Marina to host national sailing regatta next summer
Organizers expect 200 boats and a week of events on the bay
Port Ellery will host the national sailing regatta next July, the Harbor Authority confirmed, bringing about 200 boats and an estimated 15,000 visitors to the bay for a week.
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The proposal had stalled twice before, most recently in 2024, when a change in leadership at the Marrow County school board put several projects on hold. This time, officials say, the funding is secured and the contracts are signed.
The decision follows months of public meetings in Port Ellery, where residents pressed officials for a clearer timeline and a firm budget. Council members said the final plan reflects most of that feedback, although two of the seven seats voted against it.
"We heard the same thing at every meeting: people want to know what happens next and who is accountable," said Rosa Delgado, who chairs the committee that reviewed the proposal. "This document answers both questions."
What the city has to prepare
Officials at the Marrow County school board said the change will be phased in over the next eighteen months, starting with the neighborhoods closest to the waterfront. A second phase, covering the rest of Marrow County, is expected to begin next spring.
Not everyone is convinced. A group of business owners along Front Street argued that the schedule leaves too little time to adapt, and asked for a longer transition period. The request will be discussed at the next public session.
The numbers behind the plan are modest by regional standards, but significant for a city the size of Port Ellery. According to figures released this week, the program will cost about $1.8 million over three years, with roughly a third covered by state grants.