RC Laser Midwinter Championship Regatta at Mackle Park This Weekend

Marco’s RC Laser sailboat racers were taking advantage of a spirited, steady wind, to hone their skills on Thursday afternoon, February 24, in advance of this weekend’s 18th Annual RC Laser Midwinter Championship Regatta, Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6, on the lake at Mackle Park.

“We have the top sailors in the country coming here,” said Rocky Cale, longtime race director. “This was the first RC Laser ever held in this country. There’s three major regattas in this class: the North American Championship, the National Championship and the Midwinter Championship.”

The Midwinter Championship is the only one of the big three that doesn’t change venue each year. Cale feels the Mackle Park location is the best facility anywhere for RC Laser racing. In addition to the beauty of Mackle Park, the venue offers a large pavilion area, a small set of bleachers and a floating dock. The high bank around the lake is a great vantage point for those watching the races.

“I think we have the premier venue in the country here at Mackle Park,” Cale said. “We appreciate the support and cooperation of the City of Marco Island.” Cale works in conjunction with the city's parks and recreations department.

"The Southern Circuit starts in February,” Cale said. "They race up at the Villages, Sarasota, Punta Gorda and West Palm Beach. We’re the culmination of that series."

Cale said the RC Laser class is represented throughout Europe. In fact, Marco Island was slated to host the RC Laser Regatta of the Nations last year before the event was canceled because of the COVID pandemic. The international event has never been held in the United States.

“Every European country has an RC Laser Class,” Cale said. "Every country has a national championship.”