Cortez Yacht Club’s Summer Sailstice Regatta - June 21st 2008
This year's Summer Sailstice Regatta definitely lacked the Florida sunshine we're all accustomed to (and often worship) around Tampa Bay. In fact, this day actually set a record for rainfall at Tampa Bay International Airport. But the morning's forecast for pending wet weather didn't dampen the spirits of our seasoned skippers and their experienced crew. Cortez Yacht Club promoted the event as a FUN Race in the Gulf of Mexico, with no entry fee, and winners guaranteed full bragging rights – resulting in participants from ports on all sides of Tampa and Sarasota Bays. One particular entrant traveled more than 30 miles to join in, and was very determined to race. So, in spite of the bleak weather forecast, it was decided: THE RACE WAS ON!
At 12:55 p.m. our club’s volunteer Race Committee on a small Mako fishing boat, raised the warning flag as sailboats circled the start area. Plenty of wind (and a lot of chop), made for a tense prestart as each boat positioned themselves for their assigned start times in a PHRF pursuit style race. At 1:00 p.m. sharp, the cannon fired and the slowest rated boat, “Treo”, trimmed in and headed out to the windward mark. The sky looked like a film set from a scary movie. With air pressure building, the sky grew darker and darker as more and more boats crossed the start line at their designated starting times. Each boat gained bit by bit as they chased “Treo” up to the first mark. The weather pressure continued to build from the west, and soon collided with a shoreline front, resulting in spectacular lightning above the last boats to start. Minutes later, the NE wind went westerly producing heavy wind gusts and drenching rain as the boats rounded the windward mark and made their way back to the start line buoy to start a second lap on the course.
Through the driving rain and limited visibility, "Knotty Kat" found the red mark first, followed by "Treo" as they adjusted for the new heading back towards the windward mark. The last starting boat, “Mischief”, who had to overcome the switching winds on the start-line, could never quite catch the rest of the fleet.
The entire eight mile windward leeward race was completely finished in less than one hour and 15 minutes: A record time for a June race when in our winds are typically 5 – 8 knots.
At a post race party, under a soggy and sometimes dripping tent, the standings were announced. First to finish skippers in three divisions were awarded, in addition to bragging rights, a choice of an official Summer Sailstice burgee or Summer Sailstice hat as a souvenir of a memorable day of racing with the Cortez Yacht Club in the Gulf of Mexico.
The rains continued until well past 8:00 p.m., deterring most from the club’s well planned raft-up near Sisters Key. But two of our sailboats tied up to one of our larger power cruisers and enjoyed the night and one another's company. A good time was had by most with the consensus being a preference for a windy rainy day opposed to what could have been light breezes over a fast current in scorching cloudless sunshine -- our Race Committee from the small Mako fishing boat disagreed.
A good time was had by most – it just wasn’t a power boater kind of day, but we were grateful for their participation and pleased that they were such good sports in the challenging conditions.
We checked the following day to see what was charted for wind speed and direction during our noon to 3p.m. excursion. The graph below shows what we were up against.
Wonder what Sailstice 2009 will bring?
The Cortez YC sits just South of Tampa Bay.
Evidence of the unusually high summer windspeeds for Sailstice.
Our 2008 Summer Sailstice Regatta Winners: Knotty Kat