ailing

Floridians prevail in Midwinter

ST. PETERSBURG -- Paul Abdullah and crew Peter Bream and Andy Lawrence of Jacksonville sailed conservatively the last two races to preserve their lead and win at the Thistle Midwinters East on Tampa Bay.

"We had 12 points in hand in the last race," Abdullah said. "So we started in the middle of the line and just kept in touch with our closest competitors."

Their seventh-place finish kept them six points ahead of Bill Draheim of Texas and crew Mark Makielski of Michigan and Erin Sherer of Ohio.

Draheim's score would have been better if the worst finish were discarded, as in regattas. But the Thistle Class counts all races, making consistency important.

'In the third race we got a lousy start and missed the first wind shift," Draheim said. "Then we fouled a boat and had to do a 720-degree turn penalty at the top mark. We rounded in the 50s."

With good speed they recovered to finish 23rd, but the points hurt in the final tally.

The Thistle Class has staged its Midwinter races in downtown St. Petersburg since 1956.

Local sailor Bill Mangold was instrumental in getting the class to St. Petersburg. He remembers visitors camping in the sandspurs on what is now Demens Landing. Many sailors plan their vacation around the regatta, booking a hotel room for the next year before they leave.

Elmer Richards of New Jersey remembers the early days well. He has not missed a Midwinters in 46 years. Finishing 38th out of 60 shows he still has some good racing left.

Designed in 1945 as a larger version of the International 14 dinghy, the Thistle has enjoyed popularity and loyalty as a class. Tom Hubbell, Jack Finefrock, Greg Fisher and others hold free clinics. Guest experts on boat speed, tactics, crew work, local current and weather are grilled before and after racing.

A "buddy system' is arranged before racing with an experienced racer giving tips to a new sailor in the class.

The camaraderie gained and the closer racing with more skill at the back of the fleet keeps the class fresh and growing.

Carole Bardes was principal race officer, along with 30 local volunteers.

-- Results can be found at spyc.org.

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