72nd Mount Dora Sailing Regatta sets sail on March 29 and 30

ABOVE: The shore of Lake Dora before a prior year's race. (Mount Dora Buzz photo)

Once again, colorful sails will gracefully litter Lake Dora near the end of March.  The 72nd annual Mount Dora Sailing Regatta is expected to draw dozens of boats over the two-day event spanning March 29 and 30.
 
The Regatta is open to competitors of all ages and all classes of boats, including Optis, Lasers, 420s, Flying Scots, Hunters, Open Bics, Sunfish, Hobies, Wayfarers, and Catalinas.   Three courses will be  spread across a portion of Lake Dora to take advantage of the wind and provide ample space for competition. The race course for young competitors is closer to Lighthouse Point, while the two courses in the middle of the lake feature boats ranging from twenty-two-foot Catalinas to Hobie Waves.

Regatta activity picks up at the Simpson Cove launch area on March 28 as sailors begin launching their boats and settling up for competition.  Weather and wind permitting, the first race is expected to  kick off Saturday in the early afternoon and the last race usually finishes close to 4 p.m.   Typically, three to four races will be sailed that afternoon, depending on the weather. The 4th Avenue docks, Lighthouse Point, and Palm Island Boardwalk provide excellent vantage points for spectators. Sunday's first race usually starts at 9:30 a.m., and no races typically begin after 12 p.m.

The regatta, organized by Mount Dora Yacht Club (MDYC) is the longest running annual event in the city. MDYC, the oldest inland yacht club in Florida, held its first regatta in 1913.  At that time the event featured powerboats, and then in 1953, the regatta transitioned to sailboats to alleviate a noise issue.

Originally, all club members were required to be boat owners.  That requirement changed during World War II when gasoline rationing made boat ownership impractical and the population of the city was a mere 4000 residents.  During the war, the club was used as a USO facility and reportedly hosted over 17,000 servicemen and women while residents watched for enemy planes from a downtown hotel.

During the 1950s and early 1960s the yacht club was used to give sailing instruction to the area's youth. In 1966, the club's original building was destroyed by fire.  A new modern clubhouse was built in its place  and stands today at 4th Avenue and Lake Dora's edge.  In the 1990's a private dock was built to accommodate members and club activities.  In recent years, the club added a deck overlooking Lake Dora and did some updates to the exterior in 2024.

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