Thrive
Global sailing race coming to St. Petersburg
The stopover will take place in May 2027.
A global offshore sailing race will be coming to the Tampa Bay area in 2027.
The region will serve as the North American stop for the Ocean Race. During the event’s third leg, participants will depart from St. Petersburg and travel to Cascais, Portugal. This is the first time the competition has been brought to Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“We researched a lot of potential candidate cities,” the organization’s director of marketing and new business Mirko Groeschner explained to the Catalyst. “In the end, the profile of St. Pete/Clearwater was, for us, a new, dynamic venue with very good infrastructure and a lot of local support.”
The goal, he said, is to add stops that make the experience “interesting” for the sailing world. Partnerships with local organizations including Visit St. Pete – Clearwater and the University of South Florida have been instrumental in the process.
Established in 1973, the Ocean Race is regarded as one of the major competitions in the sport alongside the Olympics and America’s Cup. Professional sailors command 60-foot yachts, which are approved by the International Monohull Open Classes Association (IMOCA).
Each vessel has a team of four crew members. One must be female. Additionally, every boat has its own reporter to document the journey.
Florida has hosted the race five times. The City of Fort Lauderdale welcomed participants during the 1989-1990, 1993-94 and 1997-98 editions. Miami has served as a base for sailors as well.
The 2027 event will depart Alicante, Spain Jan. 17. Participants will then embark on “the longest leg in race history” with a 14,000 nautical mile trip to Auckland, New Zealand, according to a prepared statement. The athletes will travel back to South America and visit Itajaí, Brazil before coming to the United States.
Team Alvimedica passing by Costa da Morte in the Spanish waters during the 2015 edition of the Ocean Race. Photo: Ainhoa Sanchez /Volvo Ocean Race.
Groeschner said that the stopover, based at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, will take place from May 4 to 16. This will allow the sailors to get some much needed rest.
“It’s a hell of a job to go that distance,” he explained. “The race is decided in the head. We call it the toughest test of a team. There’s no way to escape.”
During the break period, guests can learn more about the race through a variety of activations at the Ocean Live Park village. The public can see exhibits, meet some of the sailors and learn about sustainability and ocean conservation efforts. Attendees can also watch speed run competitions.
The yachts will be berthed at the waterfront adjacent to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. Individuals will be able to participate in dock tours and view the boats. Planning is in the early stages and more activities will be announced at a later date.
Groeschner added that the race will conclude with a sprint across the Red Sea to the AMAALA tourist development in Saudi Arabia.
“The Ocean Race embodies much of what our community already represents: a deep tradition of ocean racing and a strong commitment to ocean science, sustainability, marine innovation, STEM education and tourism,” Rob Britts, the stopover director for St. Pete-Clearwater, said in a prepared statement. “We’re incredibly excited to welcome this event and the global spotlight it brings, but we’re even more excited about the lasting legacy it can create for our community for years to come.”
