PALM BEACH, Fla. – September 24, 2018 – Boats from seven states and ranging from cruiser-racers to grand prix machines to multihulls are among the early birds entered in the Sailfish Club of Florida 62nd Annual Wirth M. Munroe Ocean Race set for Friday, December 7, 2018. This year’s race will see the addition of a 40-mile course called The Sprint, from Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach, which will complement the existing 60-mile Miami-to-Palm Beach track, known as The Classic. NOR link here.

Among the early entries are Andy Wescoat’s J-109 Harm’s Way; James Scalise’s Baltic 38 Santarella; Corey Park’s O’Day 34 Jaloha; F.K. Day’s Class 40 Longbow; Dave and Peter Askew’s Volvo 70 Wizard; Victor Wild’s TP 52 Fox; and Tom Reese’s multihull Flight Simulator, a Corsair Cruze 970. The entries represent crews from California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Texas.

“We are delighted to see such a wide spectrum of entries this early in the registration process and we are encouraged that sailors are responding positively to the new two-course format,” said Tom Bowler, event chair for the Sailfish Club. “Feedback tells us The Sprint course starting from Fort Lauderdale is particularly appealing to the smaller boats and cruising sailors, while The Classic course from Miami continues to lure racing sailors who want a longer blue-water challenge.”

The Sprint will start off Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, while the Classic will start off Government Cut in Miami Beach. Both courses will finish off the Palm Beach Inlet. All crews will be welcome at the Sailfish Club’s legendary Rum Punch reception, buffet dinner and awards ceremony.

The Classic Course will be scored as part of the SORC's "Islands in the Stream" series, which includes the Miami-Nassau Race, the Lauderdale-Key West Race, the Miami-Havana Race and the Pineapple Cup from Miami to Montego Bay. The Sprint Course will not be scored as part of the series.

For decades the Wirth M. Munroe Ocean Race started in Miami, but it was shortened to a single Fort Lauderdale-Palm Beach course several years ago to encourage participation. Two years ago, as a tribute to the race’s 60th anniversary, organizers returned to the longer course starting in Miami. Interest in both courses prompted organizers to offer the two-course format for 2018.

The Organizing Authority for the race consists of The Sailfish Club of Florida in partnership with the Storm Trysail Club and the support of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. The SORC and the Sailfish Club of Florida will oversee race management.