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Helly Hansen & American Magic Reunite With Intent To Win The America's Cup

•   11  OCT  2022 

Helly Hansen, the leading global sailing brand, is proud to announce its continued partnership with New York Yacht Club American Magic, the US Challenger for the 37 th  America's Cup. Building on their experience from the previous campaign, the Norwegian-based brand and the world-class sailing team are again joining forces, determined to bring sailing's most coveted prize back home to  the United States

Helly Hansen and New York Yacht Club American Magic share a forward-thinking mindset and commitment to innovation, and through cutting-edge technology and high velocity collaboration, both organizations continue to deliver the highest performance within their fields. Looking ahead to the 37 th  America's Cup, their partnership will bring together top athletes, coaches, designers, R&D, engineers, and support teams, resulting in a campaign that will break new ground with innovation and technology at the forefront.

"Partnering with a brand committed to producing technically excellent garments was essential for the team," said  Terry Hutchinson , Skipper and President of Sailing Operations for NYYC American Magic. "The Helly Hansen gear worn during the last America's Cup was constantly put to the test and delivered as a high-performing technical product. At American Magic, we need resilient apparel that can perform consistently at the highest level and in the most challenging conditions on and off the water. We're excited to continue to train and race in Helly Hansen apparel as we focus on our high-performance sailing program and target the 37 th  America's Cup."

Helly Hansen works with professionals and elite athletes worldwide, drawing on their insights and experience to create gear they can trust in even the harshest conditions. With professional feedback, the brand has an innate understanding of high-performance environments and aims to develop gear that delivers maximum protection so that professional teams and athletes can focus on their tasks without worrying about getting cold or wet. Partnering with American Magic, Helly Hansen will work closely with the team to ensure their apparel will exceed their expectations and ultimately enable them to be the team best positioned to take home the trophy.

"We are proud to renew our partnership with American Magic and its elite team of world-class professionals and athletes," said  Carrie Ask , CEO, Helly Hansen. "Being able to partner closely with a team that shares our innovation mindset and vision is an honor and undeniable asset to Helly Hansen. We're looking forward to working with the team to extend the limits of performance, both on and off the water, and are committed to providing them with the best possible technical apparel to support their dream of bringing the America's Cup back home."

American Magic spent the summer building the team's base in the Port of  Pensacola, FL , where sailing conditions in Pensacola Bay are perfect for developing the AC75, before commencing the team's third winter of training on the Gulf Coast. The team will spend all winter in  Pensacola  before relocating to  Barcelona  for the final push into the 37 th  America's Cup campaign in 2024. The 37 th  America's Cup will take place in  Barcelona, Spain , in September and  October 2024 .

To stay updated on the partnership between Helly Hansen and New York Yacht Club American Magic, visit  hellyhansen.com  and  americanmagic.americascup.com . In addition, a supporter apparel collection will be available on Helly Hansen's website starting spring/summer 2023.

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Helly Hansen announces partnership, support of New York Yacht Club’s American Magic

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Sumner, WA / New York, NY —  Helly Hansen , the Norway-based global leader in sailing, today announced its partnership with New York Yacht Club American Magic, the U.S. Challenger for the 36th America’s Cup, the highest prize in international sailing. With more than 140 years of innovation and performance-driven apparel trusted by professionals around the world, Helly Hansen will create sailing apparel for American Magic, sharing the goal of winning back the America’s Cup and bringing the “Auld Mug,” the oldest trophy in international sport, home to the United States.

“A warm, dry and comfortable sailing team is one that can perform at its best,” said Terry Hutchinson, Executive Director and Skipper of American Magic. “Having a partner that has been innovating in marine apparel for well over a century gives us a lot of confidence. The America’s Cup is all about pushing the limits of technology, and we’re excited to wear such well-engineered Helly Hansen products both on and off the water.”

Since 1877, Helly Hansen’s commitment to innovation and producing professional-grade apparel for the harshest conditions on the planet, has resulted in lasting partnerships with some of the top athletes and maritime teams competing today. New York Yacht Club is already a partner of Helly Hansen, having recognized Helly Hansen’s expertise in 2014 when they joined forces for the Resolute Cup. After winning the first America’s Cup in 1851, the New York Yacht Club, supporting American Magic’s new challenge for the Cup, held the Cup until 1983; recognized as the longest winning streak in sports history. As the successors of the historic New York Yacht Club sailors that defended the cup 24 times over 126 years, American Magic brings renewed passion and spirit to the upcoming events.

