Good Old Boat Regatta St Petersburg

[HideAway]

We have several boats from our club heading over to the race tomorrow.   The forecast - air temp 57, water 58, wind 15-25.   Further proof if any is needed that racers are bonkers!   Did I mention the sea fog???

[Billy]

I'm going! It will be my 1st race and I'll be crewing on a 27' Catalina. Through Flagship sailing. Yea gonna be a cold windy one!

[Bob23]

Best to you both! I subscribe to G.O.B. magazine and will read about this hard core race! A cold one? Currently, here in NJ it's 19.8 air temp and the bay has ice on it. Keep your foullies handy!
Bob23
(Any secret photos will be appreciated.)

[Billy]

I'm BACK!!! Holy Moley!!!! It was WINDY! By the end of the race it was blowing 25 Knotts and gusting higher w/ about 3-4 foot seas. Whooo Baby and about 58 degrees.

Double reef in the main and about 85% Jib and still had the rail in the water. Kept thinking...Oh this is gonna be it.

There was around 50 boats, it was a great time although my knuckles will be white for a few days!

We also had a GPS on board and caught 8.2 Knots on the down wind leg, going against an incoming tide!!! We lost a lot of ground on the last leg beating straight into the wind. And when we rounded the last bouy our topping lift got tangled around the spreader. Had to douse the main, that could have been really bad, but we all made it back to sail another day.
And as soon as we crossed the finish line we were greated by the racing commity, (sorry it's so blurry).


P.S. I heard on the radio that there was a colision but couldn't make out the details.

[seburnett]

Hideaway,

We own a Compac 27/2 and greeted someone passing by in a Compac (23?) a few months ago south of the Gulfport pier.  I'm wondering if that may have been you.  I have seen a Compac docked back in Clam Bayou and another one on a trailer at BCYC.  Either of those yours?
Scott

[HideAway]

Scott -
Other than our backwards cruise to the Hootenanny we haven't been on the water in Jan-  I know I m whining but its been too cold.  There are three Compac 23s on the trailer at BCYC and soon to be four - new member.  We are in the middle row near the club house, the others are along the fence.

Billy I was watching the weather Saturday - we were working on a new patio at BCYC -- It was 23 gusting 35 in Gulfport  with 3 foot swells on Boca Ciega Bay so you likely had more on Tampa bay!   Did you see the SPYC Yachtsmen all dressed up in ties, blue sports coats and white pants??  They were on a gorgeous black ketch.

I don t sail in weather like that - -  On Purpose anyway  - - - What a ride!

Our racing group at Boca Ciega Yacht Club is still unaccounted for but we know they took some trophies- Elise Rose 1st, Sanity Clause 2nd and Niki third in Cruising and 1st in Spinnaker - Shady Lady.    Niki is a 28 Cape Dory owned by Bruce Bingham who had sworn off racing ever again after winning BOTY 2010.  He said the only race he hasn t won or placed in was GOB so he had to try. last photo     We are going to put him in a 12 step program to break this racing addiction

[Billy]

Yea, I saw those guys! I tried to take a picture but my camera turned to video and I shot a 2 sec video. hHen tried again and before I realized it I had turned it off, and then it was too late!!! So now I have (2) 2 second videos...Alas!




check out the flag on the back tranding straight out. The guy in the slip next to us at the Harbrige marina tore up is main sail.

and!!!!!!

[rwdsr]

I think I'm gonna be sick, look at all those boats on the water - and I haven't been out since mid-November.  Come on spring!!!!

[seburnett]

Maybe you're not whining but just smart   We've been out about 6 times in the last month and it has been pretty cold with few exceptions.  Then again, we're new boat owners and still excited about just getting out.  Those that have joined us don't seem to be enjoying it has much.

Didn't realize there were so many Compac 23s on the trailer at BCYC.  I don't get over there that frequently but I had noticed one near the entrance last time.

[Billy]

Tell me about it! When I got home from the race my wife asked if I had enough sailing and I said, come on, I've only been out 5 times this year! (granted it was only the 22nd). 2011 is gonna be a great year!