By Tom Lewis
Photos By Al Marshall
Three FDs competed in ideal sailing conditions Saturday. Temperature 78 F with reasonably steady southerly winds 8 to 12. Carl Boller and Jeff Barbero took 4 straight firsts to win the 2018 Cuspidor trophy. Willem and John Henry Light-Olson turned in an amazing performance in their first FD regatta, finishing a very close third place in 3 races as well as capsizing 4 times. Capsizing 4 times enabled them to capture the gremlin trophy that migrated to Cazenovia Lake from Monomomac Lake. This was Willem’s second time sailing their FD. Tom
The 2014 NAs proved to be three days of working through issues, arrangements and curious weather passing through the Tampa Bay area. Veteran PRO and FD sailor Dave Ellis ran the racing out of the St Petersburg Sailing Center, setting windward/leeward courses relatively close to the harbor entrance. The changing conditions interacting with shore effects were challenging and put a premium not only on boathandling but also quick responses. The last weekend in April was in a transition period on Tampa Bay. During this time the Gulf water temperature is still low enough to allow sea breezes to develop on the Bay, but also bookend fronts that typify spring weather still influenced overall patterns.
