Sailors compete in annual regatta in Ocean Springs this weekend

If you are driving over the Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge this weekend, expect to see some colorful sails in the Sound.

The Hobie Midwinters East and April Fools Regatta is officially underway in Ocean Springs. Sailors from across the country are in Ocean Springs right now, competing in the annual regatta.

The Ocean Springs Yacht Club is hosting the competition and this year is their biggest ever with 66 boats registered.

Eben Castleman, a sailor in the regatta, is using this opportunity to gain more experience for his career. “I’m going to the Coast Guard Academy and they have a really great sailing team and I really wanted to just kind of be a part of that If I could because it’s a unique experience. So, I started out, got a membership at the yacht club, and started sailing as much as I could.”

With eight separate classes, spectators will see rigs of all shapes and sizes competing over the course of the weekend.

All boats will be out of the water by 2 p.m. on Sunday and the awards ceremony will be at 4 p.m.