Join friends and family members for an exhilarating sailboat racing experience on the crisp, clear waters of Manhasset Bay on Saturday, Oct. 11 beginning at 11 a.m. to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. The 11th Annual Charity Cup Regatta, hosted by the Port Washington Yacht Club welcomes sailors as well as landlubbers to a challenging event complete with a sailboat competition, adult and children's activities and assorted foods and refreshments.

Aside from the exciting competition, Ronald McDonald will be on hand to enchant children with his antics and share in the festivities of the day. Children will also have the opportunity to enjoy pony rides, face painting, an inflatable bounce castle, and delicious cotton candy. Fascinating silent auction items will be available to bid on, as well.

If the competition helps work up an appetite, you will have the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a delicious feast, complete with refreshments, beer and wine, which will be served throughout the day. At the close of the day's activities, guests will enjoy a delicious awards dinner with musical entertainment.

According to Theresa Nees, chairperson of the event, this event has had tremendous response in the past and they are expecting a large crowd this year. The fee to attend is $100 per adult; children 10 and under are free. For information about sponsorship opportunities or to register for the Eleventh Annual Charity Cup Regatta, you may call the Port Washington Yacht Club at 767-1614.

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is a 'home-away-from home' for families who are caring for seriously ill children undergoing medical treatment in area hospitals. Located on the campus of Schneider Children's Hospital, the House accommodates families in a warm and supportive environment. Since opening in 1986, more than 12,000 families from the United States and more than 80 countries around the world have been served. Many of the families are from Queens, Suffolk and Nassau Counties, as well as the surrounding metropolitan area.