Thanksgiving Day Regatta

Davis Island Yacht Club
Tampa Bay
November 29-30th

The forecast was for a 60% chance of rain on Saturday and 70% chance on Sunday, with winds predicted to be 10-15mph on both days. As we drove over the Causeway towards Davis Island Yacht Club, we debated as to whether or not we would even have a regatta this weekend.

We headed out to the start line, looking to the sky wondering what Mother Nature would bring us. The 60% chance of rain on Saturday ended by the first gun. Off we went!  Light winds (3-8mph) prevailed on Saturday. The sunfish fleet completed 4 races, just in case Sunday proved to be a "rain day". Saturday was "ladies day" for the Sunfish sailors. The ladies occupied the top 3 spots in 3 out of the 4 races. Gail and Linda each won 2 of the races.

As we left Davis Island on Saturday, the most popular comment from the men of the sunfish fleet was, "wait until tomorrow, it will blow like stink."

Sunday it did not "blow like stink." In fact it was lighter than it was on Saturday (1-5mph). A sigh of relief! Paul Strauley was the only hope for the men to pull into the top 3. After an abandoned race and a fifteen-minute rain delay, we were finally able to complete one race.  Gail won the race and Paul and Linda swapped positions many times, both trying to pull off the second place. Paul pulled it out by a bow handle.  Meanwhile, Joe Blouin was battling it out with Mindy Katz, who knew she had to come within 2 points of Paul for the ladies to win all 3 top positions. Joe won the battle and Paul squeaked into the top 3 for the regatta.

Results

1.  Gail Heausler	(3)     1       1       2       1       [5]
2.  Linda Tillman	1       2       (5)     1       3       [7]
3.  Paul Strauley	4       4       2       (5)     2       [12]
4.  Mindy Katz		2       (5)     3       3       5       [13]
5.  Joe Blouin		(12)    8       4       6       4       [22]
6.  Dick Tillman	8       3       6       (11)    7       [24]
7.  Jeff Kensinger	6       7       (10)    4       10      [27]
8.  Stan Woodruff	9       6       8       (10)    6       [29]
9.  E. Nist		(11)    11      7       9       8       [35]
10. M. Cintron		5       9       9       14      (15)    [37]
11. John Spray		10      (12)    11      7       11      [39]
12. Don Acker		(13)    10      13      8       9       [40]
13. Sharon Woodruff	7       (13)    12      12      12      [43]
14. Sherrie McMillen	(15)    15      15      15      13      [58]