Good Day to All,
Ralph and I wanted to thank all the Clearwater Windmill Sailors. What a wonderful sailing club and a great venue. If you were not able to make this years event. Please put it on your "To Do" list for next year. Picture a gold sand deserted island surrounded by warm Carribean blue green water. Beautiful dolphins and sea birds around your boat as you sail by the hotels. Did I mention that it was warm? Like 84 degrees warm. You remember, the kind of warm that you wear shorts, flip flops and T-shirts instead of pants, sweaters and jackets.
The Clearwater Sailing Center is a spectacular Club that serves all of the people in the community. While we were there we watched the tiny tots, youth and disabled sailing program. Everyone came off the water with smiles and life's cares melted away for a little while.
The racing was fantastic and very close with leads changing often on the modified Olympic course. During one race the wind shifted 180 degrees making you wonder which leg you were on. Saturday winds were on the light side 3 to 10 knots with gust to 12. After the casual captains meeting and 11 am start we had 3 races and came off the water for lunch at the club. What a great break and then back on the water for another couple of races. Fantastic BBQ ribs and all the fixings was cooked up for our Windmill group and many of us "Pigged Out". Sundays racing the wind was steady 8 to 12 knots on a small chop. Lots of people had big smiles as we were planing on the reaches and downwind legs. Wow what a wonderful regatta! ~~Sandy Sponar~~ |