Tampa Bay Catamaran Sailors

Tampa Bay Catamaran Sailors Inc. will feature boats from 14 to 21 ft in length. Boats are of single or two person design and can run as sloop w/or w/o spinnaker. Boats are rated under the Portsmouth Handicap number system to equalize design differences. For the Dunedin Cup we will be running buoy races in the Gulf of varying length depending on boat speed. These boats are extremely fast and exciting to watch, especially at mark roundings. These boats normally sail 1.5 to 2 times the prevailing wind speed.

Our races for the Dunedin Cup will be held outside of the Dunedin pass, just offshore from Honeymoon Island Park. We will set a mark close to shore to allow spectators on the beach to watch some of the action. All boats will launch from the Dunedin Causeway around 10:30 AM, with races beginning at 11:00 AM in the Gulf, ending by 4:30. Spectators are welcome to come by the launch site on the Causeway and check out the boats, gear and crew and ask any questions they may have. Visitors at that time "may" even get a chance for a ride if they don't mind getting a little wet!

Catamaran racing really came into form in the early 70's in California with the design & production of the Hobie Cat. Quickly other boat designs and larger, more advanced technology have lead to regattas with many different styles and classes of catamarans. At a typical large regatta one can expect between 100-150 boats in attendance. Smaller, weekend regattas usually have between 20 and 45 boats. Sailors can participate in statewide, national and international regattas, usually in a one design/class format. We hope to attract 30-40 boats for the Dunedin Cup, many from other parts of the state.

Beach catamarans and Dunedin are almost synonomous. With the Dunedin Causeway, local and non-local sailors have a FANTASTIC venue for this type of sailing. Being able to easily and safely launch your boat and quickly access the Gulf is a rare thing. We encourage all sailors interested in beach cats to come out and learn more about this exciting sport. Beach cats are not expensive to purchase on the used market and are large enough to carry a family of 4 for pleasure and island hopping. We think everyone should have one, but then again, we're biased. You can learn more about us, and see some of our latest photos on our web site.

www.tampabaycatsailors.com

Race Classes

Spinnaker Class
Non-Spinnaker Class
Cruising Class
Windlasses Prams & Sunfish
Kayaks
Beach Catamarans
Offshore Catamarans
Ensigns
SailAbility