MOBILE, Ala. — On April 30, the longest, point-to-point sailboat race in North America will take place from the middle of Mobile Bay down to Dauphin Island, covering an 18-mile course, with more than 200 boats expected to participate.

The main event will begin on April 30 at approximately 9:30 a.m. as a Performance Handicap Racing Fleet, Portsmouth Class, and a combined One-Design and Multihull Class will compete beginning at the upper part of Mobile Bay (approximately just west of Fairhope Municipal Pier) with the final gun ending the race just before the Dauphin Island Bridge at approximately 5 p.m.

Activities for participants are set for Friday and Saturday night. Friday will kick off activities with the Skipper’s Meeting at the Lake Forest Yacht Club in Daphne. Sailors and non-sailors alike are encouraged to come “Back to the Island” after the race and enjoy catered food, music and more.

“The racing season is just beginning to get started as we approach warmer weather with good breezes,” spokesperson Bill Lees said. “Each year, since Hurricane Katrina and the oil spill, the race gets larger and larger, which means sailing is coming back to this area and especially for this one day, the largest sailboat race in North America .”

The Skipper’s Meeting will last from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. on April 29 at the Lake Forest Yacht Club. The race will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with dinner and live music to follow.

The Skipper’s Meeting will be held at the Lake Forest Yacht Club located at 3 Yacht Club Drive, Daphne. The sailboat regatta will begin in north Mobile Bay. Food and entertainment following the race will take place at the Dauphin Island Rodeo Site, located at 531 Lemoyne Drive, Dauphin Island.

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