The Hoop Pole Regatta started decades ago and was sailed out of Camp Morehead, across from Hoop Pole Creek…thus the name.

For many years, the Morehead City Boating Club organized the event but, some years back it was taken over by the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum.

For 15 years or so, before 2014, the on-the-water racing took place on Adams Creek, which is on the ICW. Captain Jim Edwards, owner of Bow to Stern Boating Center in Oriental, NC, started bringing significant numbers of boats, with young skippers, to the regatta in the late '90s. 

Working with the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum, the event was moved from Adams Creek to Oriental in 2014....with Bow to Stern being the regatta HQ. 
Most photos courtesy of towndock.net

Hoop Poles

The origin of the name of the creek, however is steeped in history and debate.

A guy named Hoop came in that way early on and some say Hoop Hole Creek – the hole being a deep spot to anchor.

I like the alternate which has trees growing in the area that they made barrel hoop out of – and wood (like mast hoops) hoops have been trophies for this event for the past 20 years.

Sponsored by

Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization forging a public/private partnership between supporters of our state’s rich maritime heritage and related natural history and the state of North Carolina.

and

Bow to Stern Boating Center, located in Oriental, NC, provides a wide range of recreational boating services. They include sailing schools and camps for kids, teens and adults. Also, boat charters are offered from everything from kayaks to 40'+ sailboats.

Regatta Overview

This regatta is open to Optimist Prams, Sunfish, and Flying Juniors. Participants must be rising high school seniors or younger.

The Sailing Instructions will be available at the skippers’ meeting.

The courses to be sailed will be either windward leeward or triangle at the discretion of the race committee.

Launching from the beach at Bow to Stern, in Oriental, NC on Saturday, August 8th.