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Jacksonville Regatta We could not have asked for better weather for the final regatta of the season at the hotel lake by the World Golf Village in St. Augustine. Bud Cassidy made the long trip up from Naples to be our RD and his daughter Kelly came along to help keep score. We can't thank Bud enough for giving most of our club members a chance to race together. Unfortunately John B had to attend a wedding and missed out on the racing. Martin Gray was the ARD and his wife Trish kept score. The star of the regatta was clearly Alan Perkins who overcame every obstacle put in his way. Whether is was being called OCS, or being fouled at a mark or having his request for a hold rejected, he just kept coming back to the front. It was no surprise really, as this was something he managed to do all season long. Alan won 5 of the seven regattas on the season to win the Florida Championship with style. With 18 boats registered and only one, Skip Allen, who could not make it, Bud decided to sail one fleet with 17 boats on the line. For Saturday the course was a nice two and half lap, windward-leeward on the West side of the lake. The wind was right down the center of the course with only minor shifts to make it challenging. Getting a good start was important, as was picking the right time to tack back to the center. Choose correctly and you were out in front, choose poorly and the fleet swallowed you up. Every boat was moving fast on the lake with A-rigs for most of the morning and B-rigs coming out at lunch. there were some fouls and a few tangles, but everything was handled on the water with sportsmanship and calm words. Ken Morrison was Race Judge, but he was only called upon to resolve a couple of redress issues and a few rules questions, but no protests. I was in the mix at the front with Alan for part of the day, posting several bullets, but Baron Bremer worked his way up to take 2nd place away by days end on Saturday. Jack Ward was a close 4th and Dick Hedderick was knocking at the door. Just about every skipper had moments of being at the front at least once on the day. Brenda Pardee had one race where she led the whole way around most of the course only to be passed on the final leg. Her dad, Jim, did not fair as well with a breakdown that kept him out of several heats and prevented him from sailing on Sunday. The Annual Meeting of the Association took place in the hotel lounge and I will have more on that for the members later. After the meeting we dined at Donavan's Irish Pub. The staff their did a great job of serving everyone and we had a great time. Sunday saw a wind change that moved the course to the East side of the lake. It was A-rigs all the way with shifty conditions and winds ranging from 2 to 8 knots. Again, good starts were important, but picking the right side of the course was much more challenging. Fortunes were won or lost on a single tack. Dick Hedderick sailed well to move up to 3rd place, but there would be no catching Alan or Baron. I managed another bullet, but for the most part could not get out of my own way. Jack Ward hung in to get 5th place and win the Ancient Mariner trophy. Thanks again to the great people who helped put on the regatta. Bud and Kelly, Martin and Trish, Cheryl Bremer, Tom Germer, Tom Phillips, Brenda Pardee, Rick Noddin as well as those who pitched in on the fly, Dee Dudinsky, Brenda's mom, Karen Luscomb, Liz Perkins, and Emily Walter. These events do not happen on their own. Alan made that point at the awards presentation and I'd like to repeat it. Thank you to all the RDs and helpers of all the Florida regattas this season. If not for all of you, there simply would not be an Association and no regattas to compete in. Results
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