March 20, 1996
"Let's Go Surfin' Now, Lots of Snipes Will Show You How..."
It was a "Surfin' Safari" on the last and only day of racing at the 58th Annual Midwinter Championship Regatta hosted by Clearwater Yacht Club. Dave Chapin and seven-time Midwinter champion crew Rob Lindley muscled past the 1993 Midwinter winners Henry Filter and Carol Newman in the last race to win the regatta by half a point.
After two days of being blown out by 25-40 knot winds, it looked like the breeze had finally abated on Wednesday to give the race committee a shot at getting the minimum 3 races required to make a series. Despite the new high bridge over the inlet, the wind was not strong enough to battle the current, requiring the race committee and support boats to tow the fleet out to the racing area. The mambo sea leftover from 2 days of strong onshore breezes made for bumpy going as the first race got under way in 8-10 knot wind. A relatively small, but mighty fleet consisting of 20 of the 27 boats registered remained to sail, the others opting to head home after the second day of Code Flags AP over Hotel. Mastering the shifty conditions as the unsteady breeze filled in, Chapin/Lindley took the first gun of the day, followed by Filter/Newman, and Scott Nixon and crew (and birthday girl) Samantha Rosemont. Last year's Midwinter Champion Jack Franco with crew Mike Bartell finished fourth with Norwegians Birger Jensen/Carine Juliussen in fifth.
The seas and wind continued to build for the second race to 8-15. After one general recall, Franco/Bartell beat out the consistent Filter/Newman team, with 2-time National Champion Doug Hart and veteran crew Watt Duffy beating out Chapin/Lindley to place fourth. By the start of the third race the wind stepped up rather quickly to 20 knots. The reaches were a blast with the big breeze and 6-foot breakers, but the race committee wisely changed the course to a double triangle at the top of the second weather leg. By the second reach of the second triangle, the wind took another step up to 25-30, causing the fun to turn a bit frantic. At this point, boats started to fall and by the end, only 10 boats made it up the last beat to finish. There were many capsizes, a few broken masts, and some who elected to go in early. Chapin/Lindley muscled out a first place over Filter/Newman who took straight dueces. Hart/Duffy finished third, Hal Gilreath and Will Glen posted a fourth, with Franco/Bartell rounding out the top 5. Even for those who finished, the ride in through the surf to the inlet proved treacherous. Most people opted to drop their mains and sail in on jib alone. Filter/Newman bent their mast before they could get the main down and Franco/Bartell's mast bent to windward with the mast ram literally ripping through the 3/16-inch aluminum webbing on the mast. There were many other crash and burn stories that will be told at the bar for years to come. Look at the list, buy ‘em a beer, and they'll tell you all about it.
Mylar jibs from the major sailmakers were seen at the regatta. The prototypes are in their last stages of development. These sails are definitely more durable; see your favorite sailmaker for details.
Party Highlights
With more time spent on land than on the water, the social scene was active, but somewhat subdued by the antipation of ever-earlier posted start times. The first night turned into dinner for 20 at Leverock's Seafood and Frenchy's famous grouper burgers were a popular choice the next night. Monday night kicked off the "official" functions with Dick Edwards' rum-filled grapefruits providing "perspective" as a cold front blew through. The rain caused the Pizza Party sponsored by the Welsh's to be started under the awning of the Club. Later the rain eased up enough for the rum-filled sailors to retire to the Welsh's trawler for drinks and Bill's famous crash videos. Tuesday was an active day for most with long walks/runs to Sand Key to watch the waves crash over the jetty, yoga class led by Maggie Manderson, putt-putt golf won by John MacRae, and museums. Tuesday night's barbeque was a big hit, particularly with young Scott Hart (son of Doug and Beth Hart) who shared his birthday cake with 50 of his new best friends. The awards dinner on Wednesday was filled with talk of the day's carnage with all the sailors who sailed being recognized by the club.
Thanks to the folks at the Clearwater Yacht Club for putting on yet another great Midwinters event.
