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Dunedin Cup sends nearly $20K to charity

By DAVE ELLIS, Sailing
Published October 3, 2007

The 23rd annual Dunedin Cup Kiwanis Club sailing regatta sent nearly $20,000 to the Boundless Playground of Dunedin. This special area is designed to be used by kids, including those with physical and mental challenges. The success of the event and the 59 boats that participated was helped by sponsors Marker 1, The Moorings, West Marine, Clearwater Yacht Club, the Windlasses and many others.

Sailability towed six access dinghies from Clearwater Community Sailing Center to the Dunedin Boat Club. Sailors with mental challenges sailed the boats, some alone and some with help. Peter Mondorf won on a tie-break with Timothy DeLucia sailing with Harvey Brillat. Also sailing were Michelle DeLucia with Al Almeida, Aaron Medlin, Matt Paoletti with Rich Daskoez, and Susan Paoletti.

The O'Day Daysailer class was led by Dede and Bo Plessner, the Sunfish ladies by Sarabeth Reeves and the Prams by Denise Bissonnette.

The Venice Youth Boating Association brought a fleet of Optimist Dinghies to support the event, with Cara Patete leading the fleet.

A group of boats sailed under Portsmouth handicap with the Albacore of 8-year-old Kylie Byrd winning with some help from her dad Gregory.

Four Ensigns raced with Spirit leading.

Out in the gulf, Tom Hirst and Tim Imiah led the two catamaran classes in wind building as the day progressed.

Gulf keelboat racing was around buoys that are set to GPS positions and don't move. This year, a configuration allowed an upwind start, a run, a reach and finally a long upwind finish. Wind started in the 8-knot range and picked up to the mid teens by race finish.

Non Spinnakers were led by Mike Twining's C&C33. The Cruising Class was divided, with the Catalina 36-Mark1 of Ken Carriero leading Cruising 1 and the Hunter 25.5SD of Paul Auman Cruising 2. The three multihulls were led by George Martin's Performance 27.5.

BRADENTON REGATTA: The Brighthouse Network Kickoff Regatta is the first in the season's Suncoast Keelboat series. There were 31 boats sailing on lower Tampa Bay between the Skyway Bridge and Egmont Key. Winds were generally light but ample for two good races Sept. 22 and one Sept. 23. For results, go online to bradenton-yacht-club.org.

BRUCE WATTERS REGATTA: The areas longest-running kids regatta started in prams in 1965 and recently has been a new-sailor-only event. Allison Jolly and Ed Baird have won trophies in this event. This time, Baird's sons were sailing.

The format of the Bruce Watters was changed to include all fleets, since Treasure Island and Clearwater Yacht Clubs have canceled their Optimist regattas this year.

Mateo Vargas, who recently graduated to the Laser Radial, was the race officer for the Green Fleet for new sailors. Benjenin Boulch of Bradenton led, kicking him up to the regular racing next event.

SPYC coach Todd Fedyszyn ran the Optimist Dinghy fleet. Corey Page of Naples won overall and Red fleet; Liam McCarthy of SPYC led the White fleet and was third overall; Moriah Miller of Naples was the Blue fleet leader.

COLLEGE SAILING: Nicole Beckett (Satellite Beach), a senior at the University of South Florida, has been named to the 2007 Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association all-academic sailing first team, and Andrew Perry (Sarasota), a senior at Brown University, was named to the all-academic sailing second team.

MOTH NATIONALS: Jeff Linton prevailed in the Classic Moth Nationals at Elizabeth City, N.C., by winning the last two races in the 24-boat fleet.

MELGES 24: An informal regatta was staged for the local fleet at St. Petersburg Sailing Center. The six boats from around the bay were led by George Haynie of DIYC.

[Last modified October 2, 2007, 20:47:25]