SoWal Local Madison Olson Sets Sights on Solo Sailboat Regatta Across Atlantic
Madison Olson is a SoWal native who now lives in France and is building a campaign to race across the Atlantic on a 6.5 meter sailboat alone!
Madison Olson is a SoWal native who now lives in France and is building a campaign to race across the Atlantic on a 6.5 meter sailboat alone!
People flock to South Walton from all over the world to enjoy the most beautiful beaches on the planet. But there’s so much more to the SoWal area that folks aren’t even aware of - endless opportunities for water adventures!
Here’s our latest SoWal List featuring just a few of the many water adventures to be experienced in our little corner of the world.
The 23rd Annual Rags 2 Riches Regatta will return to Grayton Beach on Saturday, June 29, 2019.
Originally organized by the residents of Grayton Beach and Seagrove, the annual tradition is a celebration of America’s Independence Day. Competitors, families and friends gather at the access behind the Red Bar to watch two-manned teams navigate 16’ catamarans in the race from Grayton Beach to Seagrove.
The 22nd edition of the annual Rags To Riches Regatta returns to Grayton Beach on Saturday, June 30th, 2018 in celebration of American Independence Day.
The small catamaran race is a tradition among SoWal sailors, families, friends, and Grayton Beach lovers. Come out to watch the regatta take off from the shores of Grayton Beach, have a cold one from Grayton Beer Company and pick up a tee shirt commemorating the 2018 Regatta. Relax and watch the colorful catamarans on the Gulf as they race to Seagrove Beach and back to Grayton.
Drive right through the north gate of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort for tons of fun, delicious eats, and cold drinks at Baytowne Marina on the picturesque Choctawhatchee Bay.
Want to know what there is to do in South Walton? Our 26-mile stretch of pristine coastline is filled with the aroma of clean salt air and the fresh scent of deep pine forests, and is interwoven with the unique charm of many idyllic beach communities. Whatever your preference, from beachside cottages to world-class resorts, you’ll find it here along Scenic 30A. Explore the sugar-white sands and emerald green waters of top-rated beaches, the woods and marshlands where endangered plants, animals and exotic birds thrive … you'll love our unspoiled nature.
The 21st edition of the annual Rags To Riches Regatta returns to Grayton Beach on Saturday, July 1, 2017 in celebration of American Independence Day.
The small catamaran race is a tradition among SoWal sailors, families, friends, and Grayton Beach lovers. Come out to watch the regatta take off from the shores of Grayton Beach, have a cold one from Grayton Beer Company and pick up a tee shirt commemorating the 2017 Regatta. Relax and watch the colorful catamarans on the Gulf as they race to Seagrove Beach and back to Grayton.
June 29, 2017 by Molly Parker
“Whenever two sailboats are on the water at the same time,” says Charlie Thornton, “it’s a race. The captains may not admit it, but each wants to go faster than the other.”
Some things never change.
Last Fourth of July local sailors gathered for the legendary Rags to Riches Regatta, a Hobie Cat Race with a course between Grayton Beach and Seagrove. Seventeen captains showed up with their crew and 16-foot Hobies to negotiate the famously rowdy Gulf.
The 20th edition of the annual Rags To Riches Regatta returns to Grayton Beach on July 2, 2016 in celebration of American Independence Day. The small catamaran race is a tradition among SoWal sailors, families, friends, and Grayton Beach lovers.
Read about the history of the race >
Race registration begins at 8 A.M. on the beach at the Grayton Beach access behind the Red Bar with a Captains' meeting at 11 A.M. and the race beginning soon after that.
In our area, we are fortunate to have two premier beach destinations that merge almost seamlessly together. While they are neighbors, each offers a unique experience. The remarkable communities of which we speak are, of course, South Walton and Destin.
South Walton is comprised of a varied collection of “towns” that nestle predominantly along Scenic Highway 30A. Each offers their own interpretation of a life well lived by the beach.