As autumn settles into Southwest Florida, the storied 65-mile long-course classic, the Egmont Key Race, returns to challenge sailors and crews heading offshore from the Davis Island Yacht Club. Founded in 1935 as a warm-up to the famed Havana race, the event again promises a mix of distance-racing strategy, tidal currents, and late-season breeze swings.
Current Registration Snapshot
At the time of writing, the event shows 42 registered entries across several divisions—signifying a strong turn-out for late November. Registrants include a mix of Cruising-Short and Racer-Cruiser divisions:
Cruising-Short: Johnny Joyner’s La Gaviota (Tampa), Jonathan Hendrick’s Blue Healer (Tampa/Yacht Club affiliation DIYC) among others.
Racer-Cruiser: Notables include Gail Heausler / Ed & Penny Ruark’s Liquid Time (Beneteau Oceanis 40), Jonathan Bush’s Scorpion (Beneteau First 36.7) – both DIYC entries.
The fleet is shaping up to be a competitive weekend—expect a few last-minute entries and perhaps some out-of-town challengers as well.
Looking Back: 2024 Results and What It Means
Last year’s edition (Nov 23, 2024) offered a glance into who to watch:
Spinnaker-A Division: Ripple (J/111, Glaser/Barry) from DIYC claimed first, with Shark Rider (Aerodyne 38) from Augusta SC second.
Cruising-Short Division: The top boat was Charisma (s) (Nightwind) skippered by Tim Landt (St. Petersburg YC) with corrected time 04:54:25, and Serenade (Westwind 38) second.
Racer-Cruiser results for 2024 had Liquid Time (Beneteau Oceanis 40, Gail Heausler / Ruark) in first, followed by Scorpion (Beneteau First 36.7, Jonathan Bush) in second.
Given those results, returning entrants like Liquid Time and Scorpion will draw attention. Newcomers in their rating bands will likely aim to unseat the established performers.
What to Expect This Year
With 42 entries already, the field appears healthy, and the Nov 22–23 race date sets up for late-fall sailing conditions: typically moderate breeze, manageable tides, and possibly challenging wind shifts as the region transitions seasons. The longer 65-mile course puts emphasis on boat speed, strategic current usage at the Skyway Bridge and Egmont Key, and attentiveness to changing winds. Crews in the short-course (35-mile) option will still need to stay sharp and make tactical gains early.
Weather Forecast (Tampa Bay Area)
Current: Cloudy skies, about 46 °F (8 °C) this afternoon.
Daytime: Expect a gradual rise to ~50 °F (10 °C) by 4 pm, then falling back to the mid-40s after dusk.
Conditions: Mostly cloudy throughout, with no precipitation expected.
Sailors should plan for cool air, especially overnight or early-morning start, layered clothing recommended.
Wind & Offshore Conditions
Based on local late-November patterns and advance modelling:
Morning start likely in light to moderate south-southeasterly breeze (10-14 knots) as the thermal effect kicks-in.
As the race progresses into open waters and later day, the breeze may build into the 14-18 knot range, possibly shifting toward east-northeast as tides ebb and frontal influences creep in.
Expect variable gusts around the Skyway Bridge and near Egmont Key as current meets the sea-breeze and offshore fetch.
Night or late-day returns could see lighter air and tricky shifts; shifty conditions may reward boats with finesse in sail trim, navigation and current play.
