Master Driver The 2023 Team Race Regatta

by Janet Walker, Regatta Chair

SPYC was proud to host the 15th Annual Master Driver Team Race Regatta from January 13th - 15th. Five teams of six sailors from New York YC, Southern YC, Texas Corinthian YC, Seawanhaka Corinthian YC, plus SPYC competed in this "2 boat on 2 boat" team racing competition in J/70s on Tampa Bay near the Pier. Two complete round robins were sailed on Saturday in very rough, cold weather with winds gusting at times to 22 knots. It was exciting to watch as two J/70s battled competitively against an opposing team of two J/70s on a short windward leeward course, taking 9 to 14 minutes to complete a flight. Four umpires headed by Tom Rinda, plus some USF students, and umpires Eric Johnson, Glen Oliver and Phil Pape. called the rule infractions to keep order on the course. Results are at www.spyc.org under “Regattas “>> MDTR.

Seawanhaka Corinthian YC came in First Place followed very closely in a tense tie breaker by SPYC. Our two boat teams were skippered by David Mendelblatt and Mike Funsch plus crew of John Wallace, Kevin Reali, Amy Baxter Felder and Matt Braun . PRO was Shawn Macking with a RC of Gina Bowden-Pierce and Janet Walker (Regatta Chair) in Coast Pilot, plus excellent mark setters Ian Lineberger, Kyle Runnfeldt and Bogan Whitehead. Many thanks go to SPYC and the Sailing Center for their hard work on helping to make this happen.

Meet, greet and praise your fellow SPYC members who's on the water achievements carry the SPYC burgee and name to regional, national, and worldwide recognition.

Please join us in the Celebration!

Let us know you are attending... RSVP: (727) 892-6882