Skipper Terry Hutchinson will lead the charge with a crew of 11 on a foiling AC75 monohull, a new design created for the next America’s Cup. American Magic will compete during several America’s Cup World Series regatta over the next three years, which will culminate in the Prada Cup, (the Challenger finals) in early 2021. The winner of the Prada Cup will face the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the America’s Cup match, to be held in Auckland, New Zealand, in March 2021.

By combining award-winning apparel and technologies from Helly Hansen with experience and insight from one of the world’s top sailing teams, American Magic plans to challenge the Defender and bring the America’s Cup back to the U.S. Helly Hansen and American Magic will work together to create sailing apparel with maximum performance in mind, while supporting the US-based team’s identity.

“Helly Hansen’s history in creating performance apparel for the world’s sailing professionals is second to none,” said Paul Stoneham, CEO, Helly Hansen. “Every fabric, seam, panel and zipper makes a difference in enabling crews to execute their responsibilities to perfection on deck in such a fast-paced environment. It’s an honor for our brand to work with the American Magic team to help them achieve their dream to bring the cup home.”

To stay updated on the partnership between Helly Hansen and the New York Yacht Club’s American Magic, visit  hellyhansen.com  and  americanmagic.com . A supporter apparel collection will be available through the Helly Hansen website starting in 2019.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

America’s Cup clothing: What each team wears and why

• Toby Hodges
• March 8, 2021

This edition of the America's Cup sees teams racing at speeds of up to 50 knots in an incredibly intense environment. So what goes into the kit bag of a sailor at the very top end of the sport?

Watching the AC75 s cracking along on a foil, it’s easy to forget that innovation pervades every element of elite racing, particularly America’s Cup racing and goes well beyond simply boat design.

Right down to the helmets the sailors wear and their choice of rash vest, hundreds of hours of R&D lie behind the garments on display.

America’s Cup rules stipulate between 3kg and 5kg of gear per team member, which has to include everything from water bottles to goggles, personal flotation devices to gloves. Little wonder, then, that there has been an intensive effort by the clothing brands that work with each team to develop new materials and new ways of building garments.

“No ‘off-the-shelf’ sailing kit exists for the extremities of America’s Cup racing, so the athletes’ technical gear needed to be custom made,” says Henri-Lloyd’s Sarah Alexander. Those garments are now being put to the test, and the most successful elements will find their way through to the commercial lines available to us mere mortals, when we choose what to wear sailing . Here’s a look at what might be heading for your locker.

Garmin Wearables

In gearing up for the Cup, all the teams made use of cutting edge electronics to monitor heart rate and performance during training sessions, logging progress. For instance, INEOS Team UK crewmembers wore Garmin HRM Pro heartrate monitors connected to Fenix 6 GPS watches and Edge bike computers.

“There were no special tweaks made for the team,” says Garmin’s Erika Dulay. “But they do use certain features more than others (training load, sleep etc). From this they were able to collect data and show progression from the beginning of their training throughout.”

The crew on American Magic wore specially commissioned Garmin Marq Captain watches, with sailing features including ‘tack assist’ and wind direction analysis, and fitness tracking that includes a specific profile for sail grinding.

Buy Garmin Fenix 6 GPS Watch from Amazon

Buy Garmin HRM Pro heart rate monitor from Amazon

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www.garmin.com

INEOS Team UK made it to the Prada Cup Final

INEOS Team UK

All eyes were on Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Team UK after the team confounded pundits ahead of the Prada Cup. They may have ultimately failed to win the Prada Cup but the team threw a great many resources at their impressive effort alongside partners like Henri-Lloyd on the clothing side. They have developed the Aero-Foil line, which they describe as the lightest, most agile sailing kit they’ve ever made.

The range includes a neoprene pant and long john, a hybrid pant, long- and short-sleeved rash vests and the warmup jacket.

