Pensacola Yacht Club to Host 2026 Viper 640 North American Championship

Pensacola Yacht Club will host the 2026 Viper 640 North American Championship on Pensacola Bay from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, bringing an expected fleet of 35 to 40 Viper 640s. The event marks the largest stop on the Viper 640 International Class Association calendar and will feature five days of one-design racing for crews from across North America. Tom Pace, the PYC Viper Regatta Chair, said the 21-foot, two- to four-person class emphasizes sailors’ tactics and boat handling, with sails being the main permitted variable. Racing will run on Pensacola Bay southeast of Bayou Chico’s entrance. The first warning signal is set for 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, with potential races up to five per day, weather permitting.