NAUTICAL NEWS FOR NORTH & CENTRAL FLORIDA SAILORS
MC SCOWS START ON LAKE EUSTIS AND ON WAYPOINT’S FIRST COVER!
A Game On! News Publication
Welcome to the inaugural issue of WAYPOINT and thanks for picking up a copy. Sailing is fun. Sailing in Florida is a lot of fun. That is why we started WAYPOINT, an exciting new free tabloid newspaper, published monthly in print and online, throughout the year. We will be spotlighting what is going on in the world of sailing here in North & Central Florida. From Jacksonville south to Stuart over to Orlando and everywhere in between, we plan to feature the people, clubs, regattas, special events, local destinations, hangouts and unique characters that make this area such a great place to go sailing. We are the only publication dedicated solely to North and Central Florida sailing. Our main goal is to promote sailing in the area. We feel that one of the best ways to do that is to help publicize what is going on at the club level. Admittedly we will be race heavy in our coverage. We plan to highlight many of the local regattas, some large and well attended and others, newer and trying to grow their numbers. We know that participation in racing sailing has dwindled and we want to do our part to help turn that around. That is already happening at the club level as our story on the First Coast Sailing Association’s expansion details on page 3.
Nautical NEWS For North & Central florida sailors 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
While WAYPOINT will spend a lot of time reporting on regattas, you will also find plenty of cruising news in our pages. A “Featured Destination” column will appear in future issues and we are already working on the sights and sounds available to cruising sailors visiting WAYPOINT’s home port of Daytona Beach as well as St. Augustine, Palatka and some other cool spots for cruisers Of course all sailors need to look to the future and help perpetuate the growth of our sport. While putting together this inaugural issue we have happily learned that there are a number of very active youth and junior sailing clubs all around the area. It seems that there is something going on every weekend throughout the year for younger sailors to take part in. From beginners in Opti’s to highschool’ers competing in 420’s and FJ’s, we plan plenty of coverage. For those looking for a place to get kids out on the water, be sure to pick up a copy of the May issue of WAYPOINT and our Junior Sailing Directory. From time to time we all meet interesting folks out on the water. Most sailors have a tale and, surprisingly, some of them are true. When we hear of someone who’s story is worth telling we will do that. This month, David and Linda
Regatta Results can be emailed to racing@waypointnews.com. Information must be received by 5 PM the on the 25th of every month. 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 1
Girardin of the Palatks Yacht Club intoduced me to Gene O’Conner, a founder and participant in the very first Mug Race 61 years ago. We printed Gene’s recollections as part of our Mug Race preview. Be sure to take a look. Occasionally you will also find some information on these pages aimed at helping to make your time on the water more enjoyable. We will feature regular columns on maintenance tips, racing rules & tactics, new gear reviews and safety while afloat to let you in on some of what we have planned. Finally, as you may notice as you peruse these pages, if you haven’t already, we are not professional journalists here at WAYPOINT. We are sailors who have a passion for being out on the water. Again that is why we are doing this. It is fun to go sailing and it is fun to report on sailing. We will work on getting better at the later so, until we do, WAYPOINT will be a work in progress. Please feel free to contact us with any suggestions, ideas for improvement and recommendations. We want to be the “go to” source for what is happening in the world of sailing in North and Central Florida. We welcome your help! See you out there! - Bob
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First Coast Offshore Challenge Coverage Lipton Cup Wrap-Up Junior Sailing Program Directory AND A WHOLE LOT MORE….PUT DOWN THIS RAG & GO SAILING!
74 MC Scows representing 11 different states and Canada showed up for their Mid-Winter Championship hosted by the Lake Eustis Sailing Club in March. Full story on page 11.
First Coast Sailing Association Welcomes Two New Member Clubs
Smyrna Yacht Club Plans Summer Solstice Regatta Provided by Mary Jane Kolassa, SYC
The Smyrna Yacht Club (SYC), will be hosting their annual SUMMER SOLSTICE Formed in 1978 to provide a REGATTA on the longest common PHRF rating system and day of the year, June 21, to coordinate events and avoid 2014. Competitors from scheduling conflicts for across the region are invited Jacksonville area clubs, the First to join in the competitive fun Coast Sailing Association and book dock space at SYC (FCSA) is a volunteer group for the weekend to join the originally made up of board Friday night skippers members from six different yacht meeting and party before the and sailing clubs. The FCSA main on-water event expanded to eight member clubs Saturday. by inviting two southern There will be as many neighbors, the Halifax River buoy races in the ocean as is Yacht Club, located in Daytona possible on Saturday June Beach, and the Smyrna Yacht 21, followed by the Club, located in New Smyrna opportunity to relax and Beach, into the fold for 2014 and First Coast Sailing Association swap stories at the club’s Tiki overlooking the Indian River. The awards beyond. President Tom Davis presents a racing ceremony will also take place on Saturday evening. Trophies will be “We get boats from both rules seminar for members of HRYC awarded to the first three places in each division. southern clubs participating in our and SYC on January 25th at HRYC . The regatta is open to all sailboats of suitable seaworthiness to regattas and sailors from our clubs participate in near-shore racing in the Atlantic Ocean just south of Ponce race in their regattas sometimes, so we thought it would make sense to invite de Leon Inlet. them to join us,” said FCSA President Tom Davis. “It also helps to work Boats will be entered into three Divisions. with them so that we don’t plan big regattas on the same dates and lose Division 1 - Boats with spinnakers participation due to those issues. Hopefully this will help to increase Division 2 - Boats without spinnakers numbers for everyone’s races,” he added. Division 3 - Cruising boats To help kick things off and introduce members from the HRYC and SYC Racing will be handicapped according the PHRF system. All PHRFs to the FCSA, Dave Huff, HRYC Fleet Captain for Sailing, invited Davis to for the regatta will be assigned by the First Coast Sailing Association. If Daytona Beach for a Racing Rules Seminar on January 25th. “The whole you previously entered the Lipton Cup or HRYC Commodores Cup then idea is mutual cooperation and to increase participation,” said Huff. Davis, you will already have a rating. who has been racing his Cal 9.2, Ghost, successfully in the area for many Prime shore-side spectator viewing area will be from Toni & Joe’s years, is well versed in the rules and delivered a top notch presentation to a Patio, 309 Buenos Aires Street, NSB, a proud sponsor of both the Lipton group of more than 30 seasoned sailors. Davis focused primarily on Part 2 Cup and Solstice Regattas.Sailors who would like more information, of the RRS, “When Boats Meet.” Of course, one of the most discussed contest rules, advance registration entry forms, please visit topics of the day was boat ratings. smyrnayachtclub.com. FCSA current member clubs include; Florida Yacht Club, Epping Forest Yacht Club, Navy Jax Yacht Club, The Rudder Club of Jacksonville, The North Florida Cruising Club, St. Augustine Yacht Club, Halifax River Yacht NAUTICAL TERM: Motor Sailer - A Club and the Smyrna Yacht Club. More information about the FCSA’s mission and member clubs can be found on their website www.sailjax.com. sailboat that alternates between sail &
rigging problems and engine problems.
