The Wirth M. Munroe
Ocean Race:
The annual
Wirth M. Munroe Ocean Race is among the oldest regattas in North America and
one of four events in the Islands in the Stream regatta series. First sailed in 1957 and named for the renowned
Miami naval architect, the Wirth M. Munroe pits skippers and their crews
against the vagaries of the Gulf Stream and the early winter frontal systems
along Florida's southeastern coast. The
race, sailed the first Friday in December, is affectionately known by
participants as the "Race to the Buffet," a nod to the sponsoring
Sailfish Club of Florida's legendary seafood dinner, reception and awards
ceremony offered to all skippers and their crews.
The Wirth M.
Munroe has a rich history. In 1957,
members of the Cruising Club of America's Florida Station, led by Dick Bertram,
wanted to give racing yachts arriving from the north a shakedown event for the
Southern Ocean Racing Conference series held in January and February. The Miami-to-Palm Beach event attracted large
fleets and sailing’s superstars, quickly establishing it as a favorite on the
big-boat southern swing. In the 1960s,
the Sailfish Club of Florida became a co-sponsor, and the post-race seafood
buffet at its Palm Beach clubhouse became a “must” for skippers and their
crews.
In the early 2000’s, in an effort to generate
participation across a broader spectrum of boats, the original course was
shortened to a 40-miler from Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach. In honor of the 60th anniversary
of the race in 2016, the Sailfish Club, in partnership with the Storm Trysail
Club, reinstated the Miami to Palm Beach course. Two years later, the current two-course
format was introduced, drawing strong and diverse fleets, from ocean racing
machines, to racer-cruisers to coastal cruisers. The Organizing Authority includes the
Sailfish Club and the Storm Trysail Club, along with the Biscayne Bay Yacht
Club. Race management support is
provided by all three clubs along with the SORC. The Wirth M. Munroe Race is
one of four events in the SORC Islands in the Stream regatta series, which
includes the Nassau Cup Race from Miami to Nassau, the Fort Lauderdale to Key
West Race, and the Miami to Eleuthera Race.
LAST OCEAN RACE
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023
See the winners of the 2023 Wirth Munroe Ocean Race!