Pensacola’s profile as one of America’s premier sailing destinations continues to grow, as the Pensacola Yacht Club (PYC) prepares to welcome more than 40 elite Melges 24 teams from around the globe for the 2025 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship. The event will run November 14–16 on Pensacola Bay and will be held in conjunction with PYC’s celebrated 6th annual Bushwhacker Regatta.
Teams representing 13 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany are expected to compete in one of the most respected and fiercely competitive sportboat classes on the international sailing circuit.
The Melges 24 is fast, technical, and sailed by crews of four to five. Spectators can look forward to watching Olympic medalists, America’s Cup veterans, and world champions battle it out on the water—plus top North American contenders and two generations of the Melges family aboard the iconic Zenda Express.
“The Pensacola Yacht Club is thrilled to welcome the Melges 24 fleet for the 2025 U.S. Nationals,” said Regatta Chair Tom Pace. “The Melges 24 has been a long-time club favorite, and it’s always a highlight when we host an event such as this. With an exceptional turnout expected, we’re looking forward to competitive racing, camaraderie, and fun on and off the water. The entire club is ready to welcome these talented teams back to Pensacola Bay.”
The Bushwhacker Regatta and National Championship further solidify Pensacola’s standing as a world-class training and racing venue. In recent years, Pensacola has become a strategic hub for high-performance sailing, highlighted by American Magic’s relocation to Pensacola as its full-time training base for America’s Cup campaigns. That move was driven largely by the efforts of Pace and PYC leadership to position Pensacola Bay as a naturally protected, foiling-friendly, and competition-ready sailing environment and hub.
Pensacola Bay offers a consistent breeze, deep water, and natural protection—allowing for fast and fair racing. Spectators can view the action from Sanders Beach Park and the downtown waterfront, with racing unfolding in clear view of the shoreline.
The event sets the stage for Pensacola’s continued ascent in the global sailing community, with the 2026 WASZP World Championship already confirmed for Pensacola Bay in March.
“For more than a century, Pensacola Yacht Club has been dedicated to advancing sailing on the Gulf Coast,” said James Simkins, PYC Commodore. “To now see Pensacola recognized internationally—hosting world championships, world-class teams, and Olympic-level sailors—is incredibly rewarding. The Bushwhacker Regatta is part of that legacy, and this year’s field will be one of the strongest yet.”
This Bushwhacker Cup/Melges 24 National Championship caps an incredible year on the water for PYC—one that saw world champions, youth rising stars, and Olympic-bound foiling talent training and competing on Pensacola Bay. From the Contender Worlds to the O’Pen Skiff Un-Regatta, the Hobie 16 North Americans, and a trio of America One Olympic Development Foiling Clinics—Pensacola has truly been the place to race in 2025.