An interview with Chris Wessels on the FWC Florida Keys Regional Wave Regatta
by David Schmidt 2 Dec 16:00 GMT
December 5-7, 2025
Racecourse action at the FWC Florida Keys Regional Wave Regatta © Ben Wells/FWC
As December washes its way across North America, it's only natural to turn one's thoughts to warm waters, warm breezes, and the chance to indulge in some early season escapism. Double the number of hulls, add in a cool venue, and include a bunch of friendly and competitive sailors to the mix, and the situation only improves. Sound good? If so, check out the FWC Florida Keys Regional Wave Regatta (December 5-7), which is being organized by the Formula Wave Class, and which is being hosted by the Upper Keys Sailing Club, in Key Largo, Florida.
The event, which is sold out for its 2025 edition (read: register early next year), is open to all Hobie Waves, and will unfurl on the waters of Buttonwood Sound.
I checked in with Chris Wessels, who serves as the regatta's event coordinator, via email, to learn more about this enticing, warm-water multihull event.
Can you please give us a bit of history on the FWC Florida Keys Regional Wave Regatta?
The Wave Class and the Florida Keys goes back to late '90s when these boats were first being produced. There was very big regattas and Rick White sailing seminars in Islamorada and Key Largo for years with lots of success.
There was about 10 years when there wasn't much organized down there, but the Formula Wave Class is hosting its third consecutive Regional in Key Largo at the awesome Upper Keys Sailing Club. We have partnered with them on this to complete sell outs all three years.
There is limited space at the club, so we have been opening registration early and capping the regatta at 30 regular registrants and a couple spots for FWC board members.
What's the scene like at the regatta?
It's about what you'd envision: Sunny skies, impossibly blue water, and pretty laid-back atmosphere. Most of the sailors are acquainted, and the people from the club are super welcoming so it's a great, friendly and fun vibe.
How would you describe the kinds of competition levels that attending sailors can expect, once the starting guns begin sounding?
The Formula Wave Class is pretty darned competitive, there is no shortage of great racing no matter the conditions. Sailors from all skill levels come down and like a lot of fleets, they end up racing hard against the people of similar skill level.
The best thing about the Wave is the it is a great equalizer: it's not nearly as weigh sensitive as a lot of catamarans, and you'll find that a good chunk of the Top 15 sailors are female and some of our best racers are over 50 (we even have some over 70!).
What kind of conditions can sailors generally expect to encounter off of Key Largo in early December? Also, what are the best-case and worst-case scenarios?
Where we sail, just north of the Upper Keys Sailing Club, the wind seems to come from the East and South a lot, which both are fairly protected, so the water is really pretty flat and the winds are just at white cap a lot of the time in the afternoon in my experience, so it is pretty much ideal for the little boats.
Best case is it is warm and sunny and moderate winds all three days.
I have heard stories of much larger winds coming from the south and making it pretty exciting: 20-25 wind with flat water is fast on any catamaran, but seems especially fast on a Wave when you're hiked out and less than a foot above the water screaming along with a whole fleet heading to weather!
In the ideal world, how many races are you and the other event organizers hoping to score over the three days of racing? Also, what kind of course shapes do you envision using for this multihull event?
It's always the PROs job to figure that out, but I would hope for at least ten races for the series.
The Waves tend to like a 35-45 min race and more of them so hopefully that all lines up and works out.
Do you see local knowledge playing a big or small role in the regatta's outcome? Can you please explain?
Our Race officers for this regatta are from Iowa and New Jersey...there will be others on RC that are local, but hopefully they'll be able to set a good course without too much issue. I don't know that any of the racers this year are actually from the Keys.
We have people racing from Montana, Iowa, California, Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, a couple Georgias, a Michigander and a lot of north and mid Florida sailors.
So, in answer to the question: I don't think so in this case! Tides are something us inland sailors have trouble with, so I would think the Floridians that are sailing on saltwater regularly would have a leg up on those that don't.
If you could offer one piece of advice to visiting (and local) sailors, what would it be?
Last time I sailed this regatta, I was fortunate to have my family with me, and we took some extra time to see all the amazing site the Keys and South Florida had to offer. Amazing place and like no other in the U.S., so I would say to travelers: Take some extra time and see as much as you can. For the locals: Appreciate what you have, it is amazing!
Is there anything else about the 2025 Florida Keys Regional Wave Regatta that you'd like to add for the record?
We love to partner with the Upper Keys Sailing Club on this regatta, and we have enjoyed the success we had over the last bunch of years having this regatta there. I would encourage people to follow the Formula Wave Class on Facebook and watch out for news on this regatta year over year as we open registration in the mid-summer, and we cap the entrants at 30 for the time being.
Once it's full it's full, so follow the page so you can see precisely when registration opens so you can jump on it. We sold out in four days for this one, and hope that everyone who wants to go late season can get a chance to go.