Northpinellas: All-Americans add to success of area programs

The waters of Tampa Bay have long been a classroom for youth sailors, teaching them the fundamentals of racing and whetting the appetite for accomplishments at higher levels.

The local programs have launched future Olympic medalists, America's Cup skippers, international champions and an ever-growing number of top collegiate sailors.

Tampa Bay sailors Sean Doyle, Brad Funk and Ken Ward joined the local honor roll after being selected as members of the elite 2000-2001 Inter-collegiate Sailing Association of North America/Ronstan All-American Team.

For Doyle, a junior at Harvard University who lives in St. Petersburg, it was his second year as an All-American.

First-time honors went to Clearwater's Funk, who is attending Old Dominion University, and to Ward, who lives in Tampa and goes to Georgetown University. Both are entering their senior year. "We've very, very proud but not surprised," said Sean's father, Richard. "He's focused, and he loves it."

The Doyle family has a strong sailing heritage.

Richard captured All-American honors three times, plus he was selected as collegiate sailor of the year while attending Notre Dame University.

Sean's sister, Stephanie, was the captain of her Notre Dame team prior to graduating in 1999 and coaches the University of South Florida varsity women's squad. Richard's wife, Char, has competed in international match racing championships and works a full schedule of regattas as an official for the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.

Richard's brother, Robbie, is the founder of Doyle Sails -- an international sailmaker based in Marblehead, Mass. He was a member of Ted Turner's winning America's Cup campaign and earned All-American honors twice.

"Both Stephanie and Sean really like sailing, and they like the people." Richard said. "It's been a nice way to grow up."

Harvard sailors, with Sean as team captain, won two national championships and finished second in two others during the 2000-2001 season and was awarded the Fowle Memorial Trophy for the best all-around performance at the collegiate team level.

Sean will be spending much of the summer in Europe competing -- first as a part of a select squad of American collegiate racers in a series of regattas against teams from England, Scotland, and Ireland. He will join his uncle and two cousins to race aboard the classic 12-Meter Valiant in the 150th anniversary reunion of the America's Cup in Cowes, England, in mid-August.

TOP FIVE: David Fagen III of St. Petersburg, along with crew member Dennis Anderson of Florence, S.C., finished fifth in the Flying Dutchman Class World Championships in late June.

Racing in a 69-boat fleet, Fagen and Anderson posted four top-10 performances in the six-race series to tie for fourth place but dropped to fifth overall on a tie-breaker. They competed in Kiel Raceweek just prior to the world championships, taking seventh in the 400-boat event.

Fagen, who was a two-time collegiate All-American at the U.S. Naval Academy, grew up in St. Petersburg and is based in Norfolk, Va., as an lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.

He recently finished third in a world championship of military teams from 17 countries and is competing across the U.S. in the 49er Class, a radical two-person skiff boat added to the Olympic venue in 2000.

His father, David Fagen, Jr., said, "He's working hard and heavy on an Olympic campaign in the 49er."

SUMMER RACES: The Windjammers of Clearwater are having a series of small-boat races for novice and experienced sailors on Clearwater Harbor.

The Saturday events are open to dinghies and catamarans. Races start at 3 p.m. The schedule includes races Saturday, as well as Aug. 4 and Aug. 18.

For information, call (727) 733-5067 or see the club's Web site, www.windjammersofclearwater.org.

SAFE BOATING: A three-night Boat Smart safety course will be hosted by the St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron beginning Monday and continuing July 16 and July 23.

The two-hour sessions will be at the St. Petersburg Sailing Center on Demens Landing in downtown St. Petersburg, beginning at 7 p.m. each Monday. Course topics will include seamanship, boating regulations, aids to navigation, marine radio and boat handling. The course fulfills the requirements for the Florida Boating Safety Education identification card. The course is free, with only a charge for materials. A seven-week safety class will begin Sept. 10 at the same location.

For information on either classes, call (727) 527-3117.

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