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Gusty days make for thrilling Gulfport regatta

By DAVE ELLIS
Published November 15, 2006

The Area D South qualifying regatta for the USA multi-hull championship drew 23 boats from throughout Florida to Gulfport Beach on Nov. 4-5.

Windward-leeward courses were set, as most boats would have a problem power reaching in the gusts to 28 mph. Several skippers decided to stay on the beach rather than risk damage to boats and egos.

Gulfport Yacht Club commodore and event chair Seth Stern thought he had gotten his capsize over with on the sail from the clubhouse to the beach. Unfortunately, his shroud parted in the first race, dropping the rig in the water. Several other boats crashed, sometimes end over end. All were able to self-rescue and many continued racing.

There is a significant speed range among beach catamarans. A handicap system has been developed over the years to reward those who sail their boats well, relative to what the boat should do.

The A Class catamaran, for example, is probably the fastest small boat upwind. It has no asymmetrical spinnaker, so it loses ground downwind. The class rules state they don't race in over 20 knots. But for this regatta, that rule did not apply. Tampa's Woody Cope finished fourth in this skilled fleet.

Three crews vied for the honors all weekend. Olli and Kelly Jason of Oldsmar sailed their Capricorn Formula 18 to a two-point lead over Miami's Kenny Pierce and crew John Casey of Orlando in their bright orange Nacra 20. They wanted at least one more race as they found their stride, winning the final two of seven. Third was Matt and Gina McDonald of Titusville, sailing a Blade Formula 16.

Miami's Sarah Newberry and Jamie Livingston brought a Hobie 16. While decidedly low-tech compared to the others, the H-16 is outstanding in very strong winds. They did well after handicaps were applied on the strong winds of Saturday. But Sunday produced winds as low as 12 with only an occasional gust over 20, so they faded.

Clearwater's Robbie Daniel has qualified by being last year's Alter Cup champion.

SPSA COMMODORE'S CUP: St. Petersburg Sailing Association drew 15 boats on a windy, rough Tampa Bay on Nov. 4. Winds from the east-northeast had plenty of time to build in the relatively shallow bay. Donald Rychel and crew sailed the Tripp 26 Volcano to win the Spinnaker I class, sailing the course in a little under two hours.

Morgan 25 Amanda, sailed by the crew of David Barber, bested the Spinnaker II class while Stephanie Cox and crew expertly sailed a St. Petersburg Yacht Club Sonar to first in the Non-Spinnaker fleet. Sonia- Cate, a Catalina 400 sailed by Donald Miller and crew, were the True Cruising leaders.

COLLEGE: Shannon Heausler of Davis Island won the women's single-handed national title. She attends Charleston College.

LASER STATES: Genoa Griffin of Davis Island Yacht Club prevailed over heavy winds to win the Laser Radial State Championship held at the Martin County Sailing Center on Florida's east coast. Cory Hall of St. Petersburg Yacht Club won the Laser 4.7 rig class.

AMERICA'S CUP: The Hall of Fame in Bristol, R.I., honored Clearwater Yacht Club's Stephen A. Van Dyck for his nearly 20-year involvement with the Cup, including wins on Constellation and Intrepid.

- Paige Railey of Clearwater was honored with the International Sailing Federation Female Sailor of the Year award. It was bestowed at the annual international meeting in Helsinki, Finland. Railey's goal is the Olympics in 2008.

[Last modified November 14, 2006, 21:31:24]