned Silver Level Clean Regatta certification for the event.
You Don’t Have to Be a Sailor
This is probably the most useful thing to know before deciding whether to go.
The party is explicitly open to non-sailors
You don’t need a boat. You don’t need to know anyone racing. And you certainly don’t need to understand corrected sailing times to enjoy the evening.
The shoreside portion works as a standalone Saturday event: BBQ, music, drinks, an auction and a crowd celebrating on the Mystic waterfront.
For people who want to support Sails Up 4 Cancer but aren’t part of the sailing community, this is the part of the regatta designed to bring everybody together.
Party Tickets
Advance tickets for the shoreside party are $50 per person.
Tickets purchased at the door are $65 per person.
Admission includes:
- BBQ buffet
- One drink ticket
- DJ
- Silent auction
- Prize drawings
- Regatta results and awards
- Access to the public shoreside celebration
Advance tickets make sense if you’re already planning to attend, both for the lower price and to avoid relying on availability at the door.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Event: Mudhead Benefit Regatta in support of Sails Up 4 Cancer & SU4C Shoreside Party
Shoreside Party Location: Rocks 21
Address: 3 Williams Avenue, Mystic, CT 06355
Party Admission: $50 in advance; $65 at the door
Party Ticket Includes: BBQ buffet and one drink ticket
Entertainment: DJ
Activities: Silent auction, prize drawings and announcement of race results
Public Admission: Yes. The party is open to the public and non-sailors.
Regatta Entry: $50 per boat
Beneficiary: Sails Up 4 Cancer
2026 Milestones: 15th anniversary of Sails Up 4 Cancer and 50th anniversary of the Mystic River Mudhead Sailing Association.
Important Note: You do not need to participate in the regatta to purchase a ticket and attend the shoreside party.
More Information
For more information, visit the event website using the Event Website link below.
For ticket purchases, click on the Ticketing link belowttyy
