Lake Eustis FL District Regatta 2013

This regatta has become the best attended of the FL series events and is one we look forward to every year. The weather forecast may keep the crowd down a little since it includes a passing front, healthy breeze and overnite low temperatures in the thirties.

The club has room for 5 RV's so we planned to head over Friday, so we could be sure to get one since it is first come, first served. The Lintons had a better plan and got there Thursday night and they were the third to arrive already. So much for being early. We arrived Friday after lunch and got a spot but it was getting tight, if you count trailers and pop ups there may be about 10.

The cold front was scheduled to pass through Saturday bringing a NW wind around 25 -ish and a cold night to follow. The breeze was picking up nicely during the skippers meeting, hmmm. Most boats were launched by the time the RC boat left the dock but not too many seemed interested in heading out. A little while later the RC signaled abandonment and that was that. Normally, quite a few boats will spend the night on a mooring ball but there was some discussion about how much wind the moorings could take and a note of caution from the organizers. I had no interest in taking a chance and after Hunters boat dragged the mooring and ball back to the club dock it was kind of a no-brainer.

We had a fun afternoon at the club and in town at a local establishment going by the name of Turkleton's. The building was from the early 1900's and was an auto repair facility of some kind. In the area that was once the auto bays they now have seating, pool tables and other arcade games. It was kind of cool but they are in need of more customers.

So the weatherman thought it should be around 32 for a low Saturday night, we imagine the Sunday starting time of 9:30 will get bumped back some to allow the ice to melt. The other thing is Sunday's high is supposed to be 54 degrees and the wind is only 8 to 10. You must be thinking how could this wind die down so quickly?

We sleep in a little in the toasty RV and say our thanks that we were not one of the dozen or so tent campers. We head over to the clubhouse a little after 8 and to my amazement there are about 15 Scots in the water already, and more launching. It is mid to high 30's outside, but sunny, still not getting it though. Also, no indication of a postponement. Kim and I are discussing whether or not to go out so knowing she hates cold weather I let her make the call. There is no way she will want to be on the water in this cold and it will only get to the fifties. She, of course, said "let's go" and in total disbelief I mumble something like ok if you are sure, among other things. So we go uncover the boat and launch it. More disbelief here.

It appears most of the Scots are launched, huh? WTF. Apparently I have entered the twilight zone?

We are one of the last to depart but figure we should at least try to make the start if we are going to freeze are asses off. The area near the club is fairly sheltered but out in the middle you can see a healthy breeze. We broad reach on out and reach the RC boat in time to check in. After about 10 minutes of getting spray, having my hands and ears freeze and observing few rescue boats in the area, I ask Kim if she will be pissed if we head in. I know her hands are cold too since she has been having a harder time tieing knots. Thankfully she puts up no resistance. So we take the long port tack back to the club, in typical lake fashion the lulls are low maybe 7 or 8 then an instant puff of maybe 17 or 18. This is a "be ready for an auto tack" kind of day, not me.

We notice another boat or two is ahead of us on the way in and a couple more are following. The whole time I am thinking; there was my boat sitting on the trailer, minding its own business and I had to come along and launch it. It was even covered!

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

So we are all packed up when we can see the second race is about done. We are thinking of sticking around and helping the haul outs if they head back. They instead start a third race, so we attach boat to RV and hit it.

We heard they did three races, don't know any scores or who Won. Did hear that several folks fell out of there boats and did some swimming but were ok.

We now have a new boat rule that is now in effect forever; Boat stays on trailer unless the temperature is 50 degrees or more.

We are now officially members of the fair weather sailing club.

Oh, and not to forget, John Kreidler's boat has been re-named "In the weeds" Not after the TV show you watch or the stuff you smoke....Be sure to ask him.

UPDATE --- The Lintons Win! Congrats!!

