By any measure, Dr. Joseph Tobin has a demanding career. As an orthopedic surgeon, his days are spent helping people regain mobility and return to the activities they love. But when the workday ends, you’ll often find him pursuing a passion of his own – one that has gradually grown into a movement that’s putting Hilton Head Island back on the international sailing map.
As founder and driving force behind the Hilton Head Multihull Regatta, scheduled this year for October 21-25, Tobin has helped revive a sport that was once synonymous with the island’s beaches. What began as one sailor’s dream has evolved into an internationally recognized event that attracts competitors from around the world while introducing newcomers to the thrill of beach catamaran sailing.
“This is just my crazy idea,” Tobin said with a laugh. “But every person I talked to said, ‘That’s a great idea. We want to help you.’”
That collective enthusiasm has become the wind behind the sails of one of Hilton Head’s fastest-growing sporting traditions.
Tobin moved to Hilton Head in the late 1990s after living in New York, Chicago, and Washington, DC. Like many families, weekends often meant heading to the beach with his wife and three children. Looking for something more adventurous than sitting in a beach chair, he purchased a beach catamaran and began sailing from the island’s shoreline.
“I’ve always liked sailing,” he said. “I like the challenge of sailing the boat, and they’re very, very fast boats. They’re fun.”
What started as a family pastime gradually became something much bigger.
While researching the history of beach catamaran racing, Tobin stumbled upon an extraordinary piece of Hilton Head history. In 1975, legendary Hobie Cat founder Hobie Alter held the Hobie 16 National Championships off the beach in front of the Adventure Inn, drawing an astonishing 133 boats to the island.
For Tobin, the discovery sparked an idea.
“I realized that 2025 was the 50th anniversary of this race,” he said. “We needed to have a 50th anniversary regatta.”
The local sailing community regularly welcomes newcomers who want to experience the exhilaration of harnessing the wind for the first time.
The timing couldn’t have been better.
Although Hilton Head had long been known for beach catamaran sailing, Hurricane Matthew in 2016 significantly reduced the number of boats along the island’s shoreline. Over time, interest faded as newer recreational activities gained popularity.
Rather than accept that decline, Tobin decided to help reverse it.
Building Momentum
The first step came with a smaller practice regatta that attracted 27 boats. It served as proof that interest still existed. One year later, that number nearly tripled.
Seventy-five catamarans lined the beach near Coligny, transforming the shoreline into a colorful display of sails and drawing thousands of spectators over several days.
“It was a rousing success,” Tobin said.
More importantly, it signaled that Hilton Head’s reputation within the sailing community was growing once again. Today, beach catamarans are once again becoming a familiar sight around the island, with boats launching from Islanders Beach, Marriott properties, and other public access points. For longtime residents, it’s a welcome return to an iconic part of Hilton Head’s coastal character.
Ask experienced sailors why they’re willing to travel hundreds – or even thousands – of miles to compete here, and the answer comes quickly: Hilton Head offers nearly ideal sailing conditions.
Its wide beaches provide ample launching space. Consistent ocean breezes create excellent racing conditions. Spectators can comfortably watch every race from shore without needing a boat of their own.
“We have an absolutely beautiful, pristine beach that is ideal for sailing,” Tobin said. Competitors who’ve raced around the country agree. “I had people come down here and tell me, ‘I’ve been doing this for 20 or 30 years, and this is the best venue and the best regatta I’ve ever been to.’”
That reputation has spread largely through word of mouth and social media. The beach catamaran community may be relatively small, but it’s tightly connected. One successful event quickly led to conversations across the sailing world. Soon, sailors weren’t simply registering for Hilton Head’s regatta – they were asking the island to host prestigious international competitions.
One of the biggest milestones came when organizers of the Formula 18 Americas Championship (scheduled this year for September 19-25), approached Tobin about bringing their event to the island. Rather than competing for the opportunity, Hilton Head was invited. The championship attracts some of the world’s fastest and most accomplished sailors, with competitors traveling from across the United States as well as other countries, including Argentina, Chile, Canada, and Greece.
“We’re just an ideal location,” Tobin said.
The island offers everything competitors need – beautiful beaches, excellent accommodations, restaurants, entertainment, and an atmosphere that naturally blends vacation with competition. For Hilton Head, that means more than exciting racing. It means visitors filling hotels, dining in local restaurants, shopping in area businesses, and discovering everything the island has to offer beyond the racecourse.
