Multihull Race Planners Expecting 100 Catamarans at Founders Park

The normally quiet beach at Founders Park, located at mile marker 87 on the bayside of Plantation Key, Florida, will transform into a bustling center of sailing activity when elite multihull sailors converge for the North American Multihull Sailing Association North American Championships and the 2009 Tradewinds Midwinter Nationals. Organizers are expecting as many as 100 catamarans, drawing competitors and spectators for two days of close, high-speed racing and on-shore festivities.

The racing program is scheduled for January 17–18 and will include multiple divisions: the North American F16 Midwinters, F18 Midwinters and the Shark Series. In addition, the regatta will host the National Series event for the 13-foot Hobie Waves, giving sailors in a range of multihull classes an opportunity to compete. Races will be held back-to-back on both days to maximize on-water action, and organizers plan social events ashore following racing each day.

Competitor registration is planned for the evening of January 16 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Founders Park, with final registration accepted on the morning of January 17 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. A mandatory skippers’ meeting will begin at 11:00 a.m. on the 17th, and the first warning signal is scheduled for 12:00 noon. Entry fees are $45 for two-handed boats and $40 for single-handed boats. Sailors and teams are encouraged to confirm their registration early to secure their place and to review class rules and safety requirements ahead of arrival.

For event details or to inquire about launch and shore-side logistics, interested competitors can contact Mary Wells or Rick White by phone at (305) 451-3287 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Local organizers can advise on parking, launching facilities, nearby accommodations and spectator viewing areas, making it easier for visiting sailors and their supporters to plan their trip.

Mandatory Online Registration Open for Rolex Miami OCR

In related news, mandatory online registration for U.S. Sailing’s 2009 Rolex Miami OCR is open and will remain available through January 19 at the event website. There will be no on-site registration, so sailors planning to compete must register online before the deadline. The Rolex Miami OCR is scheduled for January 25–31 and has been selected as one of seven events in the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup, attracting top international competitors in Olympic and Paralympic classes.

The Miami OCR will host the Olympic classes chosen by the International Sailing Federation for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions, with one modification: because the three-person Elliott 6 for women’s match racing is not available in time for this regatta, the event will use the SB3 Laser Standard outfitted with an asymmetrical spinnaker in its place. This adjustment ensures the match racing format can be represented even when specific equipment is unavailable.

The Olympic classes slated to compete at the Rolex Miami OCR include: Laser Radial, Laser, Finn, RS:X Men, RS:X Women, 49er, 470 Men, 470 Women, Star and the SB3 Laser Standard with asymmetrical spinnaker. The three Paralympic classes on the program are the 2.4mR, SKUD-18 and Sonar. In addition to World Cup ranking points, the event serves as an important ranking regatta for American athletes pursuing selection to the 2009 U.S. Sailing Team AlphaGraphics and the U.S. Disabled Sailing Team AlphaGraphics.

Both events—the North American Multihull Championships at Founders Park and the Rolex Miami OCR—highlight the strong winter sailing season in South Florida, offering competitive opportunities across a broad spectrum of classes and skill levels. Whether you are a seasoned multihull racer, an aspiring Olympic hopeful, or a spectator wanting to watch high-performance boats on the water, these regattas promise fast racing and a lively regatta atmosphere.

This story originally appeared in the February 2009 issue.