Attendees pay close attention to the racing rules seminar at HRYC .
“Small fleet and windy conditions,” said skipper Tom Davis explaining how he and the crew of his Cal 9.2, Ghost, adjusted to the changing weather to sail to a first place finish in the four boat spinnaker class. Perseverance Tops Fleet at FPYC Spring “Whisper blew their headsail in the last race and we got them by 23 seconds in the first race,” he added. Regatta Provided by Diane Korbey, FPYC Adam Norwood and crew aboard the J27 Rattle & Hum sailed The Fort Pierce Yacht Club held its fifth annual interclub sailing superbly on Saturday and posted three bullets to finish the day in first regatta on March 1-2. 15-20 knot winds and minimum sea states created 2 place however they opted not to go out for the final two races on Sunday. days of near perfect conditions for the offshore regatta. Three races were held: a 17.9 mile race with a progressive start out to St Lucie Shoal off the power plant and back to the Fort Pierce Inlet; a 1.3 mile sprint; and a 6.4 mile leeward windward race. Seven boats from 30’ to 40’ boats competed in the cruising boat class. The overall winner of the three race series was Perseverance, a Cal 9.2 owned by Joe and Debbie Krivan. The Fort Pierce Yacht Club is the host and sponsor of monthly community offshore sailboat races held in vicinity of the Fort Pierce Inlet and Capron Shoal. The club also hosts two women at the helm races, one in May and one in September, as races through the year. Contact Race Captain Peter Bennett for more details at 772-465-6937. All local sailors are welcome.
Rattle & Hum logged three bullets to lead after Saturday’s racing.
The J29 Scallywag, skippered by Rob Smith, had five first place finishes to win the non-spinnaker class while NFCC’s Kenneth Christensen won the cruising class aboard Onyva. All participating sailors were treated to a St. Patrick’s feast of corned beef and cabbage provided by the Rudder Club for Saturday’s post-race party while a good time appeared to be had by all. The start of the FPYC Spring Regatta held March 1st & 2nd off Ft. Pierce.
Ghost Takes 1st at the River City Regatta The Rudder Club hosted the River City Regatta on March 15th and 16th on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. Saturday’s racing was conducted in light and variable winds but oh what a difference a day made as Mother Nature served up completely different conditions on Sunday with 20 knot winds, gusting to 30, ahead of a cold front that brought tornado warnings to the area on Monday.
Rob Smith & crew aboard the J29 Scallywag had good reason to celebrate..
Ghost battles over the top of Tom Bell’s Whisper at the River City Regatta.
River City Regatta Results Spinnaker Class 1. Ghost Tom Davis 2. Rattle & Hum Adam Norwood 3. Whisper Tom Bell 4. Caos Rich Brew Non-Spin 1. Scallywag Rob Smith 2. Geckgo Stephen Michael 3. Freak Show Madalin Keeble
Cruising Class 1. Onyva Ken Christensen 2. Murky Waves Vic Burpie 3. Bernoulli Allen Jones
Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation Starts Work On New Sailing Center Plenty of VIP’s were on hand Thursday, February 6, 2014 at Jaycee Park in Fort Pierce as the Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation began work converting a public picnic pavilion into the new Fort Pierce Sailing Center. Mayor Linda Hudson and City Commissioner for District 2, Tom Perona, were on hand representing the City of Fort Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson hammers in the first nail with TCYSF’s Charlie Hayek. Pierce as were a host of TCYSF board members and volunteers, Fort Pierce Yacht Club officers and many other local supporters of youth sailing. “We aspire to rival the Jensen Beach Sailing Center,” said TCYSF Master of Ceremonies, Charlie Hayek, before handing the ceremonial hammer to Mayor Hudson to begin work converting the pavilion donated by the city into the new sailing center. Founded in 2007, the TCYSF is co-sponsored by the City of Fort Pierce and the Fort Pierce Yacht Club. With its home located at a beautiful sailing venue on the banks of the Indian River at Jaycee Park, the organization has provided sailing instruction for more than 500 junior sailors in the seven year period.
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 14-18 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.
TCYSF students sail Opti’s off the beach at the Fort Pierce Sailing Center.
Beginner Class Intermediate Class June 9 – 13 Jul 13 - 18 June 16 – 20 Aug 4 – 8 June 23 – 27 July 7 – 11 *class schedules July 21 – 25 subject to change July 28 – Aug 1 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.
