John Norton helming Downing Nightingale's 58' Hatteras, Capella.

The Sunset Cruise has evolved into one of the favorite parts of the regatta for the many that attend. It started several years ago with a trip to dinner on Saturday night at the Cedar River Club. It was very popular that year so we looked at how to integrate it better into our event. The result is an 1800 departure from the T-Dock on 5-6 motor yachts on Friday evening. The sun sets shortly after departure and the sailors are treated to appetizers and drinks (byob) on the 45-55 minute trip to downtown Jacksonville. This activity has been extremely popular as regatta participants and their families can socialize while taking in the natural beauty of the St. Johns River contrasted by the modern backdrop of the Jacksonville skyline as the sun falls to the West. Once downtown, we will dock at the Jacksonville Landing. We have reserved space at Mongo's, a Mongolian barbeque featuring live music and indoor and outdoor seating. (map and directions) For those looking for less pricey options, there are plenty of other restaurants including a steak house, sushi bar, Mexican, Italian, and American fare. If you really want to go all out, Ruth’s Chris and Morton’s steakhouses are a short walk across the bridge on the Southbank. For further information on all of the available restaurants, check out: www.jacksonvillelanding.com. After dinner, the crowd returns by boat to The Florida Yacht Club. For those that arrive in Jacksonville too late to board for the cruise, the Landing is easily reached by car. The address is listed below.

The motor yachts preparing to depart.

The crowd ready to depart the dock.

Mongo's
2 Independent Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(map and directions)