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SPSA – New Year’s Day Count Down

Hello Sailors,
I hope all of you are enjoying this Christmas season. It's a joyous time of year. Time spent with family and friends, embracing long standing traditions and creating new ones. The weather has been a little sporty out on the bay, but if you have made it out I trust you had an enjoyable day of sailing.
Our next SPSA event is our New Year's Day Fun Pursuit Race followed by our traditional Potluck Dinner and White Elephant Gift Exchange. Here are the details:
  • Monday January 1, 2024 – Race/First Boat start time 1400 (2:00PM). The course and start times will be distributed on Sunday 12/31.
  • Our PotLuck dinner will start around 4:00PM at the Sailing Center. The Club will provide the main course and we asked members to bring a side dish and/or dessert. To RSVP and coordinate side dishes please contact our Rear Commodores Connie & Doug at djsara@comcast.net. Even if you are not sailing in the race, plan to attend the post race event. If you are new to the club this is also a great way to make connections with other members.
  • The White Elephant Gift Exchange will begin after dinner. Bring a gift to exchange. It is always a fun time. (The secret is in the "art of the steal" 😊).
Good News – January 1st is a Monday and normally the Sailing Center is closed on Monday, but they are going to let Sailing Center members who are participating in our SPSA race to reserve Sonars and J70s. Don't forget to reserve ahead.

KOB – We had five KOB finish times reported in November. Greg and Wendy Burney had the best finish time sailing a Sonar. They finished just 11 seconds over an hour with a corrected winning time of 00:53:55. The Sonar sailors are tearing up the KOB course this season. If you haven't made an attempt to "capture" the KOB flag there is still plenty of opportunity to win it this month. Don't forget to report your KOB time by emailing commodore@spsa.us

The final races for the 2023 Fall Season on December 2, were a bust. Kudos to our Race Committee – George Lewis, Leslie Kramer and Lisbeth Peterson for being ever hopeful that the wind would come up and for the whole fleet for sticking it out while we waited through the couple of hours of postponement. Wouldn't you know it , just when we gave up and were headed in a beautiful breeze kicked-in. Several boats turned around and got a KOB run in before the post race meet-up. 

Our next SPSA Board of Directors meeting is on Tuesday January 9th at 6:00PM at the Sailing Center. All members are welcome to attend. Let me know if you plan to be there commodore@spsa.us.
Looking forward to our Spring season.
See you out on the Bay.

SPSA Fall Full Moon Regatta Start Times

SPSA Skippers,
Attached are the start times and course to tonight's Full MoonRagatta.
The wind predictions look good for a race.


Post race meet-up at the Marina Southdock pavilion, bring your own snacks and drinks.


Note: The Santa Parade starts at 6:30. There will be some road closures prior to the parade starting but access to Demens Landing will be permitted at all times but only when it is safe to allow vehicles across the route prior to the start of the parade. Once the Parade Begins the delays will be significant

See you out on the Bay tonight!


SPSA – Happy Thanksgiving 2023 and other news

Hello Sailors,
Two important items to cover in this post. First and most important – Happy Thanksgiving! I don't usually take the time to write down what I am most thankful for but keep them in my thoughts on a daily basis, but since I am sending out this email blast here goes a short list. I am sure most of you will share these same gratitudes (some are a little tongue-in-cheek too)
I am thankful for: my family, friends and community – especially the community of sailors I so love to be a part of. I am thankful for the past and present mentors that have guided me in the many aspects of my life. I am Thankful for my good health, and for opportunities for hard work. I am thankful that my loving husband said YES to buying a boat 😊. I am thankful that we can rally crew for an impromptu KOB at the first sign that the wind is up, and although I could go on, one more item – I am thankful that SPSA has been around for over 50 years keeping sailboat racing alive in St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay!

