The Lake Norman Sailing Club will host its annual Iredell Cup Regatta this Saturday and Sunday, bringing more than 120 sailboats and crews from across the Carolinas to compete on the largest man-made lake in North Carolina.

The two-day event features racing in six classes, from youth Optimist dinghies to high-performance keelboats. Last year’s regatta drew spectators from three states and generated an estimated $500,000 in local tourism revenue.

Race director Amanda Fulton said conditions on Lake Norman are ideal for competitive sailing. “The thermal winds we get in spring create challenging, exciting racing that sailors love.”

Shore-side festivities include a seafood cookout, live bluegrass music, and boat tours for non-sailors. Spectator viewing is free from the club’s waterfront lawn. Racing begins at 10 a.m. both days.