The Second Annual Pensacola Multihull Regatta was a great success and an incredible weekend of sailing, racing, and community on the Gulf Coast.
Windcraft Multihulls would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the event sponsors who helped make the weekend possible, including Dragonfly Trimarans, Corsair Marine, Seawind Catamarans, Zern Rigging, Smyth Sails, Schurr Sails, Colligo Marine, and Sunrise Yacht Products. Their support played an important role in helping bring sailors together for another memorable multihull racing event in Pensacola.
The weekend featured fantastic racing and a great mix of conditions. Saturday brought a 30+ nautical mile distance course that sent the fleet out into the Gulf, down the second sandbar, and back. Light breeze combined with an outgoing current created a challenging and tactical race that rewarded smart sailing, patience, and boat handling. Along the way, sailors were treated to plenty of Gulf Coast wildlife, including sea turtle, dolphin, and shark sightings.
Sunday brought steadier breeze and allowed the fleet to complete two excellent windward/leeward races. The combination of a Gulf distance race on Saturday and windward/leeward racing on Sunday made for a well-rounded regatta format, giving competitors both an offshore-style challenge and tighter course racing.
Windcraft Multihulls truly appreciates everyone who participated, supported the event, and helped make the regatta possible. Events like this are an important part of growing the multihull sailing community in Pensacola and creating more opportunities for Corsair, Dragonfly, Seawind, and other multihull sailors to connect on and off the water.
Looking ahead, the goal is to continue hosting the Pensacola Multihull Regatta annually each May. Feedback from competitors is always welcome as the event continues to grow. One area of discussion is the race format. The current format of a Gulf distance race on day one followed by windward/leeward racing on day two offers a fun mix of sailing styles, but some competitors may prefer windward/leeward racing on both days to increase the total number of races.
The event is also expected to expand to three days, Friday through Sunday, in preparation for hosting the Corsair Nationals in 2028. The proposed format would include two days of windward/leeward racing and one distance race, for a total of six races.
Another huge thank you goes to Rick Zern, Mark Smith, and everyone who helped with race committee operations throughout the weekend. Their time, effort, and support helped make the racing possible and kept the event running smoothly.
Thank you again to all of the sailors, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who made the Second Annual Pensacola Multihull Regatta such a success. Windcraft Multihulls looks forward to seeing everyone again next year.
