Getting back that lovin’ feelin’

During 30 years of January racing in Key West, the event had plenty of names as sponsors came and went, but it always delivered a funky onshore vibe alongside dreamy sailing conditions. There was sadness when it ended in 2017, but a revival keeps chipping away at getting back that lovin’ feelin’.

While the Southernmost Regatta is awkwardly named, as the Florida town is not the southernmost point of the United States (that title belongs to Ka Lae on Hawaii’s Big Island), it took another step in its fourth edition. While unlikely to ever resemble the heyday of its forebearer, it remains hard to beat the palm trees, live music, and shimmering turquoise waters.

Six classes raced in the 2024 Southernmost Regatta on January 15-19 which delivered a wide range of conditions that ensured the best teams found their way to the top of the leaderboard. And plans are in place for the next edition on January 20-25, 2025.

Event details – Results – Facebook – Photos

ORC Navigator:
This division was the newcomer this year, won by Will McKeige. Each day, this double-handed ORC fleet raced a short distance race, including an overnight race won by McKeige and Vadim Shablinksky racing a Figaro 2+. McKeige finished at about ten in the morning, ten minutes ahead of the next boat. “We had about ten sail changes overnight, so we’re looking forward to a fun Key West dinner and a good night’s sleep.” The Southernmost Regatta teamed up with North East Keelboat Alliance (NEKA) to bring this growing double-handed format to Key West.

Cape 31:
Richard Thompson’s Black Seal team from the United Kingdom had a late-game surge in the evenly matched Cape 31 fleet. Drew Freides’s Pacific Yankee began the event in pole position, but a pair of bullets on day three catapulted the Brits ahead of the Americans.

Great Lakes 52:
The behemoths in the Great Lakes 52 fleet were a stunning spectacle on the blue waters off Key West. Led by skipper Santiago Lange and tactician Andy Horton, Victor Wild’s FOX took charge early on, finishing with seven bullets throughout the 11-race series. “The Southernmost was run at a very high level and had something for every crew,” said Horton. “Some are more interested in Duval Street and others in tight racing; it’s a great balance. The level of GL52 competition is fierce here, so we feel lucky enough to come out on top.” The GL52 fleet had a dedicated race course supported by PRO Carol Ewing.

J/111:
Tight competition characterized the J/111 racing, especially between Andrew & Sedgwick Ward’s Bravo and Rob Ruhlman’s Spaceman Spiff. Like in 2022, Bravo came out on top.

ORC Performance:

Bill Hanckel’s J/120 Emocean made a strong showing this week, winning nearly all the races. It was Jon Weglarz’s The Asylum who had the last laugh though, winning the final race.

J/70:
Douglas Newhouse’s Yonder team from New York Yacht Club put on a show in the J/70 fleet with six bullets out of eight contests.

Source: Hannah Lee Noll