NAUTICAL NEWS FOR NORTH & CENTRAL FLORIDA SAILORS
GHOST LEADS NFCC TO A BIG WIN IN NEW SMYRNA BEACH
SOME OF WHAT’S INSIDE: LIPTON CUP WRAP-UP JUNIOR SAILING SUMMER PROGRAMS MT. DORA, MELBOURNE & LAKE WEIR COVERAGE A Game On! News Publication
Thanks to everyone for the positive remarks and kind words regarding our first issue The response has been tremendous and is greatly appreciated. We know that our inaugural issue left plenty of room for improvement, but hey, finishing mid-fleet your first time out ain’t so bad. School will be out soon. Get the urchins off the couch and away from the xbox and into sailing camp. We have a list of the programs going on in the area this summer in our “Youth Sailing Directory” starting on page 5. There is something out there for everyone and the clubs have done a remarkable job in keeping costs down. Wow! That is all I can say about the job that PRO David Smith and the crew at the Smyrna Yacht Club did on the Lipton Cup. Wow! SYC raised the bar on how to run a regatta. If you did not race in New Smyrna Beach this year, mark it down on your calendar’s for 2015. This is going to be one of those premier races in the area for a long time. The folks in Mt. Dora and Ocala also ran some pretty good regattas in April. We have stories on both of those events in this issue as well. Thanks to Charlie Kennedy in Mt. Dora and Jan Schumacher in Ocala for helping us out with our coverage.
We ran our first “Sailor’s Poll” on our website and, being the degenerates we are here at Waypoint, we asked sailors about their favorite adult thirst quenchers. Beer topped both Dark & Stormies and Mt. Gay by the narrowest of margins. If you have not visited our site or Facebook page, take a look, there is more there than beverage preferences. To quote a sailor favorite, Jimmy Buffett, “mea culpa ,mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.” I owe the NFCC and SAYC an apology. We completely blew our coverage of the First Coast Offshore Challenge. We had planned to be there but the god of trailer hubs and fuel pumps had other plans. Or as my drill sergeant used to tell me all the time, “ prior planning prevents piss poor performance.” We will make it up to both clubs, I promise. Sailors are friendly. As I have been traveling around the region visiting clubs, sailing schools, marine stores, marinas and other salty places, I have been impressed by everyone’s hospitality. I can’t walk in a yacht club without someone offering to buy me a beer or go to a post race party without someone telling me to grab a plate and join their table. I’m a native Florida guy who is getting a little gray so I am accustomed to southern hospitality going back a few years now. While it may be dying out in
Regatta Results can be emailed to racing@waypointnews.com. Information must be received by 5 PM the on the 25th of every month. Publisher/Editor Bob Seay Reporters Leslie Roberts Wendy Waters Gayle Woerning Contributing Columnists Willie Blevins Gene O’Connor Graphics Rusty Fedsovich Distribution Ben Seay Matt Powers
P.O. Box 2029 Daytona Beach, FL 32115 Tel. (386) 868-5910
WAYPOINT is also published online at waypointnews.com
For advertising information call (386) 682-9573 or email to info@waypointnews.com. You can also find advertising information by visiting waypointnews.com. is free and published the first day of every month (except for holidays when it will be published the first business day following the holiday). Between 6,000 and 8,,000 copies are printed monthly and distributed primarily to marinas, yacht and sailing clubs, restaurants and other retail locations. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. The publishers are not responsible for any errors, omissions, etc. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers. Advertising and copy appearing in is believed to be the truth and to be accurate. Advertisements are the responsibility of the advertiser. The publishers do not necessarily endorse any product, individual or service advertised in The publishers and advertisers are not liable for errors, omissions, or other mistakes in advertising. This is Volume I- Issue 2
other venues, the traits of friendliness, hospitality and camaraderie are alive and well in Florida sailing. Keep it up. We need more folks sailing and when newbies experience what I have lately, they will join the fold. The Mug Race starts in a couple of days. Sail Fast! - Bob
Morning Dew sailing fast at the Lipton Cup.
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RACING NEWS North & Central Florida Regatta Report: Spring is winding down but the weather is not the only thing that is warming up. Racing season is in full swing and we have plenty of regatta coverage on pages 4, 8, 9, 12, & 13.
CLUB NEWS Club Scuttlebutt: There is always something happening at the clubs. Get the scoop on pages 3 & 14.
JUNIOR SAILING Summer Camps: We have the rundown on many of the summer sailing programs throughout North & Central Florida. Page 5.
DEPARTMENTS Club Directory: A listing of clubs in your area, page 6. Used Boat Review: The Olson 30, page 7. Boat Maintenance: More tips on fuel tank issues, page 15. Move of the Month: The best of many great shots, back cover.
Tom Davis’ Cal 9.2, Ghosts, turned in a dominating performance at the Lipton Cup. Davis & crew posted three bullets, winning the Spinnaker Division, and leading the North Florida Cruising Club to the team trophy .
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ECSA Plans Memorial Day Cruise to Port Canaveral Provided by Lynda Geraci, ECSA Join East Coast Sailing Association (ECSA) for a long, relaxing Memorial Day (May 24-26) weekend cruise to Port Canaveral. This year we will be staying on the ocean side of the Port at Ocean Club Marina. Spend a day sailing offshore in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Canaveral shoreline or enjoy a day at the pool while listening for the sound of the cruise ship horns signaling their departures. Make your slip reservations early. Call Ocean Club Marina, 930 Mullet Road, Port Canaveral, 321-783-9001, or reserve online at www.oceanclubmarina-pc.com. There should be room for all of us at Ocean Club, but there is back up dockage available at the neighboring marinas (Port Canaveral Yacht Club and Cape Canaveral Marina). There is no anchorage available in the port. Saturday evening ECSA will be hosting a pot luck dinner and on Sunday, meeting up for dinner. Full cruise details/itinerary in the May Foot Tack & Clew (www.ecsasail.com). Please let us know if you are planning to make the cruise (by boat or car) so we can make appropriate reservations and accommodations. Email Susan.hushla@gmail.com.
