Sailing

Eventful midwinter regatta ends on calmer note

Winds die down at the end of an event in which conditions lead to woes the first two days.

By DAVE ELLIS
Published January 31, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Four classes of sailing craft with long histories in the Tampa Bay area met for a midwinter regatta for the three-day weekend.

The wind blew and the waves were impressive on Tampa Bay off the Pier Friday and Saturday for the Multi-Class Invitational.

The scorecard looked grim on the first day, with many boats breaking down and out-of-practice sailors, many from colder climes, not prepared for the conditions. A mast on a Snipe broke when the boat capsized and the mast stuck in the mud. A Windmill mast bent impressively but the boat got back to the dock. Several Moths spent significant time upside down on Saturday. Paul Hemker of New Paris, Ohio, had a hole punched in his Flying Dutchman for the second time in four years at this event.

Sunday's winds were lighter and there were few waves, producing several new winners.

Ethan and Trudy Bixby of St. Petersburg won all but the last race to take the Windmill class. The class was born in the Tampa Bay area more than 50 years ago, a brainstorm of Clearwater's Clark Mills, and 14 from seven states competed in this event.

Second was Roy Sherman, sailing with nephew Geoffrey. Their boat belonged to Geoffrey's dad, Ed Sherman, who died recently after a short illness. Third was Stuart Proctor of Edenton, N.C., with crew Farah Hall.

The Snipe class, with 18 boats, was led by Mike Blackwood and Patty Mueller of Milwaukee. St. Petersburg's Chris and Antoinette Klotz were second with David and Amy Mendelblatt third. Snipes have raced in this area since the early 1940s.

The Flying Dutchman had seven high-tech boats. Tim Sayles of Warrington, Pa., with crew Pavel Ruzicka, won all the first-day races and hung on to beat national champion Lin Robson of St. Petersburg, sailing with regular crew Eric Booth on the weekend and with Andy Cheney on Friday. Third was Caryl Barrett from Duluth, Ga., with husband Bruce crewing.

In the Classic Moth class a record 13 boats, sailing a two-day schedule, braved the conditions Saturday and enjoyed Sunday. These 11-foot craft are of many shapes and designs but all use the same sail plan.

Tampa's Jeff Linton won the class, sweeping all three races. In second and third were Mark Saunders and younger brother Craig from Virginia.

[Last modified January 31, 2005, 00:38:15]