The Broad Reachers of St. Petersburg Yacht Club at Pass-A-Grille and the Rhumb Runners of Boca Ciega Yacht Club joined together to host FWSA's Rainbow Regatta 2025 this year. Since both clubs suffered severe damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the fall of 2024, the sailing venue was changed to the St Petersburg Sailing Center and scheduled for April 22, 2025.

 

Many sailors took advantage of the opportunity to drop off their sailboats on April 21 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. The hosting clubs arranged for a pre-regatta party at 3 Daughters Brewing. The host clubs provided appetizers and camaraderie while drinks and dinner were available to order. Members of the FWSA's sister clubs were happy to reconnect and socialize after a challenging sailing year. The Luffing Lassies arrived, each sporting a handbag created by Luffing Lassie Brenda Scanlon. These bags were creative and beautiful, and Brenda will receive several new custom orders soon. Per their recent tradition, the Luffing Lassies and Bitter Ends closed the party again after drinks and dinner.

 

Sailors woke early on Tuesday, April 22, to pretty skies, hot temperatures, and light winds. Volunteers arrived early to direct parking and traffic, register sailors, put out breakfast, organize bag lunches, and set up the awards table as the Opti, Pram, and Sunfish sailors rigged their boats. The PRO, Gloria Davis, discussed the course, which would be a triangle once around with separate windward marks for the Opti/Pram sailors and the Sunfish sailors at the 9 am competitors meeting. Since winds were low and expected to die, the PRO was hopeful for "a few quick starts and a short and sweet course."Twenty-seven Sunfish launched one by one from the single Sunfish floating dock while seven Optis and six Prams launched from the T dock heading towards the race course. The Sunfish were the first off the start line, sailing in light winds and choppy water. Luffing Lassie, Rita Steele took the lead, heading towards the windward mark with fellow Luffing Lassies Lisa Brown Ehrhart, Ursala Olson, and Jean Orr in close pursuit, along with Windlasses Chris Kelly and Janet Kreutzer. After rounding the gybe mark and heading leeward, Lisa Brown Ehrhart led with Windlasses Chris Kelly and Janet Kreutzer moving up to second and third place while Ursala Olson and Rita Steele battled for fourth place. Crossing the finish line were Lisa Brown Ehrhart in first place, Chris Kelly in 2nd place, and Janet Kreutzer in third place.

 

Meanwhile, the Optis and Prams sailed across the start line, heading to their windward mark. Unfortunately, several sailors headed towards the wrong mark for quite a distance before realizing the mistake and correcting their sailing course. Opti sailor and Windlasses Joanne Simmons quickly established a lead at the windward mark and never lost it. Opti sailors Susan Foote of the Windlasses and Mikhele Severini of the Salty Sisters competed for 2nd and 3rd place. It appeared that Mikhele Severini would place 2nd, but she lost her wind close to the finish line as Susan Foote breezed in slightly ahead of her.In the Pram fleet, Independent member PJ Summerville finished 1st after correcting her course early in the race. Second place finisher was Els Wiemken of the Salty Sisters, while Victoria McWilliams of the Dinghy Dames finished third. The light winds dropped further as the last Opti and Pram sailors crossed the finish line. The PRO raised the AP over A flags, and there was no more racing for the day. Sailors headed to shore to clean up, de-rig, and have lunch.

 

In 2024, the FWSA’s Rainbow Regatta, celebrating the 50th year of the FWSA and hosted by the Bitter Ends and Luffing Lassies at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, could not be sailed due to extremely high winds.  This year’s awards, created by Bitter End Jill Joos for the 2024 Rainbow Regatta, were presented to the 2025 overall winners and the various divisions. 

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The tired and happy sailors finished cleaning up and headed home after a fun day on the water.

 

A big thank you goes out to the Broad Reachers and Rhumb Runners for the memorable Rainbow Regatta.

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Marge Whiteman, Bitter Ends

FWSA Blog Writer