Features include varying thicknesses of neoprene to balance protection and mobility. So, there is a 3mm panel in front of the knee and over the hips, which are constantly working, with thinner 2mm neoprene behind the knee and in the body. There is no lining or hem to arm and leg holes, to eliminate a few more grams of weight, while the arm holes are oversized to make it easier to pull the garment on and off when wet.

There are seams, but they are positioned with great precision to avoid chafing. And instead of heavy stitching, they use glue and tape for closure. A silicone coating is printed to the inner cuff for grip and anti-abrasion material is printed onto the knee and seat.

Team principal and skipper Sir Ben Ainslie. Photo: Team INEOS UK /Lloyd Images

Although air temperatures in Auckland are pretty balmy, there is a real risk of cooling down after the intensity of a race is over. “We are sailing in 25°C plus of heat in a black trench with no airflow, so for us to have kit that we can be close to max heart rate in, be comfortable in, be super sweaty in, and the kit not be an annoyance is fantastic,” says grinder David ‘Freddie’ Carr.

“Then as soon as we finish the racing and we’re calming down on the tow back in, when the wind chill is quite high, to chuck on all the relevant kit [such as our Henri-Lloyd warm up jacket] to keep you primed and warm and ready to hit the dock in good shape is equally as important.”

Limited numbers of the AC line are available, but Henri-Lloyd is awaiting final feedback from the team to see which features to bring forward into new collections. “Many of the Aero-Foil items will be standard kit going forward,” says the firm’s Sarah Alexander.

Buy Aero Foil Rash vest from Henri Lloyd

Buy Aero Foil longjohns from Henri Lloyd

Buy Aero Foil Hybrid Pant from Henri Lloyd

Buy Warm up jacket from Henri Lloyd

The British team wears Smith helmets and goggles from the motorcycle range. The Squad MTB goggles have Chromapop lens technology, which resists fogging and enhances natural contrast and colour.

Buy Squad MTB goggles from Amazon

www.smithoptics.com

Emirates Team New Zealand is the Defender of the America’s Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand – America’s Cup Defender

Swedish outfit, Sail Racing International, is the official supplier to the kiwi team. It produces two grand prix collections called 50KTS and Reference, developed with Oracle Team USA during the last America’s Cup.

The Emirates Team New Zealand gear is heavily based on that – all in black, naturally enough. “We have made some tweaks to the garments that ETNZ is using while racing to make the team more flexible, faster and waterproof,” says Erik Martinsson, crew centre manager at Sail Racing.

“On the neoprene pant, for example, we have excluded some shin guards to make it a little bit lighter, and made the waist on the back a little bit higher.”

The short and long-sleeved rash vests are in super-stretchy layered construction of nylon, elastane and durable water-repellent treatment. Astonishingly, this imparts waterproofing similar to that of a top-line foul weather jacket (20,000WP), and breathability that goes far beyond the norm.

A mesh panel at the back permits extra stretch and there are Rashguard panels on the arms and sides.

The long john is in thin 2mm neoprene, while there is stretchy GORE-Tex fabric for the warm-up jackets. “When you come to rashguards and bottom halves, we still have some neoprene but we have also applied some super-stretch fabric instead,” says Henric Vikestam, head of design and production. “Neoprene is a rubber sponge, so not so functional.”

Some of the ETNZ garments are available online, but the more specialised gear that has been modified for the America’s Cup is only available for the team. “These items are usually based on gear we have in our collections, but small adjustments are made to fit even better for purpose of these fantastic AC75s!” says Vikestam.

www.sailracing.com

The Kiwi team also wear helmets designed by Aldo Drudi, a legend in the motorcycling world who elevated Valentino Rossi’s headgear to a piece of art.

www.rossihelmets.com

New York Yacht Club’s American Magic racing Ineos Team UK

American Magic

Helly Hansen is the clothing brand behind the US team’s clothing. Terry Hutchinson and his crew may have gone home empty handed, but they also devoted huge attention to the technical gear worn in the boat.

“Every fabric, seam, panel and zipper makes a difference in enabling crews to execute their responsibilities to perfection on deck in such a fast-paced environment,” says Paul Stoneham, CEO of Helly Hansen.

