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Gusty days result in thriller at Gulfport

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.

The City of Gulfport provided a tractor and driver to move the boats through the deep sand and over the curb. Parking was set aside for the competitors and race officials, and a cabana was dedicated to the event.

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. Casey is usually the skipper on this semi-pro team. They wanted at least one more race as they had found their stride, winning the final two of seven.

Third was Matt and Gina McDonald of Titusville, sailing a Blade Formula 16 their company manufactures.

Miami's Sarah Newberry and Jamie Livingston opted to bring a Hobie 16. While decidedly low-tech compared to the other racers, 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 CHAMPS: 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 member 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 sailing meeting in Helsinki, Finland. Railey's goal is the Olympics in 2008.

Gulf Coast Tide

The 13-and-under team is seeking players. Tryouts will be held at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater. For details, call 510-3991 or 460-5920 or e-mail achewcas@tampabay.rr.com

Mizuno Select Team

There will be two teams selected from the Tampa Bay area for 2007. Tryouts for 8-under and 10-under teams will be held at the Batter's Box in Safety Harbor. Call 638-7421.

Tampa Bay Sluggers

The 13-under travel team is looking for players. For information, contact Mike at 813 433-7782.

City of Madeira Beach

Youth leagues for grades 3-5 and grades 6-8, as well as cheerleading, is being offered. Game will be played at Madeira Beach Middle School. Registration begins Nov. 18. Call 392-0655.

American Invitational Youth Championship

The tournament is seeking teams to play in its third annual event Nov. 22-26 in St. Petersburg. There are eight player age and weight divisions for youth 8-17. For information, call (813) 983-0320.

Table tennis

The sixth and final tournament of the 2006 Florida Sunburst Table Tennis Tour will take place Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Long Center in Clearwater. For entrance information, go to www.sunrisetabletennis.com or call 669-0899.

Saturday, 8 a.m. - Madd Dash For Sadd 5K, Al Lopez Park. Call Lyn Gray at (813) 961-9347.

Sunday, 7:45 a.m. - The X-Country Marathon, half and 5K, Alafiea State Park, Hillsborough. Register at www.active.com or call (813) 232-5200.

Nov. 23, 7:30 a.m. Times Turkey Trot 10K, 5K and mile. First event, 5K, starts at 7:30, mile fitness walk/run at 8:30 and 10K at 8:45, starting just west of Clearwater High. Kick-off party on Nov. 22, 5-8 p.m., at the high school stadium. Register at www.tampabay.com/turkeytrot. Call Skip Rogers at (727) 442-5838.

New organization

A new St. Pete Running Club, affiliated with the Road Runners Club of America, is having an organizational meeting on Thursday, 6 p.m., at the Don Vista Community Building in St. Pete Beach, just south of the Don Cesar Hotel. All area runners and walkers are invited to contribute ideas. Call Wendy Johnson at (727) 463-7990.

Team Florida

Team Florida

The under-10 softball team is looking for players born after Jan. 1, 1996. For information, contact Drew at 644-4911.

Gulf Coast Juniors

The club will hold tryouts for girls today at the First Lutheran Gym on Nursery Rd. in Clearwater from 6-8:30 p.m. Visit www.gulfcoastjrs.com for more information.

Announcements should be mailed to Times Sports, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731-1121.

[Last modified November 14, 2006, 23:22:53]