Here are the results;


Pl Last Name First Name Div Club/St Fleet# Sail # R1 R2 R3 Total
1 Linton Jeff Flying Scot 5982 1 2 1 4
2 Shaw Steve Flying Scot 5755 6 3 2 11
3 Harowitz Zeke Flying Scot 4901 2 6 3 11
4 Chapin Dave Flying Scot 5020 4 1 8 13
5 Whittemore Robert Flying Scot 5566 5 5 4 14
6 Riddle Hunter Flying Scot 11 3 9 5 17
7 Ames David Flying Scot 812 7 7 6 20
8 mcnally thomas Flying Scot 77 8 4 10 22
9 Grimes Dean Flying Scot 3360 10 10 7 27
10 Kreidler John Flying Scot 2677 9 8 11 28
11 Boekema Randy Flying Scot 5697 14 11 9 34
12 Bowling Bronson Flying Scot 2321 12 14 12 38
13 chennells gus Flying Scot 3059 13 13 14 40
14 Tillema Scott Flying Scot 680 15 16 13 44
15 Picco III George Flying Scot 5636 19 12 15 46
16 Stickley Todd Flying Scot 4171 11 15 DNS 56
17 Willsey Paul Flying Scot 5031 22 17 DNS 69
18 Simon Francois Flying Scot 5554 16 DNS DNS 76
19 Klick Larry Flying Scot 5690 17 DNS DNS 77
20 Mohr Donna Flying Scot 5502 18 DNS DNS 78
21 mcnally John Flying Scot 5179 20 DNS DNS 80
22 Dove Thomas Flying Scot 3153 21 DNS DNS 81
23 Thinel Dave Flying Scot 2925 DNF DNS DNS 90
24 Taylor Mark Flying Scot 4321 DNF DNS DNS 90
25 ireland1 anne1 Flying Scot 5366 DNF DNS DNS 90
26 Laguna Ray Flying Scot 5957 DNF DNS DNS 90
27 Hayward Andy Flying Scot 5257 DNC DNC DNC 90
28 Shore Douglas Flying Scot 5455 DNC DNC DNC 90
29 Pardey Marshall Flying Scot 400 DNC DNC DNC 90

FL District Championship - Charlotte Harbor 2013

We continue the 2012 - 2013 FL District Championship with a stop in Charlotte Harbor where the newest FL fleet continues slow, steady growth. We had a nice looking forecast that included temps in the 80's so all we needed was a little bit of wind for a perfect weekend.

With the close of registration we had 21 entries which may be a new high for this event. The crowd left the harbor in a solid ESE breeze that included some white caps in the puffs. The RC set a fairly long WL course, twice around and we were off. The sailing was nice but pretty shifty especially up near the weather mark. Big gains and losses were the norm, make a mistake and pay big time. The breeze held up all afternoon and by about 3:00pm we had three races in and were heading back to the club.

The Lintons were sitting on a nice little lead and were being chased by Zeke Horowitz who just bought a Scot a couple weeks ago. I don't have results but I'm fairly sure Jim Egan was a close third. After that there were a bunch of us giving it our best shot and enjoying a perfect day of sailing.

Saturday night included a nice dinner and and the viewing of some NFL playoff games. Can anyone believe how Denver gave that one away? Holy crap!

Sunday morning was nice again, warm and a nice Easterly. For a little while. During the first race it pretty well fizzled out to nothing at times and very little the rest of the time. Let's see, the race started at 10:30 and by about 10:35 the first beer was required, so there you go. RC shortened course to 3 legs or the time limit would have come into play. Only 8 boats finished within 20 minutes of the leader so the other time limit did come in to play. TLE's were scored 2 more than the last finisher so a mess of boats received a 10 for that race. Fortuitous for some.

We loitered a bit while the sea breeze tried to fill in from the west. With a patchy light westerly a race was started and the memories of the drift-a-thon we just had last month in Jacksonville were going strong. UGH! Similar current as well, which had us a little surprised. The course is way up the bay, fairly close to where it becomes a river but the flood current is still very strong.

Jeff and Zeke were having a good go of it and either could have won the regatta depending on the others score. Jeff pulled a little come from behind thing and took the race and regatta by four or five points, overcoming a small beer emergency. There were another bunch of TLE's who could not manage the 20 minute rule, and so it goes. Zeke ended up second and Jim Egan third, nice job to all. Also many thanks to Martin and the volunteers at the club.

Go to Lake Eustis Feb. 16 and 17 and bring your Scot.

I will add some results here when available.

Results;