The Helly Hansen National Offshore One Design Regatta series will launch its 27th season Feb. 13-15 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The St. Pete NOOD will be the first stop on a five-city circuit, with roughly 1,000 sailors competing on Tampa Bay for a trip to the British Virgin Islands to compete in the Helly Hansen NOOD Championship Regatta.
During the three-day event hosted by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, sailors participate in one-design racing, in which similar types of boats race one another in their own classes.
Points are accumulated based on the finishing position in each individual race. The boat with the fewest total points at the end of the regatta wins its respective class.
An overall winner, which is chosen based upon the strongest finish in the most competitive class, will be invited to travel to the British Virgin Islands to compete against other overall winners at the 2015 Helly Hansen NOOD Championship Regatta.
“St. Pete has been a staple on the NOOD Regatta series for a long time now and is always a great venue to open the season with,” Sailing World editor Dave Reed said in a statement. “Each year we see a great turnout from the local sailors, who are highly-skilled and always make a run at the overall winner title.”
Along with new title sponsor Helly Hansen, the event welcomes returning sponsors that include Mount Gay Rum, North Sails, Sunsail and West Marine.