Smyrna Yacht Club Assembling Artifacts for a Historical Perspective of Social and Yachting Activity Conducted Since 1928 Established in 1928 by 36 charter families, the Smyrna Yacht Club has always offered great dining, sailing and an abundance of other recreational activities to members of the community. However, for all these years, the Club and its members have been lacking for one particular item of note, and that’s now being corrected. When first built, and during five subsequent additions to the Clubhouse, a time capsule/corner stone has never been laid. This spring, with the reroofing and some additional exterior design work occurring at the Club, this issue is being corrected and a time capsule will be buried near the front entry, to be opened in 50 years. Inasmuch as many SYC members are donating photos, memorabilia and written personal accounts creating a vision of what the Club has been like these past 86 years, they are reaching out to members of the New Smyrna Beach community at large, to ask if they have contributions to provide. For instance, do you have a photo and anecdotal story from when your grandfather was Commodore? Or an invitation/menu from your cousin’s wedding held there? Did you win or inherit a small sailing trophy from a Club sponsored regatta? SYC will be accepting memorabilia through June 1, 2014 for consideration of placement in the time capsule. Items not selected will be stored in the Club’s archives. It is kindly requested all items submitted be accompanied by a written document identifying the person(s) in the photos, etc. and their affiliation with the club (i.e. past commodore from 1955, etc). Items may be dropped off at the Smyrna Yacht Club’s front desk 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, through June 1st. The Club is located at 1201 South Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Ph: 386427-4040.
NAUTICAL TERM: Zephyr - A warm pleasant breeze. Named after the mythical Greek God of false hopes, wishful thinking, blind optimism and unreliable forecasts.
Smyrna Yacht Club Sailors Provide Welcome Flotilla and Hospitality To Polish Kayaker Landing In Florida After Six Month Atlantic Crossing Provided by Mary Jane Kolassa, SYC As Polish adventurer Aleksander “Olek” Doba concluded his 6,000 mile kayak journey from Lisbon, Portugal to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, fellow mariners from the Smyrna Yacht Club (SYC) were on hand to provide a warm welcome on April 19, 2014. Members of the yacht club, their Commodore Dan Kolassa (of Polish ancestry), the SYC Board of Governors, city mayor Adam Barringer, area residents, members of the Polish American Club Sarasota, and local media were on hand to provide a four-gun salute, official proclamations and gregarious greetings. On Sunday, Olek stopped by the Smyrna Yacht Club’s tiki bar to wine, dine, sign memorabilia and share (through his interpreter) details of his trip providing demonstrations on how he managed to eat, sleep and navigate from October 5, 2013 to his landing in New Smyrna Beach on April 19th – America’s Patriot’s Day. Smyrna Yacht Club is located at Lat. 29°01’N; Long: 80°55’W at Intracoastal Waterway Mile 847.5 – Marker 151. Street address: 1201 South Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168. www.smyrnayachtclub.com. Video of Olek arriving at New Smyrna Beach City Marina after receiving SYC four-gun salute paddling past Smyrna Yacht Club: http://youtu.be/5skANEU9Fhs.
Commodore Kolassa welcomes Olek Doba to SYC after six months at sea.
Wild Child Tops Fleet To Win IRYC Wednesday Night Spring Series Duncan Mackensie’s self built Wild Child won overall first place honors in the Indian River Yacht Club’s Spring Series. Wild Child and Rene Arriens’ Tarten 10, Sneaker, both tallied an eleven point total in the six race, one throw-out, series but Mackensie was awarded first place based on two wins. Dale Ley Vey’s Hobie 33, Moving Party, topped Mike Young’s Melges 24, Airborne, by one point in another close battle for third place. The IRYC Wednesday Night Summer Series starts May 7. For more information on IRYC racing contact Mike Nulf at mnulf@cfl.rr.com. IRYC Wednesday Night Spring Series Results 1. Duncan Mackensie Wild Child I-550 2. Rene Arriens Sneaker Tarten 10 3. Dale Ley Vey Moving Party Hobie 33 4. Mike Young Airborne Melges 24 5. Jerry Butz Sold Out Cat 22 6. Roberto Weinman Picante C&C 24
11 11 16 17 30 32
Ghost, Blue Sky & Twilight Take 1st At First Coast Offshore Challenge The SAYC and NFCC 2014 First Coast Offshore Challenge was held April 2-5 off of St. Augustine. The regatta included a mix of “round-the-buoys racing,” an “out & back” race and a “St. Augustine to Mayport & back” race. Tom Davis’ Ghost won the spinnaker division while Dana Hunter’s C&C 32, Blue Sky, topped the non-spin fleet. Racing in the cruising class was close as Mac Smith’s Twilight and Ken Christensen’s Onyva both finished with 5 points. Twilight was awarded first on the strength of two bullets earned in the out and back and Mayport race. First Coast Offshore Challenge Results (Top 3 finishers) Spinnaker Class 1. Tom Davis Ghost Cal 9.2 2. Hakki Etem Layla Bene OC 461 3. Brett Grover Passion Catalina 34 Non-Spinnaker Class 1. Dana Hunter Blue Sky C&C 32 2. Victor Barbi’ Milky Waves Bene OC 381 3. Carter Quillen Monkey’s Uncle Hunter 45 Cruising Class 1. Max Smith Twilight La Fitte 44 2. Ken Christensen Onyva Catalina 320 3. John Meehan Kotchka Hinckley 38
WAYPOINT ATTEMPTS TO COVER AS MANY REGATTAS AS WE CAN GET TO BUT WE CAN’T GET TO ALL OF THEM. IF WE MISSED YOURS WE WILL STILL PRINT A STORY IF YOU FORWARD THE INFO TO US AT RACING@WAYPOINTNEWS.COM. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HELP FROM WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS OUT IN THE FIELD. LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. SAIL FAST!
School will be ending soon and what better way is there to spend part of summer vacation than out on the water learning to sail. We have compiled a list of programs available, what they offer, dates & associated costs. Many clubs have scholarships available. There are a myriad of sailing camps going on throughout the summer all over Waypoint’s coverage area. They offer classes for beginners all the way up to advanced racing in Opti’s, 420’s, Lasers and other boats. Let’s all help perpetuate the growth of our sport by getting young sailors out having fun on the water. Contact the clubs directly for more information.
Epping Forest Summer Sailing Camps Students will learn to sail while having lots of fun activities including treasure hunts, swimming and much more! Experienced sailors will explore the river, learn advanced techniques (like sailing backwards) and participate in sailboat racing. Dates are as follows: Age 5-7 8-12 12-17
Weeks Offered (Monday - Friday) June 30 - July 3 (4 day camp $250) June 9-14, June 23-28, July 14-28 June 2-7, June 16-21, July 7-12
* All Day Camps begin at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. and include lunch at a price of $300
Extended day camps are offered from 3 to 6 pm at a rate of $15 per hour. Details are posted on www.efyc.com but phone calls are always welcome. Please contact Harbormaster, John Tipton at (904) 739-7150 or at jtipton@efyc.com.
