When Dan Lawrence was CABB Commodore and we did the first one at Plantation Yacht Harbor Resort, nee Founders Park, liquor was allowed, there was a bar there and the whole bit.
We did a fish fry and only about 1/4 of the sailors stayed. They all went to their favorite restaurants. So, we just decided to let it be a freestyle doing on Saturday Night and reduced the entry fee.

After John McKnight became Commodore we had a year we made profit on the regatta and he said in that case we should give T-SHirts to Skipper and Crew (used to be just one shirt per boat as is the case with most regattas -- shirts can get expensive).

That is sort of how things have evolved.

By the way, there was lots of beer available at the picnic table by the registration area. Only catch was you had to put it in a cup so no one could see the beer cans. Founders Park management does not allow booze, but turn the other way as long as we don't flaunt it.

Lastly, the A-Cat venue is a huge tradeoff to Founders Park. The hotel there has a vast area for rigging. A big plus. However, there is a narrow rocky slot to launch. On the water part of the venue, the seas usually are quite lumpy, instead of the flat water we have on the Bay Side of the islands. Also, quite often you will get huge islands of kelp, or a million cabbage heads.
Sailing on the Bay Side of the Florida Keys is ideal in comparison.

Hmmm! Should I buy Rick's Place Motel Resort back! Government funding perhaps.
Rick