RACING California. While the Grand Prix boats may draw the headlines, the heart and soul of race week is the one-design and handicap classes that are present year after year. Another mainstay is the huge PHRF fleet that competes annually. Last year J/Boat specific classes were introduced. A special handicap consortium headed by J/Boat founder Rod Johnstone and PHRF consultant Bruce Bingman has created two classes for owners who want to race against boats of similar design and performance. Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery serves as the main regatta anchor. Thousands of crew and spectators spend the week in Key West and the town becomes one huge race event with after-race partying occurring throughout the island. The official regatta marina is the Historic Seaport Marina. Quantum Sail Design Group is the official sponsor, along with 27 industry partners who also support the event. Regatta headquarters, where sailors and sailing aficionados can mingle, is to be on Caroline Street between Duval and Whitehead streets. To view the racing action, fans can book seats on spectator boats ranging from excursion catamarans to historic tall ships. Prime land-based viewing spots include Key West’s Atlantic-front restaurants, resorts and beaches. For more information, go to www.premiereracing.com.
4th Annual Tampa Bay Good Old Boat Regatta, St. Petersburg, FL, Jan. 26 This regatta is sponsored and founded by the St. Petersburg Sailing Association with the help of Good Old Boat magazine. It is the fourth annual regatta for St. Pete, although Good Old Boat magazine has been co-sponsoring “Good Old Boat Regattas” for many years in other locations, like Annapolis, MD. The first St. Pete regatta was in 2010 and the SPSA called for boats 20 years old and older. About 50 showed up to everyone’s surprise. What’s a “Good Old Boat”? Karen Larson, one of the publishers of Good Old Boat magazine, wrote in her review on the 2010 regatta in the February 2010 issue of SOUTHWINDS: “To the sailors in Annapolis, it’s a boat designed before 1975, and in Tampa Bay, it was a boat built before 1990. To the founders of the Tampa Bay Good Old Boat Regatta, it’s not the exact date the hull hit water, but the celebration of good old boats and the sailors who appreciate them. And to the founders of Good Old Boat magazine, which can’t help but sponsor races of the same name, it’s any well-loved sailboat at least 10 years old or older. Just as in the race, anything goes when it comes to good old boats. Their sailors just want to have fun.” For more information and details, go to www.spsa.us.
Wrecker’s Cup Race, Key West, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28 See Short Tacks section, “Other Events,” for more information. 52 January 2013
SOUTHWINDS
45th Regata del Sol al Sol Set for April 26 Racers are Already Signing Up for the 2013 Race from St. Petersburg, FL, to Isla Mujeres, Mexico The St. Petersburg Yacht Club’s Regata del Sol al Sol—the race, from St. Petersburg, FL, to Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico— will be setting out for Mexico on April 26. There is a 50-boat limit. Entrants are already signing up for the race. The special early entry fee ($900) deadline of January 31 is fast approaching. After that date, the entry goes up to $1000. There is still a lot of time for boats to get prepared and turn their entry in by April 7, which is the final entry deadline. (See the section called Fees in Notice of Race). Organizers are hoping to break the record of 43 entries this year. Elizabeth (Beth) Pennington, the chairperson, can be contacted through the website at www. regatadelsolal sol.org (click on Chairperson@regata delsolalsol.org on the home page, or in the Notice of Race). The “Island Activities” committee has lined up some very interesting extracurricular activities, which will include the ever popular Golf Cart Poker Run, miscellaneous parties, and the United States vs Mexico basketball game. Check the website often for updates. Anyone interested in joining in the fun on the island, but not necessarily wanting to sail, can fly to Cancun. Then, it is a short taxi ride and ferry ride, to Isla Mujeres. In order to keep track of the boats and others coming to the island, people can get their regatta hotel reservations and ground transportation through the website using the “special” reservation logos that will soon appear on the website. There will be a special announcement when this occurs. There is a secure website page for online entries, or mail the entry in (address available on the website). The regatta also now has a Facebook page. For more information, go to the website. For information, e-mail chairman@regatadelsolalsol.org.
SOUTHERN REGIONAL RACING NOTE ON REGIONAL RACE CALENDARS Regattas and Club Racing—Open to Everyone Wanting to Race For the races listed here, no individual club membership is required, although a regional PHRF rating, or membership in US SAILING or other sailing association is often required. To list an event, e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Send the information. DO NOT just send a link. Since race schedules and venues change, contact the sponsoring organization to confirm. Contact information for the sailing organizations listed here are listed in the southern yacht club directory at www.southwindsmagazine.com. Club Racing. Many clubs have regular club races year around open to everyone and new crew is generally invited and sought. Contact the club for dates and information. Individual club races are not listed here. We will list your club races only if they happen on a regular schedule. For a list of yacht clubs and sailing organizations in the www.southwindsmagazine.com