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 3720 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
For many North & Central Florida sailors May means The Mug Race Ask local north Florida sailors what they want to do in May and there is no question, it is the Mug Race. Over 200 boats are expected to cross the start line for this year’s classic. Hosted by the Rudder Club of Jacksonville with help from the Palatka Yacht Club, the two historic northern Florida sailing clubs are teaming up to run the race for 61st time on May 3rd, 2014. The regatta itself starts just north of the Memorial Bridge in Palatka and winds along the St. John’s River for 38.5 miles before finishing just south of the Buckman Bridge in Jacksonville. As a matter of fact, the race bears the distinction of being the worlds longest river race. The race uses a “Pursuit Start” where each boat has a start time based on their rating meaning that slower boats start first, with the faster boats starting afterwards. The goal is to set up an exciting finish with nearly all boats finishing together. Both hosting clubs go all out to make sure that participants have a good time. At the starting end, the Palatka Yacht Club sets up shop at the city’s Riverfront Amphitheater Park. Free dock space is available as well as an array of events including a massive send-off party of which the parachuting Flying Elvis’ are one of the many highlights. At the finishing end, the Mug Race Party is planned for Saturday night after the race at the Rudder Club. The awards party will occur Sunday morning. The Rudder Club presents trophies for over 80 different classes including first all female crew to finish, first dinghy monohull to finish, and even one for the last boat to finish. The Rudder Club’s plans a “Registration Party” on April 19th where competitors have a one stop shop with assistance and a discounted registration fee to get properly signed up for the race. For those wishing to crew or looking for crew the club has set up a “Crew Finder” bulletin board available on their website. To find out more information, get registered, find dock space and hotel info visit www.rudderclub.com/mug.html.
Memories of Early Mug Races By Gene O’Connor Editor’s Note: I was fortunate to have been invited to Palatka by long time Palatka Yacht Club member and Mug Race volunteer for over 20 years, David Girardin, to get a first hand look at the starting end of the regatta. David and his wife Linda gave me a thorough tour of the town, the race venue and facilities and answered all of my questions regarding what PYC had planned for the race. As we were wrapping up the visit, the Girardins suggested that we meet with one of the race founders and participant in the very first Mug Race, Gene O’Connor. David gave Gene a call and he agreed to talk with us. What I discovered was a guy with a passion for sailing and boats and a remarkable knowledge of not only the Mug Race, but of southern sailing in general. Gene had put some of his memories to paper for last year’s 60th anniversary of the race. It is better than what I wrote so I decided to print it instead. I think you will enjoy it too. - Bob
The actual results of early races are well documented in many places, but most of the stories of the actual sailing are long-gone, for example, “Why is there a mug race?” The answer is not in the statistics. Early in the 1950's, four of us here in Palatka had cabin-type sail boats: Colin
Mackenzie, Sam Simmons, Fount Rion, and myself. In May of each year, several of us, sometimes all of us, sailed our boats to Jacksonville to compete in the annual regatta sponsored by the Florida Yacht Club. After the regatta was over, we were faced with the necessity of sailing home, a full day’s trip. Someone said “Why don't we have some fun and make it a race back to Palatka? The first one in gets a mug of beer.” The Palatka boats were anchored off the Rudder Club, so we invited Jacksonville-area sailors to make the slow sail south with us, slow because in the spring, the mornings were calm and the afternoon sea breeze was on our bow. All the crazy rules were put in to allow us to even make it south to Palatka. As history shows, Albert Holt was first to finish in his racing scowtype boat. I was first cruiser across the line, in “Lively Lady,” a 29-ft sloop that I had bought in Miami the day I was discharged from the Coast Guard. I may have won another cruiser class in a subsequent Mug Race, but by then Capt. George Lockwood, of Charleston, started racing for the Mug. Capt. George’s “Lone Star” was a 50-ft “Q” class racing machine built to the same rules as the “J” class that competed for the America’s Cup, but a bit smaller. Capt. George was a salty, weather beaten, retired tugboat captain who sailed “Lone Star” down the intracoastal waterway with only his bull dog for crew. I once asked him why he didn’t go offshore where the sailing was much easier. His reply was a short “no good restaurants to stop at out there.” There was no more winning the race with “Loan Star” sailing. After several years of sailing north to south, it suddenly dawned on someone that we could do the Mug Race the other direction and have a more favorable wind in the afternoon. This holds true today, all these years later.
David Girardin, left, has been organizing PYC’s involvement in the Mug Race for over 20 years. Gene O’Connor, right, was a race founder and sailed in the race many times including the inaugural regatta 61 years ago.
I have never liked to race if I can see another sail ahead of me, first place is the only place to be. So, I crewed on Capt. George’s “Lone Star” in one of these early races, but have no memory of the actual results. By then, I was doing well in other races in the “Suicide” Class, a long, narrow 22-ft boat with only 125 ft of sail area. Ed Burroughs of Jacksonville, a good friend and competitor in the Suicide Class, and I got together with an idea on how to win the Mug in a Suicide boat. With the wide open rules of the Mug Race, we “super rigged” the boat, putting up a several hundred square-foot jib from Ed’s cruising ketch (it went from the bow to the top of mast) and trimming it to a block on the transom. The race that year started with the usual light wind that promptly went flat. As the new rules allowed, one person at a time could paddle. With the long, light boat, we paddled the fleet out of sight astern of north of the old bridge (before the current Shands Bridge), the breeze started increasing and that huge jib (See “Mug Race” Page 14)
