The Ocean Race, the globe trotting professional yacht race, is steering its 2027 North American stop into St. Pete-Clearwater, officials announced Wednesday. The multi day stopover is expected to bring international racing teams, a waterfront fan village, and community programming to the downtown waterfront and nearby beaches. Local leaders say they are still early in the planning process, and that specific dates and dock locations will be shared once organizers and city agencies lock in the logistics.
The announcement appears on Visit St. Pete-Clearwater's press page and has also been covered locally by WTSP. In a press listing dated March 18, 2026, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater titled the item "The Ocean Race announces new U.S. destination for 2027: St. Pete-Clearwater," while WTSP summarized the officials' announcement for local viewers.
The Race In Context
According to The Ocean Race, the 2027 edition will be the round the world race that caps a new "always-on" calendar, coming after The Ocean Race Europe 2025 and The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026. The 2027 race is set to start from Alicante, Spain. Organizers say the expanded schedule is built around both high level competition and a heavier focus on sustainability, ocean science, and community outreach.
What To Expect On The Waterfront
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater says the stopover will include fan facing shore side activations, including team bases, public viewing areas, educational programming, and partner exhibits aimed at pulling residents and visitors down to the downtown waterfront and nearby beaches. Officials are coordinating with city, port, and tourism agencies on permits and infrastructure needs, and they emphasize that many details are still being worked out.
Ocean Live Park And Sustainability
In previous host ports, race organizers and local partners have built large "Ocean Live Park" villages with free exhibits, school programs, live music, and dockside access to the boats, creating a blend of entertainment and ocean health education that has become a calling card for the event. Coverage of Newport's stopover, including reporting by What's Up Newp, notes that these fan zones are used to highlight marine science, hands on learning, and sustainability partners connected to the race.
Why St. Pete Matters: Crowds And Dollars
Organizers and tourism officials point to earlier stopovers as a preview of what an event like this can do for a host city. In its summary of the Newport stopover, The Ocean Race reported that the 2015 race village drew roughly 137,000 visitors and generated an estimated $47.7 million economic impact. Those are the kinds of numbers Visit St. Pete-Clearwater officials will be watching closely as they plan for 2027.
Next Steps For Residents And Businesses
Officials say specific race dates, dock assignments, and event permits will be announced once contracts are finalized and city approvals are in place. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater has encouraged interested businesses and residents to keep an eye on its media channels for updates. For planning information and media contacts, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater will publish official schedules and public details as they become available.
