MADISON, Wis. – In a first for the Wisconsin men's and women's rowing programs, the Badgers will compete at the 38th annual Windermere Cup on May 4.

Taking place on Montlake Cut in Seattle, the Badgers will race against the host school Washington and crews from the Italian National Team.

For the women, first-year Badger head coach and Olympian Vicky Opitz and the Wisconsin women's rowing program will race at the Windermere Cup for the first time. UW Athletics Hall of Famer and Olympian Yasmin Farooq serves as Washington's head coach.

"The whole women's open weight team is very excited to have this opportunity to go out at race the University of  Washington at the Windermere Cup," Opitz said. "Windermere Cup is one of the premier rowing events  that combines great racing with fun festivities. I have tremendous respect for  Coach Yaz and the Husky women, and to have this race on our spring schedule will add a competitive test against a strong squad before Big Tens.

"With all the buzz from the Boys in the Boat movie and being in a fun city like Seattle, it will certainly be a race our women will treasure as a part of their college racing experience."

The annual spring rowing event on the Montlake Cut is held in conjunction with the Seattle Yacht Club's Opening Day parade, which signals the beginning of boating season in Seattle. The entire event is a joint effort between Washington Rowing, the Seattle Yacht Club and Windermere Real Estate, with Windermere serving as the title sponsor of the main racing events.

"Of course it's my dream to have the two 'UW's' meet up on Montlake," said Washington women's head coach Yasmin Farooq. "Yes, it's a preview of our future together in the Big Ten, but it's deeper than that. Wisconsin coach Vicky Opitz is a fellow Olympian, and Washington and Wisconsin women were teammates in the 1984 Olympic gold medal eight. There is a lot of history between these programs, and we can't wait to welcome them to Windermere Cup."  

For the men, Wisconsin and Washington began competing for the W Cup in 1993, with the race location alternating between the two schools. In recent years, the trophy has gone to the higher varsity eight finisher at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships.

On the national stage, Washington owns 17 Ten Eyck Trophies for overall IRA points champion, while Wisconsin owns 15, second-most in history.

"We're excited as a team to be invited by the University Washington to compete at the Windemere Cup/Opening Day," UW men's rowing head coach Beau Hoopman said. "It's a great opportunity to rekindle a previous race we used to have with the newest member of the Big Ten in an awesome environment. 

"Having raced in it before, I can say it is one of the most electric events in all of rowing. The race course is lined with Sailboats, Yachts, Schooners and all other kinds of watercraft, kind of like the curb at your local parade. It gives the spectators an up close and personal view of the racing and offers the competitors an unbelievably loud crowd. It'll be a tough weekend with some stellar competition, but our guys are up to the task." 
 
"Washington and Wisconsin have a long history of competing against one another," said UW men's head coach Michael Callahan. "In fact, this year's race will give us the opportunity for the Huskies and Badgers to once again compete for the 'W' trophy, as we have for many years. 
 
On the Friday night before the Opening Day Regatta, all of the Windermere Cup crews will race in the annual Twilight Sprints, a race from the traditional Montlake Cut finish line to the eastern end of the Montlake Cut.
 
The Washington women finished second at NCAA Championships last season, the program's eighth consecutive top-five finish at the national championships. The men also finished second at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championships, having won the title two seasons ago.
 
There will be more information to come on other Opening Day and Windermere Cup-related events, including the annual "Party at the Cut" on Friday night.
 
Windermere Cup History & Information
The Windermere Cup got its start 37 years ago, in 1987, when Windermere Real Estate founder, John Jacobi, joined up with the University of Washington to create the annual rowing event. They wanted to bring the best team in the world to Seattle's Montlake Cut, which at the time was the Soviet Union. That occasion marked one of the few athletic competitions for the Soviets inside the U.S. in 25 years, since relations were strained during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet Union brought both its men's and women's crews and won both races in convincing fashion. After that, the precedent was set for what has become one of the world's premier rowing events, and certainly a staple of Seattle's rowing community.
  
This year's event marks the 53rd running of the Opening Day regatta, which has included the Windermere Cup for the last 37 years. The 2024 event will include a number of events during the week leading up to race day. The Seattle Yacht Club's Opening Day parade through the Montlake Cut will immediately follow the racing. Further details will be announced at a later date. For more information visit www.windermerecup.com.