Like many camps, HYS sailors learn in Opti’s, Lasers and 420’s.
St Augustine Yacht Club Junior Sailing
442 Ocean Vista Ave. St Augustine, FL 32080 904-824-9725; sailtraining@staugustineyachtclub.com Director: Wendy Thomson; 904-687-4625; wendysails55@gmail.com Halifax Youth Sailing Summer SailCamp 2014 Weekly camp program starting June 9th - August 12th; 9:00am-3:00pm Cost: $195 per week (discounts for additional weeks) Enjoy a summer of fun! Sailors aged 8 and up can learn sailing and Beginner (Opti I) * Intermediate (Opti II) * Advanced (Club 420) seamanship skills at Halifax Youth Sailing in Daytona Beach, on the US Sailing Certified Instructors with over 35 years of sailing & Halifax River. Our staff of experienced instructors will teach your kids lifetime skills racing experience Mission Statement: SAFETY * LEARN TO SAIL * HAVE FUN in our fleet of Optis, 420s, Lasers and Sunfish . The new sailors have an opportunity for non-stop fun in, on and around the water in a safe, clean, outdoor environment. No experience necessary. Over the duration of the More Camp Info on Page 10 course, students will progress through the ranks from Seaman to Skipper. Halifax Youth Sailing is dedicated to teaching your kids to sail. WAYPOINT WILL BE VISITING SAILING CAMPS Sailing is fun but also requires proper training since it involves water, THIS SUMMER LOOKING FOR GOOD PHOTO speed and moving structures. Our Instructors are US Sailing Certified to teach sailing safely to all ages. OPS. IF YOU HAVE SOME GOOD PICTURES & All sailors must be able to swim and will be given a swimming test STORIES FROM CAMP AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE prior to their first class. Sailors must provide a properly fitting Coast Guard approved Personal Floatation Device [PFD]. Everyone must wear THEM PUBLISHED, PLEASE SEND THEM TO US. water shoes at all times at the shore and on the water. Sun screen is also WE CAN’T PRINT THEM ALL BUT WE WILL TRY. essential. Safety is our primary concern at all times. Every US Sailing Certified Instructor is also certified in CPR and First Aid for each sailor’s protection. To register go to www. HalifaxYouthSailing.org Price : $225 Ages : 8 - 17 Learn to Sail Camp-1 June 09/ June 13 6/15 Learn to Sail Camp-2 June 23/ June 27 Learn to Sail Camp-3 July 07/ July 11 Learn to Sail Camp-4 July 21/ July 25 Learn to Sail Camp-5 August 04/ August 08 Sessions are Mon. - Fri., 9 am - 4 pm. Early drop-off and late pick-up available with 2-day advance registration required - additional fees. Located at: 15 Fremont Court Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Questions? Please email Steve Caron at: Steve@HalifaxYouthSailing.org or call (904) 545-3123.
A HYS sailor steers his Opti on the Halifax River in Daytona Beach.
Cruising & Sailing Club Directory The Central Florida Yacht Club Orlando, FL www.cfyc.com Crescent City Yacht Club P.O. Box 121 Crescent City, FL 32112 www.cc-yc.com East Coast Sailing Association PO Box 372054 Satellite Beach, FL 32937 www.ecsasail.com Epping Forest Yacht Club 1830 Epping Forest Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32217 (904) 739-7150 www.efyc.org The Florida Yacht Club 5210 Yacht Club Drive Jacksonville, FL 32210 (904) 387-1653 www.thefloridayachtclub.org Fort Pierce Yacht Club PO Box 3108 Fort Pierce, FL 34948-3108 www.ftpierceyachtclub.Homestead.com Halifax River Yacht Club 331 S. Beach St. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (904) 255-7459 www.hryc.com Halifax Sailing Association PO Box 2031 Daytona Beach, FL 32115-2031 www.halifaxsailing.org Indian River Yacht Club P.O. Box 992 Cocoa, Fl 32923-0992 www.iryc.org
Lake Eustis Sailing Club 1310 CR 452 Eustis, FL 32726 www.lakeeustissailingclub.org
Port Canaveral Yacht Club 910 Mullett Drive Port Canaveral, FL 32920 (321) 784-2292 http://portcanaveralyachtclub.com
Lake Monroe Sailing Association, Inc. P.O. Box 297 Sanford, FL 32771 (321) 578-8364 http://www.flalmsa.org/
Rat Island Yacht Club P.O. Box 1053 San Mateo, FL 32187 www.ratisland.com
Melbourne Yacht Club 1202 E. River Drive Melbourne, FL 32901 (321) 768-9921 www.melbourneyachtclub.com
Rudder Club of Jacksonville 533 Malaga Avenue Orange Park, FL 32073 (904) 264-4094 www.rudderclub.com
Mount Dora Yacht Club P.O. Box 876 Mount Dora, Florida 32756 (352) 383-3188 www.mountdorayachtclub.com
Sailing Club of Central Florida Lake Baldwin / Winter Park / Orlando, FL Area www.thesailingclub.us
Navy Jax Yacht Club PO Box 29 Jacksonville FL 32212 (904) 778-0805 www.navyjaxyachtclub.com
Smyrna Yacht Club P.O. Box 560 New Smyrna FL 32170 (386) 663-7322 www.smyrnayachtclub.com
North Florida Cruising Club P.O. Box 24268 Jacksonville, FL 32241 http://nfccsail.com
St. Augustine Yacht Club 442 Ocean Vista Avenue St. Augustine, Florida 32080 (904) 824-9725 www.sayc2000.com
Ocala Sailing Club P.O. Box 2091 Ocala, FL 34478 www.ocalasailingclub.org
Titusville Sailing Club PO Box 2791 Titusville, FL 32781-2791 www.sailtitusville.com
Palatka Yacht Club 131 Crystal Cove Drive Palatka, FL 32178 (888) 851-1811 www.palatkayachtclub.org
USSC Martin County 1955 NE Indian River Dr. Jensen Beach, FL 34957
The Olson 30 Has Earned Its Place as a Classic and is Still Winning Races By Bob Seay
in a breeze the boat is scary fast, easily getting up on a plane under the chute when the wind speed gets into the double digits. The original rudder design is considered under powered making the boat difficult to drive downwind in a blow. Many Olson sailors will tell you that if you don't broach at least once on the way to the leeward mark that you are not sailing the boat at its full potential. The downwind difficulty has led many Olson 30 owners to replace the stock rudder with an elliptical shaped one also produced by Moore. If downwind sailing is the boat’s strong point, going to windward can be a challenge. In moderate breezes, experienced Olson 30 skippers hold their own sailing upwind by keeping the boat flat. As the wind picks up the O30's light displacement makes driving through bigger seas a challenge and that is where she may lose ground to similarly rated but heavier competitors. The trick is to stay flat and stay close enough to make up lost ground on the downwind legs. As for auxiliary power, most Olson 30's are powered by 6-8 HP outboards which are mounted on an outboard bracket off the stern. Crews who want to win remove the engine and place it below during races as the O30 does not like weight aft. A small number of these boats have been fitted with inboard engines. Currently Olson 30 one-design fleets are located in San Francisco, Long Beach, Chicago and the Chesapeake Bay. There are many more Olson 30's participating in PHRF fleets across the country. PHRF ratings range from 95-114 depending on the fleet and boat configuration. The