Helly Hansen has translated the extreme requirements of its America’s Cup garments into a slightly more commercial offering under the HP Foil Pro moniker, available through its online shop. The range currently extends to a jacket (830g), a smock top (630g) and a pair of shorts. A softshell jacket will also be launched this spring, built of 4-way stretch fabric that gives great freedom of movement.

Photo: Will Ricketson/American Magic

Based on feedback from the American Magic team during training, the smock top was designed with low-profile zippers on the front kangaroo pocket and front zipper, hiding a mesh ventilation system. The close-to-body fit reduces drag and improves freedom of movement. All the garments use three-ply Helly Tech for waterproofing and extreme breathability, plus sonic-welded seams to keep weight down and improve aerodynamics.

The jackets also incorporate latex neckline and cuffs for comfort. “We are honoured to work closely with the American Magic team as we continue to evolve our designs to perform at the highest level of professional sailing,” said Øyvind Vedvik, category managing director of sailing at Helly Hansen.

Buy Foil Pro Jacket from Amazon

Buy Foil Pro Smock from Amazon

Buy Foil Pro Short from Amazon

www.hellyhansen.com

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli

The Italian team took a unique approach by signing up Australia’s Woolmark company to develop technical garments made with natural merino wool.

Among the properties of its very fine fibres are superb breathability, good wicking away of moisture and excellent thermoregulation – all key traits in technical sailing clothing. “We tested the garments on support tenders in rough conditions at 50 knots, by fire-hosing someone for 30 minutes to test waterproofing,” says Luna Rossa’s design and development manager Shannon Falcone, also a crewmember and veteran Cup sailor.

“Our Merino wool garments passed these tests and more. I want guys on the team to wear this, not because they have to contractually, but because it’s the best gear they’ve ever worn.”

The wardrobe includes a waterproof jacket, a soft-shell jacket, a polo shirt, a wet jacket, a blouson, a T-shirt and a wetsuit and base-layers – all made from varying proportions of Merino wool alongside some synthetic fibres.

There’s also an impressive sustainability message to the tie-up between Luna Rossa and Woolmark. “Choosing a fibre like wool, that is both natural and biodegradable, is closely tied to our goal of minimising ocean pollution, an issue to which our team is very sensitive,” says Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena.

www.prada.com

Personal Floatation Devices in the America’s Cup

There’s no off-the-shelf option when it comes to the mandatory personal flotation device that each Cup crewmember has to wear.

Light weight is obviously key, and it must include comms equipment, an oxygen cylinder and snorkel for emergency breathing, and a safety knife. It should also allow the sailors to move as freely as possible, and be highly breathable.

Spinlock supplies INEOS Team UK’s PFD and has used innovative materials to maximise breathability, while getting the overall weight down to about 600g. INEOS Team UK trimmer Nick Hutton says the PFD is based on work done with Spinlock during the previous America’s Cup. “For this next iteration, we have retained all the ‘likes’ of the previous model and developed them for our new AC75 PFD.

“Every detail needs to be taken into consideration when developing our kit and we need to go into a training session or race knowing we have done everything we can to ensure the crew are wearing the best safety equipment while also being comfortable and able to perform to their optimum.”

www.spinlock.co.uk

ETNZ and Luna Rossa have both opted for the Sea-Guard PFD designed by Dainese, best known for its motorbike and skiing protection. Consequently, the garment looks somewhat different, with much more visible spinal protection than the Spinlock vest. It weighs a little more at 700g, and includes a water bladder at the top of the back.

Again, breathability is the key. “Once you’ve got it on, you almost don’t feel you have it on,” says Dainese CEO Cristiano Silei.

While ETNZ has opted for a proprietary Dainese technical fabric for the vest, Luna Rossa uses a fabric incorporating precious platinum from another supplier. It also carries the spinal protection right down to the coccyx. Shannon Falcone of Luna Rossa adds: “I think we couldn’t have expected anything better. It is the ideal combination of practicality, wearability and safety.”

www.dainese.com

Some of the gear worn by America’s Cup crews is outside any sponsorship deal, and selected by each individual simply because they like it!

This is the case for footwear, for example, where most sailors wear the shoes they know and love.

Dynamic Aussie clothing manufacturer Zhik says it has worked with lots of America’s Cup sailors on a non-branded basis, ‘due to other clothing sponsorship commitments’.

