There is so much bad news, I thought I'd try to counter balance with this.

Florida has a very healthy autumn season fast approaching, and a great deal of it involves mixed fleets of spin boats and A cats. There is no hard and fast rule for the starts, but often the A cats get their own start and the spin boats are lumped together. It works well for us at the "less serious" regattas. Personally, I try to give boats of other types a little extra room. It's friendlier and there are good tactical reasons not to get too close to a F18 or an A cat.

A sample of the schedule:

Labor Day weekend at GYC- steaks on the grill! Yum!

Juana's http://www.juanaspagodas.com/RegattaNews.htm, Hiram's Haul http://www.performancesailandsport.com/announcements.htm, Wildcat at Eustis- Friday night at the "Oyster Trough"!!!, GC at GYC- a week of tough competion, Carlisle and the Area D South at Clearwater http://www.clearwatercommunitysailing.org/index.shtml.

Then of course there's the Steeplechase in December and Tradewinds in January.

There's a bunch of other regattas, these are just the ones I will personally attend. Or at least make the effort.

And...don't forget:

The 2009 Cedar Key Cat Sailing Regatta on October 24th & 25th, in the quaint little fishing town of Cedar Key. This will be a 'FUN' regatta with triangles on Sat and 'around the islands' race on Sun.

This regatta will be managed by Gulf Atlantic Yacht Club (GAYC), Fleet 153 (Dave Carlson) and supported by
Fleet 111.

The host site is the Old Fenimore Mill Condos - 1-800-767-8354 - ask for Regatta rates - Blgs 1, 2, 3 &4
(2br/2bath, $130night).

Boats may be set up and launched from the condo beach area.

Other lodging is available; http://www.cedarkey.org/ and free tent/rv camping is available (6 miles from race site). Please pre-register on http://www.fleet80.com/ so we can get a headcount for food, etc.

So come on over to the Big Bend and have some fun with 'Friends in low places' !!!!

Oh Pete

Are you going to Juana's?

I might have to reconsider my choice of regatta that weekend if so :P

Yep.

gah! Now I'm truly torn as to which regatta to go to!

Bring it! We'll convert you to the F16!

Make it 4 feet bigger and 200lbs heavier and I'm all about it! :P

Big girls need lovin too and they usually treat you better... wait, what were we talking about agian?

F-18's - like a nice bowl of porridge.....not too big, not too small......juuuuuuuuust right!

Benedict Arnold!!!!!

Dan DeLave likes this

When are you guys gonna give me an excuse to drag my short boat all the way to California?

X2!

Yeah, I know. But....If you got to sail with who I get to sail with, you'd do the same thing!

Bullocks! My wife races with me on the 20! :P

Just so you know... boats are bling. They aren't forever but they are still pretty bling.

Your heterosexuality is questionable at best and you're saying bullocks?

Your insults are ineffective ole nutkicker :P

I knew this day would come but I never expected it to be so soon. I think I'm getting a little misty.

You're crying over there and accusing ME of questionable heterosexuality?

Grow a pair ffs :P