Olson 30's rating in Florida narrows and it’s base usually falls somewhere between 108 and 111. The Olson 30 National Association website is located at www.olson30.org where a large group of owners offering plenty of technical support is readily available. Repair and after-market parts are also easy to acquire. Finding a race ready Olson 30 that is in decent shape is not too difficult although you may have to be prepared to pay for shipping. Of the dozen boats we found currently for sale, only one was listed in Florida. Prices range from $1600 for a beat up hull with no mast and rigging to $25K for a race ready boat in great condition. The Florida boat, located for sale in St. Augustine, is listed for $9900. Rumor has it that two more Florida Olson 30's, located in Jacksonville and Ponce Inlet, will be on the market soon. There is also an Olson 29 currently listed in Ft. Myers for $15K. If you are looking for a reasonably priced and exciting club-racer that has earned it stripes, is built tough enough to still be racing after more than 30 years since its production run ended, then the Olson 30 is definitely worth consideration.
The following is the first in a series of used sailboat reviews that Waypoint will begin regularly publishing starting with this issue. We will be covering some of the more popular and reasonably priced one-design and PHRF racing boats beginning with this month's featured boat, the Olson 30. The Olson 30 is one of a class of racing sailboats referred to a ULDB's or ultra light displacement boats. ULDB's were all the rage with California performance boat builders centered around Santa Cruz in the late 1970's through the end of the 1980's. Some of the more popular production ULDB's built during those days, along with the Olson 30, were the Moore 24, the Santa Cruz 27, the Express 27 and the Hobie 33 to name just a few. All were spawned from designer Bill Lee's Santa Cruz sleds built specifically for fast downwind sailing from California to Hawaii during Transpac races, the most famous being the 68' Merlin, the first result of Lee's "Fast is Fun" boat building philosophy. It was after experiencing a delivery of Merlin from Honolulu back to Santa Cruz after the 1977 Transpac that surfer and board builder, George Olson, came up with the idea for the Olson 30. After testing a prototype, Pacific High, Olson teamed with partner Lyn Neal and started Pacific Boats. The company built approximately 255 Olson 30's between 1978 and 1984. Pacific also produced the Olson 25, 29, 34 and 40 foot models as well as the 30' Carl Schmacher designed Olson 911 produced in the mid 1980's. The Olson 29 was built on the Olson 30's hull but with an open transom, fractional rig, and different rudder and keel shape. Only 27 of the Olson 29's were produced during a run from roughly 1985 to 1988. The Olson 30 was constructed with a base of polyester resin and Eglass. It has a balsa core in the hull and deck which requires careful observation and regular maintenance to keep dry. The age of these boats coupled with the fact that most have been raced hard means that it is likely that some core repair may be necessary. The keel is cast lead coming off of a small fiberglass foot. The stock rudder is a fiberglass and foam sandwich with a fiberglass shaft. The interior of the boat is handsome compared to the sparse interior of most ULDB's. The Olson 30 has a light spruce plywood interior as opposed to the common Bruynzeel plywood used on other boats. There are starboard and port pipe births aft of the main "salon" which includes a tiny sink and one burner portable stove if equipped. There are port and starboard seats, either of which is a handy spot to park while repacking the spinnaker. There is also a small nav-station and chart table. Short plywood bulkheads separate the head area and v-berth from the rest of the interior. A common issue on these older race boats is the failing of the fiberglass tabbing adjoining the plywood seating, cabinets and bulkheads to the hull. As all of this woodwork adds stiffness to the boat, it is critical to make sure that the tabbing is in good order. Another important maintenance area to check on the boat is the condition of the mast step. The base of the step is located under the cabin sole in the shallow bilge. It is a fiberglass covered laminate and will become compressed over time. It is not uncommon to see a mast height drop of 3-5 inches which will definitely have a detrimental effect on the boat's performance. Many owners replace their boat's worn out mast step with a ready to install kit produced by Moore Sailboats. While not a construction or maintenance issue, most of the Olson 30's still racing today sport a double spreader rig produced by Ballenger Spars. This is a retrofit adding stability and replacing the original, more flexible, single spreader Sparcraft rig. The Olson 30 does what it was designed to do. Being so light with a Many Olson 30’s like this one have been winning races for over 30 years. They displacement of only 3600 lbs. she is a giant killer in light air. Downwind have a reputation as downwind rockets and giant killers in light air. They also still look sharp out on the water.
The multihulls bear down on the windward mark as the breeze builds during the first day of racing.
Ocala Sailing Club Lake Weir Invitational Fickle Winds Make For A Slow Start But Things Improve On Sunday As sailors who sail on central Florida lakes know, one day the lake can look as flat as glass and the next day you will swear you are sailing in a gale off of Hatteras. Things were not that extreme at the Ocala Sailing Club’s Lake Weir Invitational and Harpoon National Regatta but, after the first day’s drifter, day two’s 5 knot breezes surely seemed like a blow. The regatta was run April 24 through April 27 with a welcome party on Thursday, practice time on the water Friday, and actual racing happening on the weekend. Saturday’s racing was postponed until early afternoon when a trickle of breeze arrived on the lake allowing the RC to get a start
in for all fleets. It was slow going and finishing well required equal amounts of skill and luck. The improving wind on Sunday let the fleet get in two races and put a good ending on the regatta. Vice Commodore, Bob Cole, summed up the four day event. “The Lake Weir Invitational and Harpoon Regatta are now over and the participants have headed home with memories of an exciting weekend. The regatta team did a great job of organizing, preparing and executing our plan. I want to thank all of you for a job well done. We had four days of fun in the sun.” Results (First 3 Places) Harpoon 1. Ian Gibson Multihull 1. Jim Eden San Juan 21 1. R. Pawlowski Mutineers 1. James Davis Saturday’s light air made for some tricky conditions on Lake Weir.