It has used the experience to hone its products, and now offers a broad range of protective garments, including its P2 personal flotation device, H1 helmet and Kollition impact suits.

www.zhik.com

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Newsroom - Press Releases // Helly Hansen and American Magic Reuni...

Sep 16, 2022, helly hansen and american magic reunite with an intent to win the america’s cup.

OSLO, NORWAY (September 2022) — Helly Hansen, the leading global sailing brand, is proud to announce its continued partnership with New York Yacht Club American Magic, the US Challenger for the 37 th America’s Cup. Building on their experience from the previous campaign, the Norwegian-based brand and the world-class sailing team are again joining forces, determined to bring sailing’s most coveted prize back home to the United States.  

Helly Hansen and New York Yacht Club American Magic share a forward-thinking mindset and commitment to innovation, and through cutting-edge technology and high velocity collaboration, both organizations continue to deliver the highest performance within their fields. Looking ahead to the 37 th America’s Cup, their partnership will bring together top athletes, coaches, designers, R&D, engineers, and support teams, resulting in a campaign that will break new ground with innovation and technology at the forefront.  

“Partnering with a brand committed to producing technically excellent garments was essential for the team,” said Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and President of Sailing Operations for NYYC American Magic. “The Helly Hansen gear worn during the last America’s Cup was constantly put to the test and delivered as a high-performing technical product. At American Magic, we need resilient apparel that can perform consistently at the highest level and in the most challenging conditions on and off the water. We’re excited to continue to train and race in Helly Hansen apparel as we focus on our high-performance sailing program and target the 37 th America’s Cup.”  

Helly Hansen works with professionals and elite athletes worldwide, drawing on their insights and experience to create gear they can trust in even the harshest conditions. With professional feedback, the brand has an innate understanding of high-performance environments and aims to develop gear that delivers maximum protection so that professional teams and athletes can focus on their tasks without worrying about getting cold or wet. Partnering with American Magic, Helly Hansen will work closely with the team to ensure their apparel will exceed their expectations and ultimately enable them to be the team best positioned to take home the trophy.  

“We are proud to renew our partnership with American Magic and its elite team of world-class professionals and athletes,” said Carrie Ask, CEO, Helly Hansen. “Being able to partner closely with a team that shares our innovation mindset and vision is an honor and undeniable asset to Helly Hansen. We’re looking forward to working with the team to extend the limits of performance, both on and off the water, and are committed to providing them with the best possible technical apparel to support their dream of bringing the America’s Cup back home.”  

American Magic spent the summer building the team’s base in the Port of Pensacola, FL, where sailing conditions in Pensacola Bay are perfect for developing the AC75, before commencing the team’s third winter of training on the Gulf Coast. The team will spend all winter in Pensacola before relocating to Barcelona for the final push into the 37 th America’s Cup campaign in 2024. The 37 th America’s Cup will take place in Barcelona, Spain, in September and October 2024.  

To stay updated on the partnership between Helly Hansen and New York Yacht Club American Magic, visit hellyhansen.com and americanmagic.americascup.com . In addition, a supporter apparel collection will be available on Helly Hansen’s website starting spring/summer 2023.   

About Helly Hansen  

Founded in Norway in 1877, Helly Hansen continues to develop professional grade apparel that helps people stay and feel alive.  Through insights drawn from living and working in the world’s harshest environments, the company has developed a long list of first-to-market innovations, including the first supple waterproof fabrics more than 140 years ago. Other breakthroughs include the first fleece fabrics in the 1960s, the first technical base layers in the 1970s, made with LIFA® Stay Dry technology, the patented H2Flow™ temperature regulating system, and the revolutionary lighter, warmer LIFALOFT™ insulation. Building on Helly Hansen’s proprietary HELLY TECH® waterproof/breathable system, the technical outdoor brand has most recently introduced the award-winning LIFA INFINITY PRO™ – the company’s most innovative and responsible waterproof/breathable technology to date.  

Helly Hansen is a leader in technical sailing and performance ski apparel, as well as premium workwear. Its uniforms are worn and trusted by more than 55,000 professionals and can be found on Olympians, National Teams, and at more than 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations globally.  

