Melges 24 Regional Championships move to Mobile Yacht Club

Kelly Shannon, a Lake Lanier Sailing Club sailor from the Atlanta GA area, sailed Shaka [USA 801] to third place with scores of 3-4-3-4-5 for 20 points. Sailing with Shannon were Ben Lynch, Elizabeth Lynch, Jackson Benvenutti, and Tommy Sawchuck © Talbot Wilso

Due to damage from Hurricane Sally, Pensacola Yacht Club must cancel all organized water-based events for the remainder of 2020 including the Melges 24 Atlantic & Gulf Coast Championships for the Bushwhacker Cup.

However, the 2020 Melges 24 Atlantic and Gulf Coast Championships will now be sailed out of Mobile Yacht Club on the original scheduled dates... Nov 13-15. Hal Smith confirmed the move. Smith, the PRO for the Pensacola YC Bushwhacker Cup, will continue as the PRO in Mobile with part of the Race Committee that would have run the regatta in Pensacola.

Bora Gulari [USA820] with his crew of Kyle Navin, Norman Berge, Ian Liberty and American Magic's CEO/Skipper Terry Hutchinson stood second with a 4-5-1-2-2 record and 14 points. - photo © Talbot Wilson

All of the 21 current entries will be honored for the replacement location. Future entries will continue to be made on Yacht Scoring. The location and race documents are being updated on the Melges 24 Atlantic & Gulf coast Championships page on the site.

The event was moved because of the damage inflicted on the Pensacola YC marina and hoist area by Hurricane Sally. Pensacola YC learned that Gulf Power will not be able to restore power to the club marina, docks and ancillary facilities for at least 2 months after removal of the 11 boats which are sunk in the marina or aground ashore.

Bruce Ayres' Monsoon [USA 825] with crew Brian Porter, George Peet, Chelsesa Simms and Stars Stripes USA CEO/skipper Mike Buckley won the inaugural Bushwhacker Cup with scores of 2-1-2-5-1 for 11 points. - photo © Talbot Wilson

Work to repair the dock and hoist cannot start until power is restored. An optimistic plan is that it will take 3 months for this to happen. Even without COVID, Pensacola YC has a major hurdle to clear in restoring normal functions to our marina and shore areas. A powerboat is on the bottom leaking 600+ gallons of diesel, slowly. Other boats on the bottom also have leaking problems, but not on the scale of this powerboat.

Pensacola Yacht Club marina had extensive damage from Hurricane Sally. 11 vessels were sunk or grounded and must be removed before power can be restored. Repairs will take about three months. - photo © Tim Ludvigsen / Pensacola Yacht Club

Local government and the USCG have placed strict limits on how this and other sunken vessels are handled. It seems that at the end of each day of recovery we find that we are farther from completion.

Pensacola YC looks forward to hosting the next Melges 24 Atlantic & Gulf Coast Championships for the Bushwhacker Cup in November 2021.