Dauphin Island Race • April 24–26, 2026
Mobile Bay’s signature distance race – classic Gulf Coast sailing, professional race management, and a first-class dockside experience for competitors and guests.
TITLE SPONSOR 
Partner Club 
Overview
Set your sails and prep your rigging! The Gulf Coast’s premier sailing event is back. The 66th Annual Dauphin Island Race is officially on the horizon for April 2026!
Whether you’re a seasoned racer or a casual sailor looking for the ultimate bay-spanning experience, this is the one event you don’t want to miss.
- Host: Buccaneer Yacht Club (BYC)
- Partner: Mobile Yacht Club (MYC)
- Title Sponsor: Michelob ULTRA
- Format: Distance race to Dauphin Island with awards and hospitality
~18 NM
Vicinity of Dog River Channel Marker 5
Near Intracoastal Waterway to the north of Dauphin Island
Registration
Registration platform: RegattaMan
Entry deadline: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Fees: $65.00 before April 10, $80.00 April 11-23
Course
Download Course Marks GPX file
Course Marks
| Mark | Type | Location | Description | Dist To |
Hdg To |
| 1 | Start | Lat: 30.54390 Lon: -88.05804 |
Drop Mark
|
0.00 NM | 000° |
| 2 | Lat: 30.50284 Lon: -88.05983 |
Theodore Ship Channel Buoy 9 | 2.47 NM | 182° | |
| 3 | Lat: 30.43831 Lon: -88.01130 |
Mobile Middle Bay Lighthouse
|
4.61 NM | 147° | |
| 4 | First Finish | Lat: 30.28768 Lon: -88.09951 |
Drop Mark
|
10.13 NM | 206° |
| Course Length | 17.21 nm | ||||
Schedule
Friday, April 24, 2026: Ode to a Son of a Sailor Jimmy Buffett (Honorary Bucaneer)
| 4 PM – 7:30 PM (Clubhouse) | Packet Pickup and Dinner: Cheeseburgers in Paradise (wear your fun parrothead/tropical attire) |
| 8 PM (Stage) | Welcome & Skipper’s Meeting |
| 6 PM – 10 PM (Stage) | Live Music: The Salt Shakers |
Saturday, April 25, 2026: Race Day! Fleet starts begin in the morning, followed by the southward sprint to the island.
| 8:55 AM | Division 1 Warning |
| 9:10 AM | Division 2 Warning |
| 3 PM – 7 PM (Stage) |
Live Music: Chris Hergenroder |
| 4 PM – 8 PM (Clubhouse) | Bama Bob’s BBQ Dinner |
| 7 PM – 11 PM (Clubhouse) | Live Music: Disco Lemonade |
Sunday, April 26, 2026
| 9 AM – 11 AM (Clubhouse) | Jazz Brunch w/ Dauphin Street Stompers and shrimp & grits! |
| 11 AM (Stage) | Second line to the stage for trophy presentation |
Participation
- Parking – We’ll park as many as we can within the BYC gates, but there will be overflow parking across the street at McNally Park.
- Camping – First come, first serve on the back forty for registered sailors and their teams! There is no power, so bring your own generator.
- Boat Slips – Available for registered boats. Be aware: draft is only 4.’
- Alcohol – NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL ALLOWED.
The bar will sell beer, wine, liquor, or non-alcoholic drinks, we have it all! We take cash, credit card, and BYC charge (no reciprocal club charges allowed). - Saturday Race Party – Bands start at 3 pm and go till late. Food starts at 4 pm and is $20.
- Sunday Awards Brunch – Brunch starts at 9 am and awards ceremony is at 11 am. $20.
- Merch – T-shirts, cozies, keychains, and other merch will be for sale! Cash, credit, or venmo.
- Dogs – Well-behaved dogs are allowed outside (never in buildings) and are required to be on a leash at all times. We reserve the right to ask you to remove your dog if it is disturbing others.
- Chairs/Tents/Umbrellas – Please bring a comfy chair to enjoy the weather and party. Tents and umbrellas are not allowed outside the RV/Camping area.
- Feeling lost? Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of signs posted and good folks to ask for directions.
As a reminder, RV camping (#9) is first come, first serve for registered sailors and their teams and will require a generator. The area near the water (#8) is reserved for all catamarans.
If you’re arriving via water, slips (#7) are free and are available to all registered boats. However, be aware that draft is limited to 4′ or so. Got questions? Shoot them our way!
Contacts & Location
Regatta Chair
- Tonia Camardella • (256) 531-3083 • Tonia.C.Beverly@gmail.com
- Johnrobert Deputy • (251) 510-4857 • marshalldeputy@gmail.com
Location
Buccaneer Yacht Club
4381 Park Road
Mobile, AL 36605
📞 (251) 479-8190
🌐 bucyc.com