Tampa Bay Hospice Cup

Mark your calendars for an exciting regatta at Davis Island Yacht Club that promises fun competition and a chance to contribute to a worthy cause.

The Tampa Bay Hospice Cup is an extension of the long-running Morgan Invasion, traditionally hosted by the Club at Treasure Island.

"Davis Island Yacht Club is proud to partner with Charley Morgan to create an exciting new event around the long-running Morgan Invasion,” said Commodore Bob Crawford. “Everyone knows the great work done by Hospice and how important it is to Tampa Bay. We are dedicated to supporting this great cause and making this a ‘can't miss’ event on the Tampa Bay sailing calendar.”

The transformed Tampa Bay Hospice Cup first took place in 2013 and was put together after Morgan Invasion organizers approached DIYC with the idea, said Hospice Cup regatta steering committee chairman and DIYC member Kevin Fouche. They wanted to expand the popular Morgan regatta, which has benefited Suncoast Hospice since the Invasion’s 25th anniversary in 2010.

The Hospice Cup steering committee is comprised of representatives from the Davis Island Yacht Club, the Morgan Invasion, West Florida Yacht Racing Association and the Bay Area Hospice organizations. Charley Morgan, who is serving on the committee, is enthusiastic about the new format.

“This is a decision that will enlarge awareness of and financial support to Hospice, and to its humane services and contributions to the Tampa Bay area,” he said. “This is a high purpose which all of the Tampa Bay sailing fraternity can appreciate and relate to.”

Similar to the traditions of the Morgan Invasion, the Tampa Bay Hospice Cup appeals to both cruisers and racers. With a strong focus on informal sailing and camaraderie, the event caters to cruising enthusiasts that just want to come out and be part of a fun. In addition to the traditional Morgan Invasion fleets, the regatta also features open non-Morgan fleets for PHRF, Multi-hulls, and a “Just-for-Fun” casual fleet. The committee also plans land-side activities for supporters who’d like to be a part of the event but who don’t care to race.

It’s all to raise money for the Tampa Bay area Hospice organizations. Hospice organizations are committed to serving persons who are living with chronic and/or terminal illnesses, nearing the end of life, or experiencing grief. They offer comprehensive hospice and palliative care, caregiver education, individual and group counseling, spiritual support and many other programs to those it serves regardless of race, age, faith, diagnosis or financial circumstances.

For the latest information, visit our Facebook Page and the official regatta web site.