DIYC Will Welcome Star North Americans to Tampa, Florida in October 2026

On behalf of the Officers, Board of Directors, a members of Davis Island Yacht Club, I am thrilled to welcome you to the Star Class North American Championship. We are excited about the opportunity to welcome the world's top Star class sailors to our club, located in beautiful Tampa, Florida.

DIYC is widely recognized as a premier sailing venue, with a longstanding tradition of hosting top-tier regattas. Our location offers easy access for international travelers, with Tampa International Airport just minutes away and Orlando's international hub a short drive to the north. Tampa Bay provides an ideal racing environment, and October offers sailors outstanding conditions - typically featuring steady breezes ranging from 10-18 knots, warm temperatres in the mid-70s (24-26 C), and mild, predicatable weather patterns. While occasional cold fronts may bring a brief wind shift, they tend to stabilize quickly, offering excellent and exciting racing conditions.

JACK JENNINGS AND PEDRO TROUCHE CROWNED 2025 STAR NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONS IN DRAMATIC FINALE

After four thrilling and challenging days of racing, Jack Jennings (USA) and Pedro Trouche (BRA) have been crowned the 2025 Star North American Champions in Pass Christian, Mississippi. The duo delivered a remarkably consistent performance across a variety of conditions to secure the title, holding off fierce competition from George Szabo and Guy Avellon (USA) and Paul Cayard with Luke Lawrence (USA) — the top three boats separated by just three points after seven completed races.

The final day on the Mississippi Sound delivered one last weather puzzle for the sailors and Race Committee. What began with a hint of northerly breeze quickly turned into a full-blown chess match with the wind – alternating between sea breeze and northerly puffs in a battle for dominance. In a span of just 45 minutes, the wind shifted from due north to 210°, backed to 140°, then suddenly roared in at 328°, before settling around 010°. The instability made race management incredibly complex – and the sailors had their hands full on the water.

HEAVY BREEZE SHAKES UP DAY THREE AT THE 2025 STAR NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Day Three of the 2025 Star North American Championship tested every ounce of skill, patience, and endurance from both the competitors and the Race Committee, as the fleet battled through wildly oscillating winds and punchy gusts out on the Gulf.

With a forecast promising breeze from the northwest around 320°, the Race Committee ventured 2.5 miles offshore only to find an unpredictable and unstable wind pattern. Directional shifts spanned as much as 60 degrees and velocity swung from a mere 5 knots up to gusts of 25 knots.

MOMENTUM BUILDS ON DAY TWO AT THE 2025 STAR NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

An early sea breeze and steadily building conditions set the stage for two dynamic races on Day Two of the 2025 Star North American Championship, hosted by the Pass Christian Yacht Club. With 21 teams battling it out in the Gulf of Mexico, the racecourse delivered a fresh test of tactics and boat speed under increasingly lively conditions.