 Second important Item – Race Committee.  We can't race without a race committee. We need boats to commit to doing Race Committee for the remainder of our Series Races beginning with the December 2nd races and all of the Spring Series races. The good news is that we have a few folks who are experienced at doing race committee that can assist on any boat. If you have never volunteered your boat for RC or it's been awhile since you did, now is the time to make that commitment. Send an email to secretary@spsa.us and let us know which race dates you want to do. Thank you!
Here's what coming up:
  • Full Moon Regatta – this Saturday November 25 at 1700. This is a pursuit start race. The course and start times for all boats in our fleet will be published late Friday afternoon or early Saturday. Full Moon sails are always magical. Don't miss out. Register at https://spsa.us/racing/regattas/ Post race meet-up at the Marina Southdock pavilion, bring your own snacks and drinks.
Note: The Santa Parade starts at 6:30. There will be some road closures prior to the parade starting but access to Demens Landing will be permitted at all times but only when it is safe to allow vehicles across the route prior to the start of the parade. Once the Parade Begins the delays will be significant

  • SPSA Series Races 7 & 8 will take place on Saturday December 2nd. Start time 1100. These are the last two races in our Fall Series. Plenty of opportunity here to take the series. Post race meet-up at Localz.

  • The next SPSA Board of Directors meeting will be held on Tuesday December 5th at 1800 hours. All SPSA members are invited. Let us know if you plan to attend.

  • KOB – There are still plenty of days left in November to take a run at taking the KOB flag. Report your times to commodore@spsa.us.

I previously mentioned that there have been some changes to the SPSA website landing page. We have received very positive feedback about our more welcoming landing page from folks looking for sailing opportunities in St. Pete. Thanks to our VC and Marketing and Media chair for recognizing that some updates were due and for making them happen. On another note: you can view this email by going to the Members drop down at the top of the landing page and clicking on News.

See you all out on the Bay!


SPSA Upcoming events

Hello Sailors,
Just a reminder to everyone that Fall Series Races 5 & 6 are this weekend Saturday November 11.  Start time is 1100. Post Race Meet – up is at Localz (former Courigans). They are saving us some tables in the back area – where they have a new full service bar and plenty of room
Even if you aren't racing Saturday, plan to come out to the post Race Meet-up. It's a great way to meet new people. Festivities usually get underway around 3:30 – 4:00pm. Hope to see you there.
On Saturday November 25th we will have our first Full Moon Regatta of the season. This is a pursuit start race. Race times will be published before the race. If you haven't had the opportunity to sail or race in the light of the full moon you have been missing out. 
Other News: Have you visited the SPSA website lately? If not, check it out! We've made a few changes based on some input from new members. You will now find a visitor friendly and more welcoming landing page with a little  blurb about SPSA and information on how to join. Feedback is always welcome.
See you out on the Bay!

SPSA October update

Hello Sailors,
 
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Classic Regatta this past Saturday. Thanks to those that sailed and more importantly to those that donated and everyone’s fund raising efforts. Thanks especially go to Rich Treinen and Gloria Davis for efforts this past year organising this event and working with Susan McIntyre from Neighborly Senior Care Network.
 
Another plus for the event this year was the filming by Spectrum Bay News 9 of a spotlight reel highlighting the event. Thanks to Rich Treinen and Suzanne Hooper for their starring roles and to Charles Archer for use of his boat Sprite for the filming location. The spotlight aired all evening on Friday and was a poignant and heartfelt telling of why we do what we do to help others. Thanks Rich.
 
Coming up next: This Saturday Oct. 28 are our Series Races 3 & 4 followed by our Oktoberfest Cookout post race Celebration. The club will provide Brats, buns, sauerkraut and condiments. Bring your own drinks and if you would like, bring a (German Style) side dish to share. We plan to have a 50/50 raffle too. If you are a new member to SPSA our social gatherings are great opportunities to meet other members and join the fun of a great sailing community. We will gather at the St. Pete Marina Pavillion at the South Dock – just east of the Sailing Center. Please RSVP to secretary@spsa.us. This event is free to SPSA members, $5 for guests.`
 
See you all out on the Bay.