Final Results:
| Skipper | Crew | sail no. | bow no. | #1 | #2 | #3 | total points |
place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Chapin | Rob Lindley | 25175 | 34 | 0.75 | 4 | 0.75 | 5.50 | 1 |
| Henry Filter | Carol Newman | 28094 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6.00 | 2 |
| Jack Franco | lMike Bartel | 28702 | 31 | 4 | 0.75 | 5 | 9.75 | 3 |
| Doug Hart | Watt Duffy | 28687 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 18.00 | 4 |
| Hal Gilreath | Will Glenn | 28655 | 20 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 21.00 | 5 |
| Stu Robertson | Nancy Grubbs | 27100 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 23.00 | 6 |
| John Manderson | Maggie Manderson | 28065 | 33 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 26.00 | 7 |
| Don Bedford | Steve Stuart | 29013 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 6 | 31.00 | 8 |
| Birger Jansen | Carine Julliussen | 28810 | 29 | 5 | 7 | 20DNF | 32.00 | 9 |
| Scott Nixon | Samantha Rosemont | 28214 | 28 | 3 | 11 | 20DNF | 34.00 | 10 |
| Jerry Thompson | Dee Shilling | 24702 | 11 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 34.00 | 11 |
| Will Graves | Lisa Griffith | 27568 | 37 | 20DNF | 5 | 10 | 35.00 | 12 |
| Alex Pline | Lisa Foulke Pline | 26926 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 20DNF | 35.00 | 13 |
| Steve Lippincott | Scott Norman | 26761 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 20DNF | 44.00 | 14 |
| Charlie Bustamante | Michelle Bustamante | 27872 | 82 | 15 | 13 | 20DNF | 48.00 | 15 |
| Bob Oberg | Kari Warren | 26459 | 53 | 16 | 15 | 20DNF | 51.00 | 16 |
| Don Hackbarth | Priscilla Duffy | 28571 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 20DNF | 53.00 | 17 |
| John MacRae | Ken Delpapa | 27225 | 24 | 14 | 20 | 20DNF | 54.00 | 18 |
| Bill Welch | Sherry Welch | 27772 | 32 | 18 | 18 | 20DNF | 56.00 | 19 |
| Gordon Huckstaff | April Franklin | 25172 | 51 | 19 | 19 | 20DNF | 58.00 | 20 |
| Alvin Bugbee | 24683 | 3 | 27DNC | 27DNC | 27DNC | 81.00 | 23 | |
| Gonzalo Diaz | 26395 | 22 | 27DNC | 27DNC | 27DNC | 81.00 | 24 | |
| Gonzo Diaz | 28812 | 23 | 27DNC | 27DNC | 27DNC | 81.00 | 25 | |
| Marc Duvoisin | Nancy Green | 24686 | 27 | 27DNC | 27DNC | 27DNC | 81.00 | 26 |
| Dick Edwards | 19795 | 80 | 27DNC | 27DNC | 27DNC | 81.00 | 27 | |
| Bob Foster | Carly Franklin | 26397 | 38 | 27DNC | 27DNC | 27DNC | 81.00 | 21 |
| Peter Wells | 25197 | 26 | 27DNC | 27DNC | 27DNC | 81.00 | 22 |
March 19, 1996
As of 8 am today the cold front had pushed through, but the wind was a sustained 20 with gusts to 45 from the WNW. Clear and Sunny but really windy. Needless to say racing was postponed for the day about 9 am, as there was no moderation in the forcast for the rest of the day.
The early postponement gave everyone an opportunity to get some morning exercise. A group went running, a group went walking and Maggie Manderson lead still another group in a Yoga class on the lawn of the Clearwater Yacht Club. Stay tuned for pictures when the film is developed! The exercise period was followed by a full round of Putt Putt golf at Captain Bob's Pirate Cove (or whatever it's called!). A bunch then made the trip to St. Pete to the Salvadore Dali Museum. The day was capped off with by a cookout (cookin? wow, it's getting cold!) at the Club.
The forcast is calling for moderating breezes of 15-20 knots with temperatures in the low 60's. Three races will be attempted tomorrow to complete the Midwinter Championships.
Today's racing was postponed until tomorrow, due to breeze in excess of 25 knots off Clearwater in the Gulf of Mexico. The breeze, a result of a low pressure system in the southeastern US is expected to moderate after the passing of a cold front.
By the end of registration, 25 boats had registered. Although the turnout is on the light side, compared to past years, the competition will be stiff, with mostly the top sailors attending the first regatta of the circuit. The light turnout is due to the extra time needed to compete in the regatta(s) in Nassau; with most people electing to skip the Midwinters in lieu of the latter regattas (warmer!!).