January
The annual Frostbite regatta was held on Saturday, January 27. Despite the forecasts, the weather was terrific, and 18 boats had a big time chasing each other around the bouys. See the results for our first regatta of the year here.
Our annual meeting for the membership was held at the end of January, and as the Club is doing well, we had very little business to transact other than the announcement of perpetual award winners and new officers and board members, and statements of the 'State of the Club', given by the new Commodore and Treasurer. For brief recap of the meeting follow this link: Annual Meeting.
February
Bill Zartler's J/130 Bonkers has won the Pineapple Cup, awarded to the overall winner of the biennial Ft. Lauderdale - Montego Bay ocean race. Sailing with a mixed group of regular Bonkers crew from Houston and crew from the west coast J/130 Scepter, Bonkers finished the 811 mile course in 5 days and 2 hours and 27 minutes. Pictures at Latitude 38.
The crew had plenty of opportunity to get to know each other, as they all spent the first three days sitting and sleeping on the weather rail. Long time sailor Chuck Riley observed that this was the first time he remembered not being able to find space on the weather rail for a deck nap. From the start, around the Bahamas, and all the way to Cuba, Bonkers was hard on the wind or tight reaching, and continually fighting an unfavorable current.
When the lights on the Cuban coast were raised late Monday evening, the wind abruptly backed and began to drop. The final leg to MoBay became a true run in breeze that eventually died, giving the crew an opportunity for a much needed bath, then came back and slowly built to over 20 knots, driving Bonkers across the narrow finish line at nearly 15 knots late Wednesday afternoon.
At the Friday night award ceremony, Bill collected the Pineapple Cup, the Arawak trophy, the PHRF Class B trophy, and the Smallest Boat to Finish trophy, and is now on the inside track to pick up GBCA's Yachtsman of the Year award.
The last race of the Icicle Series featured great weather and really low water. Low enough to see to top of a sunken boat tied up to the Northwest corner of H mark. DON'T sail close to H mark on that side. The few boats that were able to dredge their way to the race course were treated to a competitive course that featured a tight reach, a shifty beat, and a beam reach to the finish. The top boats for the series in non-spinnaker were Rope Yarn Sunday and Island Time, and in spinnaker were Round-Up and As If. See all the Icicle Series results here.
March
The GBCA/HYC combined Spring Series was run on March 24 & 25. Forty six boats entered the regatta, the best turnout for a Spring or Fall Series regatta in some time. Thanks to everyone that helped put the event on, and to all the participants who helped make it a success.