FT. MYERS REGATTA

Ft. Myers, Florida, March 15-16

- Jim Davis

After attempting to find accommodations in Savannah with no success and much frustration, and learning from the Class office of the Ft. Myers Regatta, we decided to go to Ft. Myers. We had not sailed in Ft. Myers before but had heard it was a good place to sail.

The regatta could not have been better except for the number of boats participating. The temperature on both days was in the mid-eighties with beautiful sunshine and light to moderate east to northeast winds. We were able to sail six windward/leeward races over the two-day period.

The sailing venue at Ft. Myers is excellent as the Caloosahatchee River is approximately a mile and a half wide, so wind direction is not a big factor. A moderate tide of one to two feet does not create a large tidal flow, and the water depth at low tide is more than we need over the entire racing area.

The committee work of Ralph and Jay Suhm (the "Danger" brothers) assisted by Tim Fisher was excellent, moving the marks when necessary, with good start and finish lines, mark boats, etc.

The on shore activities were also excellent, with a Saturday afternoon post race party at "Shooters" on the river, with transportation provided by Jay on his large sloop.

Looking back on the regatta, it was a wonderful experience, one which I hope to have again . . . by the way, we were fortunate enough to win!

FLORIDA CIRCUIT AND MIDWINTERS AT FT MYERS WON BY JIM DAVIS OF FLEET 42

- Ralph Suhm

Cedar Fleet 478 of Ft Myers, Florida hosted the 4th annual Florida Circuit with its Ft Myers Midwinter Championship Regatta on March 15/16. Attendance was light, prompting 2nd place finisher Bob Shaw to comment, "This is the best little regatta that nobody came to". Jim Davis bested Bob, of the Pontiac Fleet, and local fleet member Liz Lombardo to win the Midwinters in light to moderate, but very shifty breezes. Since Jim was the only Master (skipper over 50), he took that prize home also. Combining his finish position in Ft Myers with his finishes in Miami and St Pete, Jim also took home the Florida Circuit Trophy. Perpetual trophies are also awarded for the Midwinters and for the Florida Circuit.

Cedar Fleet inaugurated the Florida Circuit and the Midwinters at Ft Myers to offer Southern Circuit sailors an additional and/or an alternative venue for those northern sailors who don't want to do the Savannah leg of the Southern Circuit. Since Miami and St Pete both host Midwinters, Cedar Fleet hosts its own to maintain continuity with the other two clubs whose finishes are combined with our own for the overall Florida Circuit following the example of the Southern Circuit.

As telecast by the National Weather Service, Ft Myers offers the best chance at good weather in the nation at regatta time as can be hoped for. Regularly we register the daily high temperature for the nation throughout the winter. Our sailing water, the Caloosahatchee River, is 1.5 miles wide with slow-moving currents and the race course is from 6 to 10 feet deep. Launching facilities and social activities front on the race course which is easily seen from either place. We try to offer a relaxed atmosphere and make the whole regatta as much fun as possible. But, 5 minutes from the launch site you are on the race course, and there we try to offer the best RC work in Florida.

In cooperation with Bill Faude and Fisk Hayden, Cedar Fleet is changing its timing for its Midwinters so as not to conflict with Savannah. This will offer Southern Circuit sailors one more racing venue and hopefully put the Florida Circuit in the reach of sailors who only want to sail in Florida. Now snowbound sailors can take a weekend to drive to Florida, sail in Miami and St Pete in one week and finish up midweek in Ft Myers with a shot at an overall perpetual trophy for the Florida Circuit.

The members of Cedar Fleet would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have supported us in the past, and especially winners Liz Lombardo, Ched Proctor, Colin Park, and Jim Davis.