Pensacola Yacht Club seeks up to $129,000 in TDC support for 2025 regatta calendar

James Simpkins, Commodore of the Pensacola Yacht Club, addressed the Tourist Development Council during the public forum on April 15 to request TDC participation for the club’s 2025 regatta program.

Simpkins said the club seeks up to $129,000 to support five to seven of its larger events for the year—expenses cited included event insurance, publicity and marketing, temporary infrastructure, race management, participant hospitality and some entertainment. "We are seeking funds up to a hundred and $29,000," he told the council.

The club estimated 31 total event days across the year and told the council that organizers expect roughly 4,000 combined heads‑and‑beds for the full year’s events and just over 3,100 heads‑and‑beds for the remaining events in 2025. The club characterized its events as drawing regional and national participation and noted historical examples, including a 2018 youth regatta that Pensacola Sports had estimated generated more than $1.5 million in local economic activity.

Next steps: The Commodore said an application was submitted to the county but arrived too late for the meeting packet and that the request will be placed on the TDC agenda at a future regular meeting once the county receives the completed application. Council members asked that the Yacht Club provide its proposed budget line items and other revenue sources when the formal application is submitted.

Ending: No appropriation was made at the April meeting; the request will return for a formal review and vote after the Yacht Club completes the application process and provides the requested financial details.