Georgia Crews Dominate Catalina 22 MidWinter Championships Lake Lanier’s Chambers and Collins duke it out in Cocoa Beach The Catalina 22 Mid-Winter Championships were masterfully hosted by the Indian River Yacht Club and contested off of downtown Cocoa Beach on February 22nd & 23rd. Thirteen boats showed up for the five race series. Two crews visiting from Georgia schooled the locals in what started out as a painfully light air event on Saturday only to finish in a brisk breeze Sunday afternoon. The fleet only managed one race on Saturday as a light air start made for a slow race that finished in a driving rain shower. Former National Champ, Justin Chambers and the crew of Bucee Got Wood, sailing out of the Lake Chiken Ship leads the fleet around the windward mark Lanier (Georgia) during racing action at the Catalina 22 Mid-Winters. Sailing Club took the gun while Brad Ruffe, representing the IRYC, skippered Mercury Rising to a second place finish. Fellow Lake Lanier sailor, Reid Collins, sailed the bright yellow hulled “Chiken Ship” into third place. As the fleet loitered around the RC boat waiting for the second race of the day, storm clouds were moving in from the west. The Race Committee, monitoring the radar and NOAA forecasts calling for 50 knot winds, prudently decided to call off racing for the day. The last of the boats were safely being loaded onto their trailers at Lee Wenner Park as a violent storm swept across the race area. Sunday started much the same way as Saturday with the first race going off in light air and remaining a drifter until the gun. Collins & crew got the bullet in this race followed by Bucee Got Wood and Mercury Rising. After the first two contest of the regatta it was starting to look like a three horse race as Bucee Got Wood had accumulated a 3 point total, Chiken Ship had 4 and Mercury Rising’s point total was 5. Randy Pawlowski had skippered Gold Rush to two 4th place finishes and was still lurking within striking distance with an 8 point total. Around lunch time, as the boats Justin Chambers (left) and the crew of Bucee Got Wood languished in sunny skies and no wind, it was beginning to look like that might be it for the racing. At approximately 1:00 PM, however, a slight breeze filled in from the west and freshened to 7 knots just before the start of the third race. Chambers and crew were starting to find their groove and sailed Bucee Got Wood to another 1st. Chiken Ship had trouble from the start and finished in 5th place while Mercury Rising fared even worse with a 7th place finish. Pawlowski sailed a nice race as Gold Rush crossed the line in 2nd while
Peter Bush and the crew aboard Godspeed turned in their best race of the regatta with a solid 3rd place finish. Collins and company aboard Chiken Ship were not giving up and sailed beautifully in the final two races of the day to finish first in both. It was too little too late however as Bucee Got Wood, who finished a close 2nd in both races, managed to hang onto their lead and finish 1st overall with just an 8 point total. Pawlowski and his crew aboard Gold Rush went into the last race of the day tied for 3rd place with Mercury Rising. Gold Rush took a 3rd in the final race giving them a final total of 19 finishing with a 3 point lead over Mercury Rising who crossed the line in 6th. Special shout-outs go to Bryan Retterbosh and the crew of Justabuk who traveled all of the way down from Ohio to attend the regatta and to Carl Jones who skippered Discovery to a first place finish in the Silver Division. The IRYC had the grills hot and the beer cold as Race Chairman Mike Nulf handed out the awards at the post race party. Nulf thanked all of the volunteers and competitors for attending what turned out to be a spectacular regatta. The Catalina 22 is one of the most affordable boats to gain entry into oneSilver Fleet winner Carl Jones & crew. design sailing. The Catalina 22 National Sailing Association has five active fleets competing in Florida, for more information visit www.catalina22.org. To learn more about the Indian River Yacht Club visit www.iryc.org. Gold Fleet Results 1. Bucee Got Wood, Justin Chambers, 8 points 2. Chiken Ship, Reid Collins, 11 3. Gold Rush, Randy Pawlowski, 19 4. Mercury Rising, Brad Ruffe, 22 5. Imp, Frank Brown, 29 6. Godspeed, Peter Bush, 30 7. Boat, Al Pivonka, 31 8. Sold Out, Jerry Butz, 42 9. Justabuk, Byran Retterbosh, 45 10. Double Bubble, Doug Reed 45 11. Spirit of 76, Lorrie Simpkins, 57 12. V Tach, Glen Warner, 59
Bucee Got Wood (221) wins the start during the 4th race on their way to an overall first place finish at the Catalina 22 Mid-Winter Championship.
26th Annual TransMonroe Regatta Everly hangs on to top 26 boat fleet Under near perfect conditions on March 1st, 26 boats from around Central Florida raced in the Lake Monroe Sailing Association’s 26th Annual Trans-Monroe Regatta. Kyle Everly sailing his San Juan 21, Dat Dang Boat, with daughter Wynn and crew member Jeremy Summers took first place and possession of the perpetual Bill McVeigh trophy for The S2 7.9 “Dawn Patrol, skippered by Bill Blalock with Susan Tolbert 2014. Everly, with a corrected time Skipper Kyle Everly and daughter/crew, Wynn, display the Bill McVeigh trophy crewing, bears down on the windward mark at the Trans Monroe Regatta. of 2:05:24 beat second place finisher, awarded to the Trans-Monroe winner. Shadow, skippered by Duncan MacKenzie, by a slim 45 second margin over the 12.5 mile course. Randy 26th Annual Trans Monroe Regatta Pawlowski sailed his Catalina 22, Gold Rush into 3rd place just 17 seconds Lake Monroe Sailing Association behind Mackensie. Jim Edens, aboard For Play, won the Multi-hulled class Overall Results and took the gun with the fastest elapsed time of 1:27:19. Other notable finishes included Ross Martin, who skippered his San Juan Division Boat Helm Name Class Sail # USPN TM Total Dat Dang Boat Kyle Everly SJ-21 1989 94.7 1 1 21, Pivot, into 12th place in just his very first race and Matthew Goulay and Shadow Duncan MacKenzie RDR16 77 91.4 2 2 the crew of Respite who received the “Pickle” award for being the last boat to Gold Rush Randy Pawolinski CAT22 439 96.3 3 3 cross the finish line. In addition to having a race to run, LMSA Commodore Mercury Rising Brad Ruffe CAT22 5637 96.3 4 4 No Not Yet Terry Warren BCN 5208 86.9 5 5 Bill Holstein sailed his San Juan 21, Blackjack, to a respectable 9th place Point Blank Ed Sims HTR23 130 96.2 6 6 finish. Water Ride Al Graham FSCT 3056 89.6 7 7 The race was sailed under sunny skies and a fresh 5-7 knot breeze after a Monkey Butt Byron Hicks F5 1172 95.4 8 8 Bill Holstein SJ-21 2430 94.7 9 9 foggy and “no air” start to the day. With a “no guts, no glory” maneuver at the Black Jack Bill Aja Steve Siegfried CAP22 29 90.8 10 10 starting signal, Everly “port tacked” the entire fleet who were on a starboard For Play Jim Edens N6.0NA 487 62.6 11 11 tack, to win the start and position himself at the front on the pack. “We fell Pivot Ross Martin SJ-21 10 94.7 12 12 behind a couple of times after that but knew it was a long race so we just Andiamo John North PRS23 381 96 13 13 Dawn Patrol Blalock & Tolbert S2-7.9 279 81 14 14 sailed hard and did not give up,” said the beaming skipper post-race. Final One II Jim Davis SJ-21 2396 94.7 15 15 LMSA’s Jeff Herter anchored the race committee who did a superb job Dream Chaser DJ McCabe CAP22 2 90.8 16 16 conducting the race. Herter also served as MC for the awards ceremony/party Lia Yarda Soll CAT22 4438 96.3 17 17 which was top notch. Many more unnamed LMSA volunteers contributed to a Lough Buoy Mike Loughlin MCG21 4028 100 18 18 John Chamberlin N5.8NA NACRA 66.5 19 19 successful regatta and what WAYPOINT rates as one of the best so far in 2014. NACRA Richard Mcfayden PSN26 9999 91.2 20 20 The LMSA runs a wide array of sailing programs throughout the year. For Castaway Free Spirit Don Hoofring CAT27 4996 87.4 21 21 more information visit www.flalmsa.org. Eddie Kevin Barraclough RDR16 15 91.4 22 22 Respite Miss P Show Me Sunset
Kyle Everly’s San Juan 21, Dat Dang Boat, takes 1st place at the 26th Annual Trans-Monroe Regatta hosted March 1st by the LMSA in Sanford.