Helly Hansen’s outerwear, base layers, sportswear and footwear are sold in more than 40 countries around the world and the company is owned by Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC). To learn more about Helly Hansen’s latest collections, visit  www.hellyhansen.com .  

About the New York Yacht Club  

The New York Yacht Club was founded in 1844 when nine New York yachtsmen met in New York Harbor aboard John Cox Stevens’ yacht, Gimcrack. A year later, the Club’s first clubhouse was built in Hoboken, N.J. The Club’s Annual Regatta was first run in 1846.   

The Club was the keeper of the America’s Cup from 1851 to 1983, and it organized the first transatlantic race in 1866.   

The Club maintains two exquisite clubhouses, one on 44th Street in the heart of New York City, known for its Model Room and extensive nautical library. The second clubhouse, at Harbour Court in Newport, R.I., annually hosts some of North America’s most prestigious sailing events, including the Annual Regatta, Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex, the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup and the Queen’s Cup.  

About New York Yacht Club American Magic

Formed in October 2017 by Bella Mente Racing, Quantum Racing, and the New York Yacht Club, American Magic represents a joint vision to win the America’s Cup, the highest prize in sailing and the oldest trophy in international sport.   

New York Yacht Club American Magic brings together two highly successful racing programs with the most prestigious yacht club in the world. Both are united by a determination to regain the America’s Cup, reconnect the American sailing base with the premier event in the sport, and elevate the quality of competitive sailing in the United States.   

The name, American Magic, is a nod to the New York Yacht Club’s storied America’s Cup history; a combination of the boat the trophy is named for, and the first boat to defend it.  

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Seattle-based Williams Helde helps build active, healthy brands through marketing communications, PR, advertising and design.

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HELLY HANSEN TO FLOAT NEW LINE NEW YORK -- Helly Hansen will launch a unisex line of activewear and...

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HELLY HANSEN TO FLOAT NEW LINE

NEW YORK — Helly Hansen will launch a unisex line of activewear and technical sailing gear for spring carrying the logo of Young America, one of the yachts that will be attempting to compete for the U.S. in the America’s Cup Challenge. Young America is sponsored by the New York Yacht Club. Last summer, Helly Hansen signed a seven-figure sponsorship deal with Young America, giving it the right to market licensed apparel through 2000. Helly Hansen will outfit the crew. The America’s Cup races will be held in New Zealand in 2000. The 35-piece Young America line includes cotton polo shirts, shorts and pants, and jackets made of Helly Tech, coated ripstop nylon. In January, the Young America line will be available at 100 chandleries, or ship’s supply stores, and Helly Hansen franchised stores. Helly Hansen, which has been teaming up with established retailers in areas where the brand is not widely distributed, has 13 franchised stores and expects to have a total of 40 by 2000. The collection will be offered at retail at least through 2000. Helly Hansen is considering using the Young America collection as a vehicle for breaking into the department store business, a company spokeswoman said. A few basics are being offered at Young America’s Web site, www.youngamerica.org. Yacht clubs affiliated with the NYYC will also carry limited offerings, according to Jim Reilly, senior vice president of marketing for Young America. Executives declined to comment on projected volume. With $150 million in annual sales and distribution in 17 countries, Helly Hansen makes apparel for sailing, skiing, snowboarding and other outdoor activities. Next month, the Young America collection will be unveiled during Helly Hansen’s annual sales meeting in Newport, R.I. For the launch, Helly Hansen Newport, which opened last month, plans to host events, said Jay Lasky, owner of the store. The Young America crew and its boat, which is docked in Newport, will be used for events in conjunction with the launch. The Young America line, said Lasky, should be a big draw with women, who so far have accounted for 60 percent of the purchases at the Newport store. Having sold Helly Hansen apparel for the past four years, Lasky recently renamed and expanded his store. In other company news, Ken Schrang has joined Helly Hansen as vice president of sales. He is based at the U.S. offices in Redmond, Wash., and reports to Bob McCulloch, chief operating officer. Schrang was most recently vice president of sales for J.E. Morgan Knitting Mills, the maker of Duofold apparel.

