Randomness from the Florida District

In no particular order, rhyme or reason;


**Two Scot regattas, as the season warms, this weekend, Feb. 20 & 21. The Chapins and Lintons, and various other world and national champ types, will delight in schooling y'all at Lake Eustis. Plus the beloved traditional Sarasota SS Cherry Pie on Saturday. Get yer yacht racing on !


**This is Florida darn it and we just had to have a race in January! Thanks to Race Committee Chuck K and Skip, a half dozen Scots enjoyed racing on Sunday on beautiful Sarasota Bay.
Conditions were rather chilly for the faithful and a nice 15+ breeze kept us on our toes. First race was a nice beat.... SPLASH (cold water down the neck).... across.... BASH (bucket of water in the smiling face)...... the bay (course windward leeward, g-b-g) As the fleet worked to windward SPLASH across the bay it became clear that going 3 up was the call of the day. Things were great, boats tacking on shifts, hiking hard, when we all arrived somewhere between mark A & mark C only to find mark B among the Missing .......GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!. We did have a nice planing spinnaker run back across the bay to set up and try again. For the next race the wind had veered so that Mark I was optimally placed. We could see it was on station so off we went for a nice fast loop around the course. Eightball prevailed in conditions to her liking. The Roberts showing nice style with 3 up, were pushing all the way for a 2nd, followed closely by Snowbird and then Peter and Robing Walls. Jeff Penfield and the Wruks probably showed some sense and headed in a little early.


**Just a midweek reminder for Sarasota Sunday, and Charlotte Harbor the following week. Flying Scot 2068 was sold to Port Charlotte this past weekend. The red boat was raced by Charlie Fowler, Al Hersey, and Ronzo, and was the first Scot any number of us at SSS might have taken for a ride. Easily the winning est boat in Florida Scot history, ask Harry Carpenter next week if 2068 is the winning est boat in ALL Scot history ( doesn't hurt to have Danny Pletsch on board when you're mixing it up with the occasional national champion ). Grabbing a Kleenex, C.


**If today's group at SSS is any indication, we should have a Large fleet on the water next Sunday, Jan 24. Come on out, yawl. I thought my crest-of-the-wave roll-gybe demonstrations off the club's docks in the 20k would get everyone launching but it had much the opposite effect. We also discussed Port Charlotte's regatta, Feb 6 and 7, and picked up a couple more boats for the very convenient event. While there talk to Scot builder Harry Carpenter and order a new boom between races. Plenty of Scot racin' upcoming!


**It is difficult to see the wind patterns through the slushy surface. One cannot hope to see that 30 kt gust that is only ten feet off your port quarter. The icy water soaks into the arctic expedition underwear. sounds great. p.s. sorry for my extended abscense. i was in wisconsin and it turned into a longer than expected stay. if you think it is cold here, you should spend 4 hours tailgating at a green bay packers game. those guys actually stand outside in 6 degrees and drink COLD beer.


**Not saying the house is drafty or anything but the living room instruments are showing a windchill of 37 degrees. Some sensible Flying Scot people have indicated that this weekend's scheduled Saturday sailing might be moved to the following weekend, Saturday Jan 16 (Sunday Jan 17 ?). This should give the pans of ice in the harbor time to break up and flow on out. We have time yet to get thoughts around so that we all might land at SSS at the same time to get some good one-design on. Think warm !


**Greetings form frozen Florida!! P.S. This Sucks!