2. Ed Sims 3. Art Twitchell 2. Nelson Wright 3. Bob Henderson 2. Ross Martin 3. Michael Loughlin 2. Edwin Plotts
Lipton Cup Ghost tops Obsession In Hard Fought Contest PRO David Smith and the entire crew at the Smyrna Yacht Club deserve a big thanks and cheer for the job they did hosting the 2014 Lipton Cup April 12 & 13 in New Smyrna Beach. The Chamber of Commerce weather and a steady seabreeze made for some very competitive racing in all three fleets. Fresh off wins at the FCOC and River City Regatta, skipper Tom Davis and the crew aboard the Cal 9.2 Ghost, sailed about as good as you can posting three bullets in the spinnaker class to win top honors. It Spectators get a great view of was not an easy task however as Norm the racing action along New Church and the crew on Obsession were Smyrna Beach. nipping at their heels the entire weekend. Church and crew posted three 2nd place finishes to land in second place overall. St. Augustine’s Bubba Ball drove Siduri into third place. Perpetual Motion won all three races in the non-spin fleet to finish in first place. Robert Smith’s Scallywag, also coming off a River City win, finished in second while another St. Augustine boat, Blue Sky, took the third place trophy home. Not to be outdone, the cruising class provided plenty of fireworks as well. Todd Stebleton’s Copperhead posted a win in the last race to come from three points down and nip skipper David Brangaccio and crew sailing Xanadu by one point to take home first place. John Meehan’s Kotchka was right behind in third. As if sailors are not competitive enough, SYC spiced things up for the fourth year in a row by throwing in a team trophy. Each club with at least three boats entered was eligible to compete. The North Florida Cruising Club rode the strong performances by Ghost, Scallywag and Onyva to a team win. All of the fun was not just happening on the water. SYC had a full host of onshore activities going on as well. From an ocean side sky-box for spectators to a number of parties, sailors’ family and friends were kept entertained the entire weekend. “I know I am a little biased but I think this was one of the best Lipton Cups we have done,” said Smith.
Todd Stebleton’s Copperhead crew had every reason to be stoked postin a win in the last race to come from 3 points down and finish in first place.
Obsession, Quiksail & Ghost (in front of red chute) bear down on the leeward mark during spin-fleet racing during day one of the Lipton Cup.
2014 Lipton Cup Regatta Smyrna Yacht Club Results (Top Four Finishers)
Spinnaker Division 1. Ghost 2. Obsession 3. Siduri 4. Quiksail Non-spinnaker Division 1. Perpetual Motion 2. Scallywag 3. Blue Sky 4. Sailaway Cruising Division 1. Copperhead 2. Xanadu 3. Kotchka 4. Onyva Team Award 1. NFCC 2. SAYC 3. HRYC 4. SYC 5. HSA
Tom Davis Norm Church Bubba Ball
NFCC HRYC SAYC
Patrick Fischer-Carne Robert Smith Dana Hunter Phil Cornett
New Smyrna Beach NFCC SAYC SYC
Todd Stebleton David Brangaccio John Meehan Ken Christensen
HRYC SYC SAYC NFCC
This logo means we have more pictures of this regatta posted on Waypoint’s Facebook page. 100’s of photos are also available at: www.waypointnews.com
Obsession’s crew prepares to douse the chute as the near the leeward mark.
Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Programs The Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation, Inc., sponsored by the Fort Pierce Yacht Club and the City of Fort Pierce, teaches sailing to young people of the Treasure Coast in an environment stressing safety, sportsmanship, self reliance, self discipline, and respect for authority and the community. We offer two programs: ONE WEEK SUMMER CLASSES and Sunday year around Advanced sailing/racing. In 2014, the Foundation will hold beginner and intermediate One Week Summer Classes for two age groups: Ages 7-14 in Opti Prams and Ages 1418 in Collegiate 420’s. Young students who are big for their age can sail in the larger Collegiate 420 with the coaches approval. All class are taught by certified instructors Beginner Sailing Prerequisites: Students must be 7 to 18 years of age, able to demonstrate swimming proficiency, and own a life jacket fitted to them. These classes teach younger students the basic sailing skills and principles. Curriculum includes learning names of boat parts, finding wind direction, steering with a tiller, practice tacking and jibing, crisis management, and additional sailing skills. Intermediate Sailing Prerequisite: Completion of Beginner Sailing class or similar experience, and own a life jacket fitted to them. This course is designed to prepare sailors for sailboat racing. Students are introduced to Racing Rules of Sailing, and intermediate racing techniques. Instructors teach skills including sitting on the rail, using tiller extensions, roll tacking, equipment care, changing sail controls, and sportsmanship. 2014 Summer Class Schedule* All students must be able to swim and have a life jacket fitted to them. Registration fee is $210 for the Oppi Pram students and $225 for the Collegiate 420 students A $50 deposit is required with the registration application. Lunches are available for $25 per week. Classes will be held during the following weeks from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Beginner Classes June 9 – 13 July 7 - 11 June 16 – 20 July 21 - 25 June 23 – 27 July 28 - Aug 1
Intermediate Classes Jul 13 - 18 Aug 4 – 8
To reserve a spot in a 2014 class for either program fill out a student application and mail it with $50.00 to: Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation P. O. Box 1783 Fort Pierce, Florida 34948-1783 Applications may be found on our website at www.TreasureCoastYouthSailing.com, or call 772-971-8330, and leave your name, phone number, and the address to which you would like an application mailed.
TCYSF students sail Opti’s off the beach at the Fort Pierce Sailing Center.
SYC students have the opportunity to sail the club’s fleet of Precision 15’s.
Smyrna Yacht Club Sailors Partner With New Smyrna Beach Parks & Recreation To Offer Youth Sail Camps It’s almost time for the much-anticipated annual youth Sailing Camp sessions. For young boating enthusiasts between the ages of 12-18, this is a great opportunity to learn seamanship along our local Intracoastal Waterway. Each weeklong course trains students to become skippers, which will allow them to sail without assistance. The course includes hands on training, terminology, sailing techniques, wind, currents, safety precautions and more. Class size is limited to 12 students per class, so sign up early. Sessions are offered Monday-Friday: I. June 9-13 II. June 23-27 Both sessions will be held from 10:00am – 3:00pm leaving from the Yacht Club’s Tiki Dock.