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St. Pete To Shine Again

• By Dave Reed
• February 14, 2024

The St. Petersburg Yacht Club and the western shore of Florida’s Tampa Bay will be the epicenter of sailboat racing this weekend when more than 240 teams across 13 one-design classes and five handicap-racing fleets get races started for the first event of the national Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in St. Petersburg . Now well into its third decade, the regatta will also mark 10 years with its title sponsor.

The Sunshine City’s motto is that St. Pete is “Always in Season,” and that is certainly the enticement for many teams traveling in from colder climes with the promise of warm breezes, stiff competition and a nightlife that’s never been more vibrant.

One such northerner is David Mierzwa, of Lake Placid, New York, who on Tuesday was behind the wheel and racing to get south of a big storm burying the mid-Atlantic and Northeast in snow and ice. Behind him was bitter cold, but ahead of him was warmth and the anticipation of his first Melges 24 Midwinter Championship at the regatta.

As a newbie to the demanding Melges 24, Mierzwa says his primary goal is to “stay out of everybody’s way,” but ultimately, he and his teammates are on a mission to learn the nuances of this high-performance keelboat from his peers.

“We’re going so we can hunt for tips, tricks and whatever makes us better,” Mierzwa says. “It’s about having the opportunity to do an event of this caliber with likeminded people, because while sailing is the goal, being surrounded by others that do the same sport is sometimes better than the sport itself.”

As the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta in St. Petersburg will be his team’s first major event, he recognizes they don’t have a high enough racing pedigree to vie for the Midwinter Championship title—yet. “The only way we can get to that point is to go out there and race,” he says.

And race they will, from early Friday morning through late Sunday, alongside several other one-design classes that are the regulars of this February classic, including the S2 7.9s and the Hobie 33s , both of which will also be vying for their midwinter championship titles. 

The S2s have the returning champions of Tom and Mary Bryant’s “Team Matros” from Holland, Michigan, which won seven of eight races in 2023 to earn their berth at the Helly Hansen Sailing World Caribbean Championship last October. At each of the series’ five events one team is selected to compete in the British Virgin Islands for the overall season title.

The Hobie 33s also have their champions returning to defend— Craig and Deborah Wilusz’s “Hoof Hearted”—but this year there’s a new and unknown challenger from Waxhaw, North Carolina, and it’s a boat with a nefarious name: “Bad Bunny.” Its new owner, Sean Rhone, says he’s looking forward to meeting and racing with other Hobie 33 owners for the first time and “taking a peek under their hoods.”

Rhone has been primarily racing his Hobie 33 in singlehanded events and low-key races on North Carolina’s Lake Norman, and like Mierzwa, he’s not sure how well he’ll fare, especially with a five-person team that’s been assembled by way of social media message boards, and whom he’s never met.

“It’s cold in Charlotte,” Rhone says, “and I’m getting tired of the cold weather, so when I saw that the fleet was having its midwinters in St. Petersburg, I thought it would be nice to go and race against some other Hobie 33s for once.”

Mierzwa and Rhone may pass each other on an interstate somewhere on the way to St. Pete, along with a sizable Canadian contingent of Contender dinghy sailors making their annual pilgrimage from across the northern border. The 16-foot Contender, which its loyalists claim to be “The Sexiest Singlehander in the World ” was introduced in 1969 and continues to be popular internationally, as well as in Tampa thanks to local sailmaker Ethan Bixby. Bixby, a champion of many classes, continues to rally the troops to the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta and the fleet has doubled for this year’s gathering. Bixby, who won all races last year, will of course be among the 11 trapezing sailors.

Sharing the same racecourse will be eight teams racing the doublehanded Windmill class, which is new to the regatta lineup, but another cult classic sparked in the 1950s. Class measurer Pat Huntley, of Erie, Pennsylvania, is now a decade into Windmill racing, and says he’s eager to enjoy some fast sailing in St. Pete and good times with his fellow Windmillers. “It’s such a fun and cool group,” Huntley says. “And the Windmill is such a bad-ass skinny and fast boat. It can handle the chop easily and is really fast.” 

Five teams racing in the 20-foot Flying Dutchman class (first built in 1951) will hail from California to Tennessee and hosted by local FD ace, Lin Robson, the 2023 class winner. The doublehanded bonanza, however, will be the Melges 15 class, which will feature an impressive 31 teams, nearly double from 2023. The new one-design class has exploded in popularity across the country since its introduction three years ago, and midwinter regattas elsewhere in Florida have maxed out at nearly 100 boats.