Matthew Goulay Michael Padgett Andy Forrest Gary Smith
CAT22 SRS21 PRS23 CAT22
13492 SR 176 96 13713
96.3 96.7 27.0 96.3
23 23 27 27 DSQ 27 27 27
The fleet heads toward the leeward mark at the LMSA Trans-Monroe.
2014 First Coast Offshore Challenge April 2-5 Sponsored by the North Florida Cruising Club and the St. Augustine Yacht Club The 10th Anniversary of the First Coast Offshore Challenge promises to be a memorable three days of racing early this month. Waypoint will be on hand and will provide a full report in our next issue. Below is a brief synopsis of the racing taken from the FCOC Notice of Race (NOR). For more information and to register visit www.fcoc2014.com or call (904) 396-6382. The First Coast Offshore Challenge (FCOC) is a series of three races representing over 100 miles of offshore sailing with the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida as the start and stop point for each race. Getting from your marina to the start line is about 30 minutes. Race 1 begins Wednesday morning off the beaches of St. Augustine for a day of long-leg buoy triangles, followed by an awards event that evening on the Conch House Marina party dock. Race 2 will be Thursday starting at the St. Augustine entrance buoy, heading out to sea to a fixed line of longitude and returning, followed by an awards party brunch Friday morning at the St. Augustine Yacht Club. Early evening Friday Race 3 begins with a pursuit start, then an overnight navigational challenge to the St. Johns River entrance buoy and returning to the St. Augustine entrance buoy. The final awards ceremony and party will be held Saturday evening at the St. Augustine Yacht Club. Each awards party will include meals and musical entertainment. A “Long Boat” class may be created for five or more yachts with PHRF ratings of 60 or less, with appropriate longer courses established for the class. A Skippers’ Meeting is scheduled for 1900 April 1st at the St. Augustine Yacht Club.
Mark Baker Captures First Place Overall At The Halifax Sailing Association’s ThunderMug Regatta Mark Baker sailing with son Tyler Baker as crew, skippered his Nacra 5.5 to a first place finish overall Saturday, March 22 at the HSA ThunderMug Regatta in Daytona Beach. Nineteen boats skippered and crewed by juniors and adults alike participated in the regatta. The race began under clear skies and a steady 8-9 knot breeze. Three classes started with multihulls going off first, followed by dinghies and then keel boats. The HSA Race Committee originally planned for a three loop race around the nearly 5 mile course however diminishing winds forced the race to be shortened to just two times around . Joel Hurley sailed his Laser to 1st place in the dinghy class over 2nd place finisher Craig Oulten, who did a superb job sailing a Sunfish in the 10 boat class. The dinghy class provided the most exciting finish of the day as Arden Haley and Morgan McCutcheon, sailing a 420, crossed the line just 4 second ahead of Joe Geller and Trey Shows, also sailing a 420, for 5th place. In the keel boat class, Greg Popp with Lynda Mosher and Brandon Nathe as crew, sailed their Holder 20 to 1st place over John Kitchener’s San Juan 21 beating Kitchener and crew member Joan McKay by just 2:39. Kevin Gibbons and Thanos Nicolacoupolos finished in 3rd aboard the Hunter 22, Orion. The Halifax Sailing Association offers a wide range of sailing activities for beginners and experienced sailors alike. Boats and lessons are available for club members. For more information visit www.halifaxsailing.org.
Starting line action from last year’s First Coast Offshore Challenge.
ThunderMug Regatta Results Multihull Class Keel Boat Class 1. Mark Baker Nacra 5.5 1. Greg Popp Holder 20 2. Dave Dunn Formula 18 2. John Kitchener San Juan 21 3. Steve Caron Hobie 16 3. Kevin Gibbons Hunter 22 Dinghy Class 1. Joel Hurley Laser MORE THUNDERMUG PHOTOS AT: 2. Craig Oulton Sunfish WWW.WAYPOINTNEWS.COM 3. Josh MySicka JY15
Mark Baker and crew Tyler Baker check sail trim on their way to a 1st place finish at the HSA ThunderMug Regatta March 22.
