Southernmost Youth Regatta Kicks Off In Key West
Inaugural youth sailing event opened Saturday and will continue Sunday off Truman Waterfront and Fort Zachary Taylor.
The inaugural Southernmost Youth Regatta kicked off Saturday in Key West, launching two days of youth sailing competition featuring more than 20 young sailors from communities stretching from Key Largo to Key West.
Racing began Saturday morning and will continue Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with spectators welcome throughout the weekend. Final results will be determined following Sunday’s races.
Younger sailors competing in Optimist dinghies are racing on a course off the Truman Waterfront and near the Ingham Maritime Museum, offering shoreline viewing along the island’s historic harbor.
Older youth sailors racing Club 420 and Laser-class boats are competing on a separate course off Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, where open-water conditions are testing boat-handling skills and race strategy.
Organizers said the regatta is intended to showcase youth sailing development across the Florida Keys while expanding public access to competitive sailing in Key West by using multiple, easily viewable race areas.
An awards party is scheduled to be held aboard the USCG Cutter Ingham, beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday following the conclusion of racing.
The event is supported by the City of Key West, Naval Air Station Key West, the NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
Organizers said the Southernmost Youth Regatta is expected to return as an annual event highlighting the island’s maritime traditions and the next generation of competitive sailors.
For more information, visit the Key West Sailing Center.