Among the Melges 15 ranks in St. Petersburg will be New York’s Iris Vogel, who has traditionally raced the regatta with her larger one-design keelboats over the years (a Soverel 33 and a J/88, both named “Deviation”). Vogel is now enjoying the challenge of big-fleet racing and exhilarating downwind sailing.

Racing with her partner, Tim Longo, Vogel helms and Longo handles the front of the boat, and over the past year they’ve been working their way up the scoreboard, but have a long way to go to the top. “This is a totally new thing to sail in such a big fleet,” Vogel says. “J/88 events typically get a dozen boats at best, and the racing is much slower paced. The tactics are completely different and boats are fast downwind so it’s a ton of fun, but we are still learning a different style of racing. Having the smaller fleet [at the Helly Hansen Regatta] will give us a chance to work on our boatspeed.”

While the out-of-town armada is significant, local sailors look forward to the regatta every year, especially Tampa Bay’s PHRF sailors who’ve made the event a key fixture in their Suncoast Boat of the Year Series. For these fleets, which now comprise the regatta’s largest group with 38 entries across four divisions (Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker, Racer-Cruiser and Cruising) organizers have added two days of long-course racing over the weekend. Depending on the wind strength and direction of the day, the race committee will plot a daylong course to test each team’s navigational and sailing skills, as well as their perseverance and desire to be first to the dock and first to the yacht club bar.

Local sailor Tim Landt, who has been an active sailor on the Tampa Bay waterfront for decades, is a registered competitor in the Cruising division in his new-to-him Nightwind 35, “Charisma.” He’s excited to see the regatta’s blossoming distance-race fleet and says the local growth and interest in racing older-generation yachts is good for the sport and for the Tampa Bay racing scene.

But it’s not all classic plastics in the distance fleet. In the Racer-Cruiser division will be the sparkling new Neo 43, owned by Ken Mungan of nearby Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda, Florida. Mungan purchased his sleek Italian-built 43-footer in 2022 with big plans to take on a few of the sport’s marque distance races, and local events like the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta offer he and his team an opportunity to learn the boat in a racing environment.

“When I turned 40 I needed a hobby and took up sailing,” Munger says. “I’m always trying new things and got into racing 2019. I did the Melges 24 for a while, but the Neo, because it’s a shallow-draft boat, allows me to do more local long-distance racing and we’re learning a lot.”

For this weekend’s regatta, Munger has more crew lined up than there are roles on the boat, but that’s fine with him. “We’re going to be overloaded, and I am anticipating a level of skill and organization that we don’t quite have yet,” he admits. “We’ll have two coaches and a new set of racing jibs that will be used for the first time, so it will be fun, and I’m looking forward to it.”

While the long-course racers are making their way around the bay, closer to shore, will be the multihulls: the high-tech A Class Catamarans , which have two divisions (Classic and Foiling) totaling 33 competitors, and the Weta Trimarans , with a smaller contingent from years past, return with nine boats, and among them is two-time defending champion and local Pete Merrifield looking for a three-peat.

         The iconic Lightning Class is one of the regatta’s largest one-design fleets, with 25 boats, five of which will be raced by members of the Starck family with a few world champions among them. Hall of Famer, Augie Diaz, of Miami, and Ched Proctor, of Southport, Connecticut, both world champions as well, always add to the high level of racing and camaradarie Lightning sailors enjoy all winter. The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta in St. Petersburg is a key warm-up event for the Lightning class’s hotly-contested two-regatta Southern Circuit with March events in St. Pete and Miami.

Sharing one racing circle immediately off the city front will be the 29-boat J/70 fleet and a reemergent J/24 fleet, both of which will no doubt provide quality racing for both professional and amateur sailors. The same will be true for the ever-competitive ORC fleet, with 11 entries, which will be racing further south. Bill and Jackie Baxter’s J/111 “Fireball,” from Stamford, Connecticut, which has won all of its events this winter will return to defend its 2023 ORC title, which it earned with ease, winning seven of eight races.

• More: Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series , Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series St. Petersburg
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