Central Florida’s Racing Mecca Annapolis, Newport, San Diego, Key West, Perth, Sydney and others claim to be world renowned sailboat racing destinations but they ain’t got nothing on Eustis, Florida. Okay, we are exaggerating a little bit but the little town just north of Orlando is home to one of the most active racing communities in the south. The Lake Eustis Sailing Club (LESC), resting on the idyllic shores of the 7000 acre spring fed lake that bears it’s name, is home to numerous small boat fleets including MC Scow Fleet #4, the southernmost MC Scow fleet in the U.S. You will also find sailors racing in active fleets of Wayfarers, Lasers and Flying Scots among others. As a matter of fact, LESC’s website states that their goal is to be the preeminent one design sailboat racing organization in Central Florida. In addition to the aforementioned classic one-designs, there is a large contingent of multi-hull racers sailing everything from A-Cats and Hobie 16’s to Nacra 20’s. There are also active “learn to sail programs” for adults and juniors alike. Speaking of juniors, LESC has set up the separate “Lake Eustis Youth Sailing Foundation” (LEYSF), which conducts an active youth sail training and youth racing program. High school sailor, club member, and LEYSF President, Darcy Jensen, is in the process of organizing a team of high school 420 sailors to compete in the Orlando area’s prep program. The history of the club dates back to 1953 when it was founded as the Eustis Marine Club. The name has changed at least twice over the years. First in 1970 when it became the Lake Eustis Boating Club and then once again in 1982 when it settled on the name it still uses, the Lake Eustis Sailing Club. Originally the club operated out of a clubhouse on property owned by local sailboat builder, Captain Dick Hartge. In the early 1990’s new owners of the property terminated the club’s lease leaving them without a clubhouse. From that time until 1996 the club’s facilities were limited to a “T” dock and a port-o-potty. The sparse facilities nearly caused the demise of LESC as membership dwindled from numbers in the high 30’s to just 14 in 1993. The MC Scow Mid-Winter Championship Regatta, which the club began hosting in 1991 with 54 entries, had dropped to just 28 boats racing in 1995.
The Lake Eustis Sailing Club.
In 1999 Flying Scot Fleet #150 relocated to LESC from Orlando and the Wayfarer Fleet was established. The current 1500sf clubhouse was built in 2003 and includes a boat ramp, boat storage area, RV parking for up to eight vehicles, a tent camping area and a picnic area. Today LESC boasts of a growing membership listed at just over 130 members sailing in a myriad of programs. Most members reside in the Orlando area but some travel from Tampa, Jacksonville, Cocoa and and even out of state to sail in programs that run from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Member Geoff Moehl who served as PRO for two of the club’s recent and more popular regattas, the Train Wreck Regatta and MC Scow MidWinter Championships, explained that “members are always welcoming and helpful and there is always something going on for beginning sailors to those with many years of experience.” For more information about the Lake Eustis Sailing Club and programs offered visit www.lescfl.com. (Information for this story was provided by LESC members and obtained from the clubs website at www.lescfl.com.)
Local Sailors Fare Well at the 2014 MCSA MidWinter Championship Hosted By LESC Changing wind conditions from 30 knot gusts to light and variable did not hamper local sailors efforts at the 2014 MC Scow Mid-Winter Championships hosted by the Lake Eustis Sailing Club March 13th - 15th at Lake Eustis. LESC member Ron Baerwitz topped the 74 boat fleet to finsh 1st overall while fellow LESC member, David Moring, was not far behind in 3rd place. (See “Locals” Page 13)
View of the LESC picnic area and pier.
The way the club bounced back and became the flourishing club that it is today can provide inspiration to many struggling sailing communities. Knowing that they needed better facilities to survive, in 1996 the club located the property where they are located today. With no funds available to make the purchase, club members purchased two used MC Scows for $750, refurbished them, and resold the boats for $7000 which was enough to make the property down payment. In spite of other minor obstacles such as opposition from neighbors and permitting issues, the club occupied the new property for the 1998/1999 sailing season.
Ron Baerwitz rounds the mark ahead of 73 other boats on Lake Eustis.
2014 Lipton Cup Sponsored by the Smyrna Yacht Club, the Lipton Cup has enjoyed steady gains in popularity since being reborn in 2004. 2014 SYC Director of Sailing, David Smith, expects 20 plus boats on the line for the two day regatta and the club is rolling out the welcome mat for participants and spectators alike. This year’s event takes place April 11-13. Tea magnate and America’s Cup sailor, Sir Thomas Lipton, began the tradition back in 1899 by donating a number of trophies to selected sailing clubs around the world with the intention to promote the sport of sailing. One of the beautiful cups rest in the trophy case at SYC. The Lipton Cup Regatta gives the winning sailboat owner the opportunity to have their name engraved for posterity on the historic trophy pictured on the right. After years of being kept in storage by the club, SYC’s John Jacobs revitalized the race in 2004 and has been the PRO for the past ten years. This year he handed the reins over to Smith who has not missed a beat. “The regatta has become a community event,” said Smith in describing how New Smyrna Beach officials, businesses and local merchants have rallied around the regatta. “The boats are racing just off of the beach which gives spectators at many of the local establishments a great view of the action,” he added. The racing venue is just south of Ponce Inlet off of the City of New Smyrna Beach. Sponsorship from local businesses has kept race entry fees low at $50-$75 per boat. SYC has scheduled an array of activities. There is a pre-race party Friday night, a pool party with entertainment on Saturday, a Sunday morning breakfast buffet and the awards presentation Sunday after the racing. As for the racing, boats will be entered into three Divisions; 1) Spinnaker Class, 2) Non-Spinnaker Class, & 3) Cruising Class. There will also be a “Team Challenge” where clubs with at least 3 boats entered can compete against each other for a perpetual Lipton Cup Team Trophy which will be engraved with the name of the winning club and held in their possession until the following year’s regatta. For more information and to enter visit www.smyrnayachtclub.com or call SYC at (386) 427-4040.
Smyrna Yacht Club presents: The Lipton Cup Regatta takes place the weekend of April 11-13. Join us for: sailing competition, parties, dinners, awards and prizes for competitors, their crew, club members and guests. The event consists of three races just off New Smyrna Beach’s Flagler Avenue beach entrance, two on Saturday and one on Sunday. The regatta is open to all sailboats of suitable seaworthiness to participate in near shore racing in the Atlantic Ocean. Spectators can watch at several establishments hosting Lipton Cup viewing parties. Organizations or sailing clubs can join in team competition by signing up at least three boats. A perpetual trophy goes home with winning club for one year and they hold the title of “2014 Lipton Cup Champion". For more information go to www.smyrnayachtclub.com and follow the menu to Regatta and Lipton Cup. Sign up to share in a great tradition. You may also contact David Smith, Director of Sailing at arkell@cfl.rr.com for information.
