31st Bradenton Yacht Club Fall Kickoff Regatta, Bradenton, FL, Sept. 20-22 This regatta, held at the Bradenton Yacht Club, is the “kickoff” event for the Tampa Bay/Sarasota Bay area winter racing season. It is two days of racing in Tampa Bay. Six classes, spinnaker, non-spinnaker, true cruising, racer cruiser, multihull and one-design, will make up the three-race regatta. Free dockage at the yacht club. Upwards of 70 boats have raced in the past, most of which raft up at the yacht club. Partying for the event begins on Friday night as boats gather at the club, continuing Saturday afternoon after racing. Register at www.bradenton-yacht-club.org, or call (941) 981-3891. For dock reservations, call (941) 722-5936, ext. 212, or the dockmaster cell at (941) 374-2310.
29th Dunedin Cup Regatta, Dunedin, FL, Sept. 27-29, Regatta Rendezvous and Auction Sept. 14 The skippers meeting will be held at the Dunedin Boat Club on Friday, Sept. 27. This one day of racing on Sept. 28 on St. Joseph Sound and in the Gulf is a recognized Suncoast Boat of the Year event. New this year is the Regatta Rendezvous and Auction on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Dunedin Boat Club. All proceeds from the auction and regatta go to support the Dunedin Youth Sailing Association program. On Sunday is the DYSA “Green” Fleet Invitational held on St. Joseph’s Sound. For information on the Rendezvous and Auction, and the regatta, go to www. DunedinCupRegatta.org, or call Mary Kolb at (727) 733-3498.
48th CMCS Summerset Sailing Regatta, Fort Myers Beach, FL, Oct. 12-13 This is the southwest Florida racing community’s premiere annual sailing competition and the kickoff regatta for the fall and winter racing program. The regatta is held to raise money for local youth sailing programs. The event is held at Fort Myers Beach with the Pink Shell Resort as headquarters for Saturday’s party and the awards dinner Sunday. Friday evening is the skippers meeting and party at Bonita Bills. The regatta is a boat-of-the-year event for Southwest Florida racers. Fifty to 60 boats usually participate in six classes in this two-day event. Up to four buoy races on two race circles in the Gulf will be held Saturday, along with a distance coastal race Sunday. This year, a new event, “Cruisers Go Racing?” will be a highlight for Sunday. These boats will start after the racers and sail a different course. It is designed to be a fun sail/race, and all will be eligible for fabulous door prizes. For information, go to www.cmcssail.com.
Racing Challenge event. The two-day race features challenging courses on Tampa Bay which this year will be Olympic Triangle courses. Perpetual trophies are awarded to the best finisher in Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker, Racer/Cruiser, and Cruising classes. The Manufacturer’s Challenge, established several years ago, offers perpetual trophies awarded to the best overall finishing Hunter, Catalina and Island Packet yacht. For more information, go to www.spyc.org for contact info, NOR and entry forms.
USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival, River Romp, Fort Myers Beach, FL, Oct. 12-13 The Edison Sailing Center, a community-based sailing center in Fort Myers, will host the River Romp Regatta in October, A USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival. US SAILING’s Junior Olympic Sailing Program is a nationwide series of sailing regattas for youth 8 to 21. Each event is hosted by a different club or organization. www.edisonsailingcenter.org.
30th Annual Ron Diaz Rum Rumgatta Regatta, Tampa Sailing Squadron, Apollo Beach, FL, Oct. 12-13 One of the oldest events in Tampa Bay. Racing on Saturday in Multihull, Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker, One-Design, Racer Cruiser, True Cruising and Mother Lode. The Mother Lode class is designed to provide an easy, safe pursuit race around a comfortable course. Boats are assigned a competitive rating based on their equipment and the captain’s experience. It provides a way for non-racers to join the regatta and compete for trophies. The One-Design fleet may include J/24s and Flying Scots. On Sunday is the Women’s Rumgatta Regatta. Saturday after-race Ron Diaz Caribbean “Par-Ti” featuring music, rum libations, and dinner—all sponsored by Ron Diaz Rum. For information and NOR, go to www.sail-tss.org.
Fall Bay Race, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, Oct. 12-13 This is a Suncoast Boat of the Year and St. Petersburg Ocean News & Views for Southern Sailors
SOUTHWINDS September 2013
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