USACA

31 A-Cats and 26 505’s sailed a tough midwinter championship (regatta no 3 on the A-Cat 2010 winter circuit) Feb 5-7 at Fort Desoto State Park near St. Petersburg. The sailing venue was located on the West side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge where Tampa Bay opens to the Gulf of Mexico.

The first day of racing was cancelled for the A-Class. At the skipper’s meeting the wind was blowing from the southeast at 10-12 knots but forecast to build into the high 20’s with thunderstorms and squall lines. The A-Class chose to stay on the beach.

Here is the first look at my XJ with newly installed curved boards, took a little time to install but it was well worth it, Ian and I sailed this past Sunday it was blowing about 17 with gusts over 22 the boat sailed beyond my expectation.

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US A-Class President Bob Hodges checks in after four days of A-Cat racing in the Florida Keys last week. You can see video and some hot pics of the first two days of racing at Sailing Anarchy’s On the Water Anarchy Forum.

Despite record cold weather, twenty-eight A-Class sailors from around the country descended upon The Islander Resort in Islamorada, Florida for the 10th annual Coconut Grove Sails and Canvas Winter Race Week held last week as reported by Sailing Anarchy.

Both the new LR2 and LR3 are in Florida for the winter. Ian wanted to get in some sailing and hit the winter circuit so he is based in Tampa with both boats. Both are complete turnkey operations and he will transport both to the regatta sites if someone is interested in sailing one. There would be a minimal rental charge and proof of insurance would be necessary. Great opportunity for anyone to sail a regatta and not have to drag a boat there. Rental fee would apply to boat purchase as well.

After a successful 2009 winter circuit we are sure to be in for more great sailing this winter. New people to the class, new boats hitting the water and even more northerners planning to beat the chill (it was rumored to be 38deg and snow for the last race on Lake Hopatcong last week) this year is shaping up to better than ever.

This year the schedule is almost identical to last year. The main change is removing one regatta from last year’s schedule and ending the circuit after the 4^th main event in March. The dropping of this one event in April is in preference of supporting an A-cat event in the district 4 schedule (I believe it to be in Ft Walton sometime in May)