Cost: $150 for New Smyrna Beach residents. Additionally, each student will be required to purchase the Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobson handbook for $25 at the class (or bring their own copy) and must supply their own Type III Life Jacket. All students must also bring their own lunch and drinks daily, and a swimsuit/towel as there will be swimming in the Club’s pool during the break. Parents of children who would like to take advantage of this opportunity can apply at the Parks and Recreations Department at 1000 Live Oak Street, call Kimla Shelton at 386-424-2175 for more information, or download and fill out the registration application form at: http://www.smyrnayachtclub.com/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid =362187&ssid=271568&vnf=1 or pick up a form from the NSB Recreation Department at 1000 Live Oak Street. Apply early, camp sessions always sell out! The team of volunteers from Smyrna Yacht Club Sailors is working on the Precision class of boats used in the sail training series, prepping them with freshly painted hulls and new rigging to ensure smooth sailing. About Smyrna Yacht Club: Established in 1928 Lat: 29°01' N -- Long: 80°55' W Intracoastal Waterway Mile 847.5 -- Green Marker 45 1201 South Riverside Dr. New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 386-427-4040
More Camp Info on Page 11
Melbourne Yacht Club Offers Youth Sailing Classes Know anyone between the ages of 9 and 18 that wants to learn to sail? Melbourne Yacht Club is offering a 4 week sailing class that will be tailored to the students’ ability and interest. The students will be placed into either an Optimist or a 420. Class size is limited and fills early so contact the MYC Sailing Education director for more information and to register today. MYC Sailing Education Director: Phil Spletter 321-773-5848 myceducation@melbourneyachtclub.com Youth Class Non-MYC Members $175 MYC Members $150 Deposit Required $75
* Classes are held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Class Dates
July 12 July 19 July 26 Aug 2
Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County 2014 Summer Sailing Camp Learn to Sail!
Swim!
Have fun!
Beginning sailing instruction open to children ages 8-13. Sessions: June 16-20 June 23-27 No Camp: June 30 – July 4 July 7-11
July 14-18 July 21-25 July 28 - Aug 1
9 AM to 3 PM -- $250.00 per week including lunch. Held at The Moorings Yacht & Country Club located at 100 Harbour Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963. Requirement: Child must be able to pass a swimming test. Visit our website to download forms: www.ysfirc.org or call 772 567-9000. Your check is your confirmation..
MYC campers race Opti’s and Sunfish around the buoys.
Lake Eustis Youth Sailing Foundation Information The LEYSF is a 501(c)(3) charitable educational organization dedicated to encourage children to experience the joy of sailing, teach essential boat handling skills, seamanship, water safety and race in a safe fun environment. We are very fortunate and grateful to use the facilities at Lake Eustis Sailing Club. The youth sailing program offers a range of classes - Beginner & Intermediate/PreRace/Advanced & High School Race Team. Classes are held on Saturdays from Sept thru May. For information on our Intro to Sailing Summer Camp see the ad on this page below.
Melbourne Yacht Club Big Boat Regatta
Brad Ruffe did Catalina 22 owners everywhere proud by skippering Mercury Rising to the top spot in PHRF B. Pat Lambert’s Down Pat was runner-up while Peter Bush and crew sailed God Speed into the final podium spot.
The always reliable seabreeze off of the Melbourne Yacht Club made for some exciting racing at the MYC Big Boat Regatta conducted Saturday and Sunday, April 26 & 27. “We always have a great breeze here,” said regatta chairman Craig Rastello, “and great racing,” he added. The steady 10-12 knot easterly winds allowed the J24 fleet to get in six, three loop, windward/leeward races over the weekend which allowed for one throw-away. The PHRF fleets raced longer triangle courses with a windward/leeward leg each day. Dave Noble skippered Half Ass to a first place finish topping the seven boat J24 division. Noble & crew logged 4 bullets and a 2nd, throwing out a 6th place finish for a low point total of 6. Jim Henry and the crew of J-Mouse went into the final race with a one point lead over Dave Nesbit’s Fine Finish for 2nd place. The slim lead held up as both boats saved their worst for last logging throw-outs. Paul Anstey and crew aboard J-Peas struggled early in the regatta but figured things out and turned in two respectable 3rd place finishes in the final two races to avoid the dreaded DFL position. Mike Young drove his Melges 24, Airborne, to a 1st place finish in the PHRF A fleet finishing Saturday’s roughly 15 mile course in just over 1 hour and 51 minutes. Sneaker, with Rene Arriens at the helm, finished in 2nd place while Greg Kowolski and crew aboard Slot Machine came in 3rd. Mischief, J-Mouse and Half-Ass bear down on the windward mark in
fierce action during the MYC Big Boat Regatta. In Melbourne April 26th.
MYC Spring Big Boat Regatta Saturday & Sunday, April 26-27, 2014 J24 1. Dave Noble 2. Jim Henry 3. Dave Nesbit
Half Ass J-Mouse Fine Finish
PHRF A 1. Mike Young Airborne 2. Rene Arrriens, Sneaker 3. Greg Kowalski Slot Machine PHRF B 1. Brad Ruffe 2. Pat Lambert 3. Peter Bush
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Mercury Rising Down Pat God Speed
Slot Machine, skippered by Greg Kowalski, had a nice regatta finishing 3rd in PHRF A.
Mike Young and the crew aboard Airborne on their way to a 1st place finish.
STAY CLOSER, GO FURTHER.
