During the membership meeting held on March 27, 1989, Sharon Dillard presented the board’s recommendation to alternate the Ball of the Wild annual event with a Weegatta. The Weegatta would be similar to a Regatta but with tiny boats that could be purchased for a small fee. The motion was unanimously passed, and the fundraising committee began planning for the first event held in the spring of 1990 at the Houston Yacht Club.

The Weegatta featured over 200 small boats that raced across the yacht club harbor to raise funds for philanthropic programs. Other activities included live and silent auctions, dinner, and dancing. Although the first Weegatta did not have a theme, subsequent events did, such as Ahoy Mates (1992), An Evening in Antigua (1994), We Go to Monte Carlo (1996), Caribbean Carnival (1998), 2000 Leagues Under the Sea (2000), Gator Gala (2002), Una Noche en Acapulco (2004), and Monte Carlo Cabaret Royale, which was the final Weegatta-themed event held in 2006.

The Weegatta was a unique event that our founding members created to allow the community to attend a fun and innovative event while supporting philanthropic programs. It has permitted us to achieve our vision of transforming lives and strengthening the community, both in the past and present, and to continue to do so in the future.