More Than a Race
Although the regatta showcases elite competition, Tobin is equally passionate about making sailing accessible to beginners. “A lot of people think you have to be a world champion,” he said. “But we appeal to people who are just learning.”
Before the racing even begins, nationally respected instructors lead educational clinics that teach everything from basic sailing techniques to advanced racing strategies. Participants can improve their skills under expert guidance before testing themselves on the water.
Admission is free for spectators. Anyone can stroll onto the beach, watch dozens of colorful catamarans racing just offshore and experience the excitement firsthand.
Once visitors understand how the courses work – with boats tacking toward windward marks before racing back downwind – the competition becomes surprisingly easy to follow.
“It just looks like chaos if you don’t know what’s happening,” Tobin said.
In reality, every turn, tack and maneuver reflects strategy, teamwork, and years of experience.
While Tobin often receives credit for launching the event, he’s quick to shift the spotlight elsewhere. Repeatedly throughout the conversation, he emphasized that the regatta exists because so many organizations, volunteers, and community leaders believed in the vision.
“The South Carolina Yacht Club has been a constant source of help and inspiration, as well as the Island Rec Center, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, the Town of Hilton Head Island, and state Representative Bill Herbkersman,” Tobin said. “I certainly couldn’t have made it happen without their support.”
Local sailing organizations, emergency responders, beach patrol personnel, public safety agencies, volunteers, and civic leaders have all worked together to create an event that’s both exciting and safe. Their combined efforts have allowed thousands of spectators to enjoy the races while ensuring competitors have the support they need on land and on the water. It’s a remarkable example of what can happen when an entire community rallies behind a shared goal.
AT A GLANCE
2026 Formula 18 America’s Championship
What: Elite catamaran sailors from around the world compete
When: September 19-25
Where: Coligny Beach
Learn More:
RegattaNetwork.com/event/31131#_home
The Experience:
Premiere catamaran racing on the East Coast. Watch from the beach as top Formula 18 sailors compete along the shoreline. Opening ceremony and practice race September 21; competition September 22-25.
Hilton Head Multihull Regatta
What: Beach catamaran sailing event for sailors of all skill levels and spectators
When: October 21-25
Where: Coligny Beach
Learn More:
HiltonHeadSailing.net
Facebook: Beach Cat Sailors of Hilton Head
RegattaNetwork.com/event/31290#_home
The Experience:
• Educational sailing clinics led by internationally recognized instructors
• Competitive racing featuring sailors from across the U.S. and around the world
• Family-friendly beach viewing October 23-25
• Evening social events throughout Coligny
• Opportunities to meet sailors and learn about beach catamaran racing
Looking Ahead
The momentum continues to build. The Hilton Head Multihull Regatta is expanding its educational offerings, attracting larger fleets, and earning increasing recognition throughout the international sailing community. For Tobin, however, success isn’t measured only by trophies or attendance numbers. It’s about inspiring the next generation.
Through local sailing opportunities, educational clinics, and an active community of enthusiasts, more people are discovering that beach catamaran sailing is a sport they can enjoy regardless of age or experience. Those interested don’t have to own a boat to get started.
“We’d love to have them come out and sail with us,” Tobin said.
The local sailing community regularly welcomes newcomers who simply want to experience the exhilaration of harnessing the wind for the first time. It’s an invitation that reflects the spirit of the regatta itself – competitive on the water, welcoming on shore.
There is something timeless about watching colorful sails dance across the Atlantic just beyond Hilton Head’s shoreline. For longtime residents, it’s a reminder of the island’s rich sailing heritage. For visitors, it’s another unforgettable experience that sets Hilton Head apart from other beach destinations.
And for Tobin, it’s proof that one person’s passion can reignite an entire tradition. What began as a quiet hobby has become a celebration of sport, community, and coastal beauty – one that is introducing Hilton Head to a new generation of sailors while reminding the world that some of the best racing anywhere happens right here on our pristine beaches.
To learn more or to register, visit RegattaNetwork.com/event/31290#_home. Find the group on Facebook @Beach Cat Sailors of Hilton Head, and online at HiltonHeadSailing.net.