2. Rick Best 3. Brian Flora 4. Patrick Daniel
2014 Mt Dora Annual Regatta The wind gods were not kind to the folks in Mt. Dora during this year’s annual regatta on April 5 & 6. The sun was shining but the breeze was non-existant on Saturday as only one class was able to get in a slow drifter of a race. Race officials finally tired of waiting for the wind to show up and cancelled racing for the day at about 3PM. Things improved
JY15 Puffer Viper 840
Sailing Club of Orlando Sailing Club of Orlando Lake Monroe Sailing Club
Compac 16 Compac 16 Compac 16 Compac 16
Villages Sailing Club Villages Sailing Club Villages Sailing Club Villages Sailing Club
Mutineer Mutineer Mutineer Mutineer
TSS Central Florida Yacht Club TSS Central Florida Yacht Club
Cat 22 Cat 22 Cat 22 Cat 22
Dixie Yacht Club STL Titusville Sailing Club St. Lucie Sailing Club
SJ21 SJ21 SJ21 SJ21
LMSA LMSA LMSA LMSA
Laser 4.7 Laser 4.7 Laser 4.7 Laser 4.7
LEYSF LESC LESC LEYSF
Opti Blue Opti Green Opti Blue Opti Green
St. Pete YC Lake Wales Pram Fleet LEYSF LEYSF
Compac 16 1. Richard Mosher 2. Tom Terrent 3. Steven Stein 4. Robert Carberry Mutineer 1. Ed Plots 2. Jim Davis 3. Don Miller 4. Elma Madden Catalina 22 1. Pete Page 2. Frank Brown 3. Brad Ruffe 4. David Ottaviani San Juan 21 1. Fisk Hayden 2. Kyle Everly 3. Randy Powlowski 4. Mike Loughlin
Puffs were hard to find on the first day of the Mt. Dora Annual Regatta. The light air made for some tricky racing. Skill and luck were equally important. The wind filled in a little on Sunday enabling all fleets to get in at least one race.
enough on Sunday for the remaining fleets to get a race in constituting an official regatta. “Well, we hate it because so many folks showed up to race and you want to do a good job for them but, that is sailing,” said Mt. DoraYacht Club race official Charlie Kennedy. The folks in Mount Dora did all they could from their end to show the visiting sailors a good time even if the wind did not want to cooperate. A party complete with a steel drum band was enjoyed by all Saturday night.
2014 Annual Regatta Results
Laser 4.7 1. Max Epaillard 2. Cameron Smith 3. Tom Jennings 4. Leah Harper Optimist 1. JJ Smith 2. Adrian Aria 3. Mathew Smith 4. Benjamin Kelly
(Top 4 Places)
Hobie Wave 1. Ray Matuzak 2. John Sherry 3. Nelson Wright 4. Mike Powers
Wave Wave Wave Wave
Put In Bay Yacht Club Miami Yacht Club
Flying Scot Flying Scot Flying Scot Flying Scot
LESC LESC LESC LESC
Sunfish Sunfish Sunfish Sunfish
LMSA Davis Island Yacht Club LMSA Melbourne Yacht Club
C-Scow
Lake Monroe Sailing Club
Miami Yachtr Club
Flying Scot 1. Dean Grimes 2. Gus Chennells 3. Henry Pico 4. Randy Boekema Sunfish 1. Mindy Strauley 2. Joe Blouin 3. Paul Strauley 4. David Silverman Open Portsmouth 1. Kevin Briggs
FOR MORE 61ST ANNUAL MT. DORA REGATTA PHOTOS VISIT WWW.WAYPOINTNEWS.COM OR CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK
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FPYC Announce Spring Series Race Dates The following is the Spring Series racing schedule for the Fort Pierce Yacht Club. Races are open to all with PHRF ratings. Races are held off shore in the vicinity of the Fort Pierce Inlet. The scheduled racing dates are: May 4 (Woman at the Helm Race), May 25 and June 29. Contact Diane Korbey, VC Fleet, for information at 772-460-6138.
SYC Plans Summer Solstice Regatta The Smyrna Yacht Club (SYC), will be hosting their annual SUMMER SOLSTICE REGATTA on the longest day of the year, June 21, 2014. Competitors from across the region are invited to join in the competitive fun and book dock space at SYC for the weekend to join the Friday night skippers meeting and party before the main on-water event Saturday. There will be as many buoy races in the ocean as is possible on Saturday June 21, followed by the opportunity to relax and swap stories at the club’s Tiki overlooking the Indian River. The awards ceremony will also take place on Saturday evening. Trophies will be awarded to the first three places in each division. The regatta is open to all sailboats of suitable seaworthiness to participate in near-shore racing in the Atlantic Ocean just south of Ponce de Leon Inlet. Boats will be entered into three Divisions. Division 1 - Boats with spinnakers Division 2 - Boats without spinnakers Division 3 - Cruising boats Racing will be handicapped according the PHRF system. All PHRFs for the regatta will be assigned by the First Coast Sailing Association. If you previously entered the Lipton Cup or HRYC Commodores Cup then you will already have a rating. Prime shore-side spectator viewing area will be from Toni & Joe’s Patio, 309 Buenos Aires Street, NSB, a proud sponsor of both the Lipton Cup and Solstice Regattas.Sailors who would like more information, contest rules, advance registration entry forms, please visit smyrnayachtclub.com.
Indian River Yacht Club To Host 52nd Annual Brevard Challenge The Indian River Yacht Club will host the 2014 52 Annual Brevard Challenge and Rockledge Centennial Cup on May 17 & 18 at Lee Wenner Park in Cocoa Beach. The sailing area will be south of the 520 Causeway. Dockage can be secured at the Cocoa Village Marina. Contact Ken at 321-632-5445. Trailer boats may leave their boats set up on their trailers at night in the park for free. This regatta is open to all monohull sailboats. The entry fee for the Regatta is $40.00. There will be two anticipated Classes: PHRF A and PHRF B. PHRF fleets will be split by rating, 174 and below will sail in PHRF A, 175 and above will sail in PHRF B. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Saturday, May 17, 2014 Registration and Continental Breakfast Skippers Meeting First Warning Dinner
9:00 to 11:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:30 PM 5:30 - 6:00 PM (approx)
Sunday, May 18, 2014 Continental Breakfast Skippers Meeting First Warning Awards
9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:30 AM (approx) 3:00 PM (approx.)
Trophies for each Division listed will be awarded at the end of racing on Sunday. The overall award will be calculated by a combined time of both days!! The Rockledge Centennial Cup will be awarded to the overall winner of Saturday’s Race! For more information contact Regatta Chairman, Mike Nulf at (321) 604-2650 or via email at mnulf@cfl.rr.com.
Lake Monroe Sailing Association To Host Two Regattas In May LMSA will be hosting the Florida Women's Sunfish Championship on May 16th-17th and the Lightning Regatta on May 31st and June 1st. For more information on the Women’s Sunfish Championship contact Mindy Strauley (407) 739-2387 or email mstrauley@aol.com. For Lightning info contact LMSA via email at fla.lmsa@gmail.com.
