2014 Emerald Coast Regatta

[RTB]

For you Texas sailors, there is a new regatta to look forward to. Get your boat ready! It's a long one.

From Lakewood Yacht Club-

2014 EMERALD COAST REGATTA

Based on the responses of racers to a questionnaire circulated in the Spring, Lakewood Yacht Club, Galveston Bay Cruising Association and Pensacola Yacht Club will co-sponsor the 2014 offshore race from Galveston, Texas to Pensacola, Florida. In honor of the beautiful cruising grounds to which racers will travel, the regatta has been named the Emerald Coast Regatta.

The Cruising Fleet will start off Galveston on Friday, May 23 while the PHRF Fleet will start Saturday, May 24 from the same place. The staggered start is to bring the two fleets together in Pensacola as close together as possible. There will be a Kick-Off Party at Lakewood Yacht Club on Saturday, February 8, a Safety Seminar on Saturday March 29, the Skippers’ Meeting will be Friday, May 16. The Awards party will be held at Pensacola Yacht Club May 29 or 30.

A lot of thought and discussion, some quite spirited, went into the decision to take the 2014 offshore race to Pensacola. The destination selection process began with a survey of all the racers who participated in the 2012 Gulfport Race along with past Veracruz Racers and Harvest Moon Racers. The preferences of the racers was overwhelmingly in favor of a race to the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

One of the many exciting aspects of a race east is the opportunity for racers, cruisers, both power and sail, crew and family to stay and play for days, weeks or even the entire summer months. Pensacola is located on Florida’s Emerald Coast between Gulfport, Mississippi and Panama City, Florida. Once on the Emerald Coast, a half-day or day cruise in either direction will bring you to gorgeous white beaches and emerald water, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, casinos, the National Naval Aviation Museum, which appears to contain almost every aircraft the Navy has ever flown, many still dripping oil and apparently ready to fly, and even the Flora-Bama bar.

So come race with us or join up with a cruise to Pensacola in 2014. Stay and Play on the Emerald Coast. See you there!

Ralph
America's Cup racing | sailing away with R & B