Set for this weekend is the annual Tri-State Regatta.

The sailboat race will take participants from Chicago to St. Joseph to Michigan City, Indiana. St. Joseph River Yacht Club Vice Commodore Nick Culp tells us the Tri-State Regatta is a highlight of the season.

“It’s a popular event that is sort of the capstone of summer that I know hundreds of folks from our community look forward to each year,” Culp said. “We’ll be expecting about 100 sailboats racing in from Chicago early Saturday morning. So, if you’re an early riser, get out there and take a look on the water.”

The arrival time for the boats will depend on the wind and other weather conditions. Culp says once all the boats are in, the St. Joseph River Yacht Club opens its doors to the whole community for a celebration.

“The real highlight of the day for the community is our Tri-State Regatta Party, which kicks off in the afternoon. We’ll be doing a dinner service around 6 p.m. Then at 8.30, we’ll have the popular band, Libido Funk Circus, kicking off on the main stage with live entertainment going until midnight.”

Culp says the club is open to the public for the day, although there is a cover charge after 6 p.m. and tickets are needed for meals.

The sailboats will head out Sunday morning to their final stop, Michigan City.

The race from Chicago to St. Joseph is run by the Columbia Yacht Club partnership with the St. Joseph River Yacht Club. Some of the earliest competitive sailing between the historic Columbia Yacht Club and the St. Joseph Yacht Club dates all the way back to the early 1900s.