City continues to be a top destination for sailors and competitions

Panama City, FL – April 4, 2018 – This year, Panama City, FL once again hosted two top sailing competitions. Panama City’s convenient access to St. Andrews Bay offered the perfect conditions for these internationally recognized events. Offering constant breezes and calm waters, St. Andrews Bay has been long revered as a sailor’s paradise. As the deepest and largest protected bay in the area, Panama City attracts a number of competitive regattas every year.

“We were thrilled to host these regattas in Panama City again this year,” says Jennifer Vigil, Destination Panama City president and CEO. “We hope our community will continue to be a destination for sailing enthusiasts around the world. Surrounded by water on three sides, people all over Panama City are able to enjoy these competitions from our historic neighborhoods, parks and water front dining options.”

Panama City hosted the following regattas:

2018 ISCA Masters World Championship

The inaugural International Sunfish Class Association Master World Championship was held at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club from March 17 – 20. Thirty-five sailors ages 40 and up from across the county competed in the St. Andrews Bay to compete for the title of 2018 Sunfish Masters World Champion. Eric Oetgen of Georgia won the competition and the title.

2018 USSCA National Championship at Midwinters

Sunfish sailors from around the world gathered in Panama City from March 21 – 24 for the 2018 USSCA National Championship at Midwinters. Forty-three sailors competed in the St. Andrews Bay for a spot in the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Alonso Collantes of Peru topped the competition. Guatemala, Argentina and Ecuador clinched the three 2019 Pan Am Games berths and will be going to Peru next year. The Pan American Games are an Olympic-style competition for athletes from all nations of the Americas. They are conducted every four years, always one year before the Olympic Games.