Zongo Yachting Cup Kickoff Concert

The Zongo All-Stars launch the yachting cup with a free harborside concert

On the Morro Bay Embarcadero. The Zongo Yachting Cup kicks off with a Friday-evening launch party and free concert at the Morro Bay Yacht Club on August 14, the public celebration ahead of the next day’s offshore race to Avila Beach. The Yacht Club is the organizing authority for the Cup, the biggest offshore sailing event on the Central Coast, and the Friday gathering is where boats and crews come together before the racing starts. The Zongo All-Stars, an Afro-Latin dance band with a strong local following, play the night and lend the event their name.

The launch party runs from 4 to 8 PM at the Yacht Club, and the concert is the part that is open and fun for everyone, sailor or not. The lower deck turns into a dance floor with the harbor and the Rock as the backdrop, while racers check in through the day ahead of Saturday’s start. Founder Paul Irving plays trumpet in the band, which tells you how tightly the music and the race are bound together in this event’s DNA. For anyone who just wants a great waterfront night, this is one of the better free concerts of the summer.

A pre-purchase dinner is usually available for those who want it, served through the evening for a modest fee, and meals tend to sell out so ordering ahead is wise. Dress for a Morro Bay evening on the water, since it cools off once the sun drops behind the Rock. Parking on the Embarcadero is limited, so arriving early or parking above the waterfront and walking down is the smart move.

For more harbor events and live music on the waterfront this summer, see what is on the event calendar.