Pensacola is punching above its weight

At the tip of the Florida panhandle, 14 miles from the Alabama border, sits Pensacola – population 54,000. Known as home of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight squadron, its pristine beaches and waters make outdoor activities a way of life, and local government is all in on sailing.

While the Pensacola Yacht Club has a long history of supporting the sport, the region was boosted when America’s Cup challenger American Magic chose Pensacola for its 2021 and 2024 campaigns. With government funding, the facilities built are now supporting the American Racing Challenger Team USA for the 38th America’s Cup as well as the SailGP league.

With its profile on the rise, local officials have unveiled a large, new mural to greet travelers arriving at the Pensacola International Airport.

“We talk about becoming one of the largest sailing destinations, if not the most prominent in the United States,” Reeves said. “Then we have to certainly be walking that walk and make sure that our visitors and our residents realize and gain that awareness.”