STAY CLOSER, GO FURTHER.
decent breeze that started from the southwest and kept shifting west. Day two also provided a connect the dots drifter which required taking chances and a little luck to finish at the top end of the fleet. Locals (Continued from Page 11) All is well that ends well however and LESC did a great job hosting the regatta providing sailors with good food, parties and a array of other Chilly temps and the changing wind conditions certainly made for activities. The club’s camping area was filled with tents and RV’s with three days of interesting and challenging racing, not only for the sailors but also for race officers. In spite of honking breezes diminishing to faint sailors who traveled from Wisconsin, New York, Texas and even some zephyrs and huge shifts making setting start lines and courses difficult, the from as far away as Canada settling in. Prior to the start of the Mid-Winters there were two other events held fleet managed to complete four races. The best race came on day two in a earlier in the week. The North/Melges Zenda University with instructors from both companies guiding students through an intense two day course combining classroom instruction with “hands-on” on the water training. A Team Racing Midwinter Championship was also conducted. For more information on MC Scow racing with LESC contact Fleet Captain Dave Moring at dmoring@tmcentral.net. MC Scow Mid-Winter Championship Results Top Ten Finishers
Terry Mestan (2277), Brian Morgan (2549), Jeffrey Nicholas (2558) and Hunter Riddle (1853) battle for position rounding the windward mark during racing action at the MC Scow Mid-Winters on Lake Eustis.
Ron Baerwitz LESC, FL (also 1st Master) Rob Seidelmann – no club FOR MORE MC SCOW MIDDavid Moring – LESC , FL WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTOS & TRAIN WRECK Kenny Wolfe – Rush Creek, TX REGATTA PHOTOS VISIT: Jim Gluek – Pewaukee , WI WWW.WAYPOINTNEWS.COM Michael Considine- Chicago, IL Scott Tillema – Missouri Yacht Club Will Hendershot – Canada Ted Keller – Torch Lake, MI Al Haeger – Lake Beulah, WI (also 1st Grand Master) Tim Fredman – Pine Lake , WI (1st Mega Master) Amy Larkin – Lake Lanier, GA (1st Woman)
(from page 3)
ECSA Plans Cruise to Support Child Abuse Prevention The East Coast Sailing Association cruise on the 5th of April is in support of the Child Abuse Prevention Task Forces (CAPTF) kick off of Child Abuse Prevention month (April). CAPTF is a non-profit organization in Brevard that assists families in need within our county. Blue banners will be provided to each boat that arrives. See Joe or Karen Coleman to get your name in at the sign in table. All clubs are invited to attend. It will be held at Squid Lips (1477 Pineapple Avenue-Melbourne, Florida) and they donate 5% of food sales between 5pm and 8pm to the Task Force. We are hoping for a good turn out from all the clubs and some exposure and to make this year’s event the best with a record amount of boats! ECSA is also planning a get together with all sailing clubs for the Summer Sailstice. Information forthcoming. ECSA meets monthly on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Satellite Beach Civic Center. To learn more visit www.ecsasail.com.
The “small” boat weekend is April 12-13, at Ballard Park and the “big” boat weekend is April 26-27, sailing out of the Melbourne Yacht Club. The Notice of Race for both weekends can be found at sail-race.com or under the “Racing” tab at www.melbourneyachtclub.com. For additional information contact the MYC Fleet Captain, Craig Rastello at 321-4270339 or mycfleet@melbourneyachtclub.com.
OSC Lake Weir Invitational & Harpoon Nationals
The Ocala Sailing Club will be hosting the Lake Weir Invitational Regatta and the 10th Annual Harpoon Nationals April 24-27 on Lake Weir. An array of activities are planned including a pre-race party, a dish to pass dinner, dining out at Gator Joes and the awards party on Sunday. When you add two days of exciting racing on beautiful Lake Weir what HRYC Commodore’s Cup Update could be better? Spring winds have not shown up for either of the March 2 or March 23 For more information visit race days; both events were sailed in uncharacteristic light air but provided www.ocalasailingclub.org. Online registration is available at some great skill testing for the fleet. Race #1 was sailed in a diminishing www.regattaregistration.com. You can also contact Commodore Art north wind and swift current, while race #2 found a prevailing westerly Twitchell (352) 598-4468 or Vice Commodore Bob Cole (352) 867-8456 that was spotty over the course allowing for some huge "holes". Start and with any questions. finish lines were 2 miles out from Ponce Inlet R2 and a 6 mile triangular course was used. The winning margin in the Non-Spin class was only 10 Mug Race (Continued from page 7) seconds. made our mast look like a fishing rod with all the bend in it. Looking Results astern, we decided we had plenty of lead so we took in the jib. Boy, were Race 1: Cruising Class 1. YaYa, Nick Opreanu, HRYC we wrong, Jim Van Vost sailing a Flying Dutchman passed us about 200 2. Copperhead, Todd Stebleton, HRYC yards from the finish. So, still no Mug. 3. Sassy, Jeff Steblein, SYC In 1957, I borrowed a Raven, a 24-ft racing machine, and did win my Non-Spin 1. Perpetual Motion, Patrick Fisher-Carne, first and only Mug. And, if the records I have seen are correct, this is the HSA last time a “conventional” hull boat has won the Mug. After this race, I 2. Sailaway, Phil Cornett, SYC built a new, very light, strip-planked Suicide, but didn't want to subject it 3. Spongecake, Clyde Rodgers, HRYC to the necessary super rig it would take to win, so I didn’t race for years. Spinnaker 1. Obsession, Norm Church, HRYC For the 50th Mug Race, I borrowed a 24-ft boat from Camachee Cove, 2. Morning Dew, Chris Herbster, HSA St. Augustine. The little boat sailed great. We had the usual light, shifting Race 2: Cruising Class 1. YaYa winds; my crew, my son, David Girardin and Harry Gillean, changed sails, 2. Sassy changed trim, and worked every second of the race. We squeaked out a 3. Copperhead win in the non-spinnaker class, finishing only a few minutes before the Non-Spinnaker 1. Perpetual Motion evening deadline. 2. Sailaway In the years in between, I had motor boats and, on a couple of 3. Incommunicado, Dave Smith, SYC occasions, used my boat as the start boat or for safety patrol. I have had a Spinnaker 1. Morning Dew long history of Mug Race participation. Good luck racers. 2.Obsession
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: April 6 May 25 May 4 (Woman at the Helm Race) June 29 Contact Diane Korbey, VC Fleet, for information at 772-460-6138.
