The 16th edition of the Halloween Howler Sailing Regatta hosted by the Coconut Grove Sailing Club on October 25-26, 2025; lived up to its name with winds howling a steady 15-20 knots, with gusts up to 35 knots. Sailed on Maimi’s Biscayne Bay, sailors had to cope with choppy seas and shifty winds while maneuvering in fleets as large as 80 boats. Halloween Howler draws the best sailors from across Florida.
Skipper Alex Delamarter and crew Ocean Free sailed YSF’s #1 420, with skipper Evan Wakfield and crew Gregg Deaquair in boat #2. They sailed a grueling 3-mile trapezoid course. After two days of sailing a total of six races, Alex and Ocean left 23 boats in their wake finishing 7th in a very competitive field of 30. Evan and Gregg had some equipment breakdowns on Saturday but recovered to place in the top twenty on Sunday. Sailing over 18 miles in these conditions is a real test of physical and mental endurance. Lose concentration for even a second and you’re in the water. True grit, personified in perseverance and resilience was on display all weekend.
The 8-foot Opti prams are singlehanded by elementary school age sailors. The fleet was divided into two classes with 81 boats coming to the starting line in the beginner Green Fleet. Garret Tilton sailed to an incredible 16th place. Zoey DeLisle placed in the middle of the pack at 41st. The Silver Fleet had 51 of Florida’s top sailors competing for line-honors. YSF’s Mia Loyde and Carson DeLisle finished 13th and 17th respectively. Sailing solo in a large fleet, in a blow, requires both sailing skills and guts. These young children are on their own making split second decisions involving sail trim, rudder control, weight and balance, and course management. They are doing all this while working every muscle in their body and having their head on a swivel to avoid colliding with the 50 to 80 boats in the fleet.
Sailing is experiential learning at its best. Racing steepens the curve and accelerates the challenge. With success confidence grows allowing a child to achieve their full potential in academics and life. These eight young sailors will never forget the experience they had last weekend. When things get hard, they’ll look back and take heart from what they accomplished. The impact sailing has on a young person’s life can be transformational, replacing doubt and fear with purpose and self-assurance.
Youth Sailing Foundation (YSF) of Indian River County, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that eliminates cultural and financial barriers to sailing. YSF was founded in 2009 to use sailing as a medium to help children achieve their full potential. We operate under the banner “YSF Community Sailing” to reflect that we now serve the entire community. We make it easy and affordable for children, adults, and families to enjoy the thrill of sailing. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit: www.ysfirc.org Contact: Email [email protected] Phone 772 492-3243.
