Link to RESULTS
Thanks to Pensacola Yacht Club as the host venue for the 2023 Jubilee Regatta featuring Lightning, Thistle and Catalina22 fleets. Hal Smith and his Race Committee team did a phenomenal job as usual getting five races in over two days of light to very light wind conditions under sunny skies and 75 degrees as the Navy’s Blue Angel F-18 Hornets performed overhead.
The regatta also served as the inaugural event for the new Catalina 22 Fleet 148 which had four entries along with six additional Region 3 racers from central Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee for a terrific showing of ten Catalina 22s, the largest fleet of the regatta. The competition at the top of the standings included the top two boats from this year’s Nationals and four of the top eight. Keith Bennett’s “Screamin” once again dominated with five bullets, followed by Rich Gailey and Mickey Richardson taking second and third.
Fleet 148 had three newcomers to Catalina 22 racing bringing fresh competitive enthusiasm to the class and made for close and exciting racing all throughout the final standings. All first-time racers received “rookie racer” commemorative glassware. And in addition to the top three Jubilee awards, places four through eight received commemorative Fleet 148 glassware in recognition of their support and participation in our first ever Catalina 22 regatta. A special congratulations to Susan McKinnon for winning “The Fleet Burgee” as the highest place finisher for local fleet 148. The presence of Catalina 22’s best sailors made for terrific opportunities to “learn from the best” all weekend.
A special thanks to all our Catalina 22 friends who traveled to make the event a huge success. There are already plans to expand the fleet with several race opportunities and recreational sailing events around the Pensacola Bay region. Hope to see you all again in 2024!
Mark Heinold, Fleet 148 Commodore