MYC Plans Spring Regatta The annual Melbourne Yacht Club Spring Regatta will be held in April over two weekends, with all racing on the beautiful Indian River.
We spotted this boat skippered by Madalin Keeble at the River City Regatta. They deserve a shout out for having the best boat name, Freak Show, that we have seen so far.
Diesel Fuel Tank Tips Proper preventive diesel fuel tank maintenance can help avoid fuel and engine problems. Follow these suggestions to maintain a clean and trouble free fuel tank. Clean Fuel. Mechanics differ on their opinions regarding additives. Many will tell you that fresh fuel without additives is the way to go if you consume it quickly. Most sailors are not going to burn a lot of fuel as the goal is to get the sails up and shut the engine down as soon as possible. A good fuel additive can help stabilize your fuel and retard algae growth.. There are a myriad of additives available but keep in mind that products for diesel should contain a water emulsifier, cetane booster and sludge remover. Be careful adding an algae killer. If you already have an algae problem be prepared to change filters often after adding an algaecide. Check tanks for water frequently, especially after fuel fills. Use a water detection paste to check tanks for water and check fuel filter bowls often. Water in diesel tanks is the source of algae growth so remove it when you find it. Stop the source of water in your tank. If you have a lot of water in your tank you need to find out where it is coming from. The biggest culprit is a dry or missing o-ring on your fuel fill cap. Other places to check include fuel sender unit gaskets and vent line connections. Fill up your tanks. Racing sailors don’t want the weight but this is important, especially prior to long layups. A full tank minimizes the void space in your tank and cuts down on condensation. Purchase fuel from a marina or station that sells a lot of diesel. That out of the way little marina might be a great place to visit but, before filling up there, make sure that they sell enough fuel to keep their supply fresh. Their tank is just a much bigger version of yours. Don't buy fuel too soon after a fuel delivery. The crud that may be sitting on the bottom of the marina’s storage tank may become suspended in the fuel you are purchasing and could be pumped into your tank. It is a good idea to wait at least a day before filling up to allow any debris to settle. Fix problems. They won't solve themselves and will get worse if left unattended. If you have access to a reputable and affordable tank cleaning and fuel polishing service it is well worth the cost to periodically schedule a cleaning as part of your fuel tank maintenance program. They can also help identify and fix potential problems before they become serious issues.
New West Marine Store In Daytona Beach West Marine announced the grand opening of its new, larger store in Daytona Beach. At 15,500 square feet, this store will be larger than the two previous West Marine Daytona Beach stores combined. The new store will include an expanded fishing department with inshore and offshore fishing gear, line winders, rods, reels, lures and terminal tackle, specifically selected for the area. In addition, the Daytona Beach store will have a comprehensive engine parts department, and a large assortment of inflatable boats and motors. To meet the needs of Daytonans who want to try the fastest growing water sport, there will be a standup paddleboard “shop” with
boards and accessories for every budget. A huge selection of sailboat hardware, and an expanded selection of kayaks and gear for kayak fishing will be on deck. Plus, a wide assortment of casual and technical apparel, foul weather gear, footwear and accessories. “With this new Daytona Beach store, we are better able to serve boaters, anglers, paddlers and sailors, as well as people who simply enjoy life on the water,” said General Manager Jenna Bocchino. Bocchino. The 12person West Marine crew at the new Daytona Beach store has a combined 400 years of boating, fishing and sailing experience. Collectively they have cruised almost 50,000 nautical miles.
A good fuel cleaning or “polishing” service might use a machine similar to the one pictured to remove contaminates from your fuel tank.
Jim & Cynthia Best (911) attempt to work over the top of Jim Heffernan & Jim McIntyre (1066) on the downwind leg of the final race at the Wayfarer Mid-Winters hosted Jan 31 -Feb 2 at the Lake Eustis Sailing Club as part of the 2014 Train Wreck Regatta. Heffernan & McIntyre went on to finish 3 overall in the spinnaker class at the regatta.
A Few of My Favorite Things Girls in bikinis with batting eyelashes, Sliding down big waves and hearing the splashes Wind in the rigging with tension that sings These are a few of my favorite things Kevlar and Mylar and long tapered battens Outhauls and downhauls and a mains’l that flattens Colorful spinnakers and rigid boom vangs these are a few of my favorite thangs. When the mast breaks, when the boat sinks When I come in last, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel like an ass. Digital readouts and self tailing winches Finishing races and winning by inches Smooth sanded bottoms and new damn it rings These are a few of my favorite things Crew that call wind shifts and yell at port tackers Harken ball bearings and stainless steel shackles Fair keels and rudders and sailboats in slings These are a few of my favorite things
When the mast breaks, when the boat sinks When I come in last, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel like an ass. Calling for room to all those outsiders Walking around in brand new Topsiders Beating to windward, curtailing a luff This is just some of my favorite stuff Wide open transoms and plenty of mast bend Shaking the reef out when there’s too much wind Fresh breeze and sunshine, a swim in the buff, This is just some of my favorite stuff When the mast breaks, when the boat sinks When I come in last, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel like an ass. 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.