Racing News

As of this writing there has been very little VSS racing activity in November. The scheduled buoy races on November 7 were canceled due to high winds (~25-30 knots). Several skippers showed up at the skippers' meeting, but they decided not to go out.

The monthly distance race has been moved to November 29^th (post deadline) to avoid a conflict with the Cabbage Key Cruise which was held on the 21^st and 22^nd.

The Sarasota Yacht Club held its scheduled annual Invitational Regatta on the 7^th, but it was moved from the planned course in the Gulf to Sarasota Bay due to the very strong easterly winds. So much water had been blown out of the bay that it was felt that getting out of Big Pass would bee impossible for many boats.  Four VSS boats participated, Air Supply, Cat's Meow, Reagan-e and Summertime. Summertime was 2^nd and Air Supply was 5^th in Cruising B Class, Cat's Meow was 3^rd is Spinnaker and Reagan-e was 3^rd in Non-Spinnaker. Three podium finishes is pretty good!  Unfortunately one boat broke her mast and another broke a chain plate.  The big yellow boat named XS was unable to sail the course because the water was too shallow for her draft and a catamaran failed to notice the shallow water and damaged a dagger board, but finished the race anyway.  Almost everyone was thrilled by getting to sail in that breeze and we all had a good time. (There may have been a few exceptions!)

John Lynch, Fleet Captain, Racing    venicesailor@comcast.net