Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series Wraps Up in St. Petersburg

Strong winds provide thrilling conclusion to 225-boat event

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 2026 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in St. Petersburg, Florida, wrapped up on February 15th with a thrilling finish for its 225 entries. After challenging conditions early in the weekend, strong winds provided a spectacular conclusion for sailors across multiple classes, including J/70s and Melges 24s.

Why it matters

The St. Petersburg event served as a key launching point for several sailing championships, hosting six midwinter championships and marking the beginning of the 2026 North American Sailing Series. The regatta also continued the Southeast Racing Series, showcasing the region's competitive sailing scene.

The details

In the J/70 class, Al Minella secured a win, finishing just three points ahead of Kelly Hansen's team. Peter McClennan's Gamecock demonstrated consistent performance, winning the Melges 24 class with an undefeated record. Other class winners included Bill and Jackie Baxter's J/111 Fireball in ORC, Michael Norris' Morning Breeze in L30, and Timothy Andrews' Holy Toledo in Hobie 33.

  • The 2026 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in St. Petersburg, Florida, wrapped up on February 15th.
  • The regatta experienced light-air postponements on the first two days, but finished with strong winds on the final day.

The players

Al Minella

Winner of the J/70 series.

Kelly Hansen

Finished second in the J/70 series.

Peter McClennan

Winner of the Melges 24 class with an undefeated record.

Bill and Jackie Baxter

Won the ORC Midwinter Championship title with their J/111 Fireball.

Michael Norris

Swept the L30 series with his team on Morning Breeze.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series in St. Petersburg showcased the region's competitive sailing scene, hosting several midwinter championships and kicking off the 2026 North American Sailing Series. The event's strong winds on the final day provided a thrilling conclusion to the 225-boat regatta.