Halifax River Yacht Club Gulfstreamer Race The biennial GulfStreamer Race from Daytona Beach, Florida to Charleston, South Carolina takes place during Memorial Day Weekend on even-numbered years. May 23, 2014, will be the 9th running of the Race. The first 10 miles of the Race is another challenge as the racers sprint to the Main Street Pier in Daytona Beach in the “Brian Every Sprint” race. Not only is this a ‘Race within a Race” before boats set a course to Charleston Harbor, 215 miles away, but it also gives spectators their best view of the Race. A separate trophy will be awarded in Charleston for this unique tradition. The goal of the GulfStreamer is to increase awareness of sailing and area attractions and to provide an opportunity to organize a multi-state race offshore for several different classes of boats. For information contact Dave Huff, 2014 Fleet Captain for Sail and GulfStreamer Race Officer, gulfstreamer@hryc.com, or 904-806-2389.
Ethanol in Gasoline Why, you ask, are we talking gasoline? Sailboats have diesel engines don’t they? While it is true that most later model keel boats are equipped with diesel powered auxiliary engines, there are many trailer able boats, keel boats powered older model outboards and good old Atomic 4 gasoline engine equipped sailboats out on the water. The following is for those of you who have may fall into one of those categories of sailboat skippers. Ethanol for fuel is highly refined grain alcohol that is mostly produced from corn in the United States. It can also be made from sugarcane, wheat, and as the technology advances, municipal waste, straw, paper and wood pulp. Ethanol that is used for fuel has been blended with gasoline and currently in the U.S. is referred to as E-10. This simply means that the fuel is 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. This is what you put in your car’s tank every time you fill up. In many states E-10 is the only gasoline fuel available for both on and off road use. In Florida, non-ethanol fuel is still available. Many marinas and some gasoline stations in our area offer nonethanol fuel. To avoid some of the problems discussed later in this article, use of non-ethanol fuel in your boat is the way to go. However, for some sailors, it may be more convenient to just pull through the gas station if your boat is on a trailer or to haul your fuel cans to the station for transporting gasoline back to you boat. Is that ethanol blended gasoline safe to use in a marine environment? The major characteristic of ethanol that is of the most concern to boaters is that it is “hygroscopic” which means that it attracts water and will more readily mix with water than gasoline. Ethanol also has different solvency characteristics than gasoline which will allow it to loosen previously undisturbed matter in fuel systems such as rust and other debris. In addition, ethanol has proven to be harmful to some resins and plastics that were unaffected by gasoline. Loose debris in your fuel can plug filters and affect your engine’s performance. Finally, when mixed with water, ethanol has shown to be corrosive to some metals as it has a higher capability to conduct electricity and therefore galvanic corrosion. What brought about the use of ethanol? The issue is the demise of methyl-tertiarybutyl-ether or MTBE. MTBE is an oxygenated hydrocarbon compound that has a high octane rating. Due to EPA regulations requiring oxygenated gasoline to help reduce air pollution in the early 1970’s, MTBE was the compound most commonly used by refineries to supply the additional oxygen. Over time MTBE showed a tendency to work its way into groundwater systems, The good old reliable Universal Atomic 4 reservoirs and aquifers, usually gasoline engine can still be found in as the result of leaks and spills. many boats sailing today. Obviously contaminating our water supply is bad so the EPA now requires that ethanol be used as a replacement for MTBE.
Phase Separation occurs in ethanol blended gasoline when the ethanol becomes saturated with water and separates from the gasoline. It then settles on the bottom of the tank. The photo shows a sample taken from a tank where phase separation has occurred. The ethanol and water are on the bottom and the gas is on top.
As far as ethanol’s direct impact on your boat’s engine and fuel system, boaters should be aware of the following issues. Ethanol has a lower (nearly 30%) BTU rating than gasoline which means that E-10 fuel will yield a slight reduction in mileage and horsepower. Skippers should check with their boat engine’s manufacturer to determine what impact the use of ethanol could have on their engine’s performance. Ethanol has proven to be damaging to fuel lines, seals, hoses and gaskets that are not ethanol acceptable. At the very least, check these components often for any signs of deterioration and replace damaged parts with ethanol impervious ones. Ethanol can also be harmful to older fiberglass fuel tanks. Resins may be drawn out of the fiberglass and carried to the engine causing serious damage. If your fiberglass tank was manufactured prior to 1990 you should replace it before using ethanol blended fuel. The final and probably most common problem resulting from ethanol’s use in the marine environment is “phase separation.” If water is present in a fuel tank with gasoline that contains ethanol, the water will be absorbed into the fuel until the saturation point is reached and then phase separation will cause the ethanol and water to separate from the gasoline and settle on the bottom of the tank. If it reaches the fuel inlet it will be pumped into the engine where it can cause significant damage. It is extremely important to check your tank for the presence of water before adding gasoline containing ethanol. If water is present it must be removed. There are no additives that you can put into a tank where phase separation has occurred that will fix the problem. The only solution is to remove the contaminated fuel, clean the tank and then start anew with a fresh load of clean and dry fuel. It is always best to maintain as full of a tank of fuel as possible, this will cut down on the empty space inside your tank thus reducing condensation on the internal walls and baffles of the tank. When preparing to store the boat for an extended period it is best to remove all of the fuel from the tank. If that is not possible or practical then maintaining a full tank with a good quality fuel stabilizer is the way to go. Add the stabilizer according to the directions and then allow the engine to run for at least 10 minutes to make sure it has worked its way through the entire fuel system. Shut off the fuel valve and let the engine run until it stops. Make sure to top off the tank and cap any openings to stop the flow of air that can create condensation. Finally, inspect the oring on each deck fuel fill and replace if it shows signs of excessive wear, cracks or deterioration. The bottom line is that ethanol blended fuel can be safely used in the marine environment if you are a little more conscientious regarding your boat’s fuel supply.
Even though this looks like a sure T-Bone between Jim Henry’s J-Mouse (3912) and Paul Anstey’s J-Peas (451), it never happened due to some fine boathandling and work from both skippers and their crews. This is just a taste of the great sailing and frequent mayhem that happened at the MYC Big Boat Regatta on April 26 in Melbourne.
Willie Blevins is a Central Florida based sailor who has sailed and taught sailing for a long time on a wide variety of boats. He has a knack for translating what most of us feel when sailing to words on paper. Currently he races his San Juan 21 with the LMSA on Lake Monroe. You can read more of his musings on his blog at http://sailorsboatyard.com.