Author Archives: Brian Conlin

April – May 2026 SPSA Update

Hello SPSA Sailors,

SPSA sailors were actively sailing regattas and just for fun this past month. The month started with a couple boats sailing the full moon fun sail. Then more were sailing the gulf in the Pennington Cup. KB was back for another well attended seminar covering 'starts and marks' strategies. Next was the festive March SPSA Series race with St. Pat's themed RC boat and afterparty. March also brought the start of the Friday Twilight races and the 81 Bay Cup. SPSA Sailors continue to sail on Tuesday mornings out of SPSC, and on the weekends for fun.

All hail, February & March KOB, OPAL!.

Congrats to Darrell and crew, they checked a lot of boxes in February. First, they beat their own time earlier in the month. And secondly, broke into the Top 10 of all time list at number 6, besting their own top 10 time from last year. February honorable mention goes to Shahe and his Sonar team with 2 new to the club members, Chris V, and Ken S.

March KOB, was a contest of 3 boats, Cayenitta III did the course under the full moon, and Aldonza raced during the St Pete Grand Prix. But it was Opal again in March with a little luck on 3/17 beating Cayenitta III by 18 seconds. Results attached, and here.

Upcoming sailing events: you can always check out the Tampa Bay calendar

-SPYC Friday Twilights continue until September. Every Friday at 630pm on the bay.

-Sail in the light of the full moon this Friday 4/3 , Moonrise is ~9:30pm at 110'ESE.

–SPSA Spring Series 4/4, 11am start on the bay.

This is your last chance to solidify your place in the standings. Tim Landt will be RC, find the boat on the bay, and monitor VHF 72. Check in with RC, get the race course and have fun. Post race party and awards will be at Localz around 3pm

–SPSC Ideal 18 race 4/8, see more info here, and more SPSC events here.

–DIYC Hospice Cup in Tampa 4/11, website

–4/17 & 4/18 Sail all weekend:

Suncoast Race Week & TSS Womens Margarita Madness Regatta

-Plan ahead & finish off April with a trip to Mexico, and sail the Regatta del Sol al Sol with SPYC

–SPSA Double Hand / Couples race 5/2. Sail this end of the season race with your best sailing buddy. More details to follow.

End of season distance races:

-Sail the 'feeder race' Tampa to Venice 5/8-9 with DIYC, Island-2-Island regatta

-Then sail the Bone Island Regatta , Venice to Key West! 5/13-16. Lots of boats signed up already.

See you on the bay,

Brian Conlin

SPSA Commodore

https://spsa.us/

SPSA has been promoting the noble art of sailing for 54 years!

March 2026 SPSA Update

Hello SPSA Sailors,

Feb 2026 had SPSA members sailing every weekend and more. The Helly Hansen Regatta was well attended, and had members sailing and helping out on RC. Check out the recap write up and video. The SPSA Dolphins Cruising fleet sailed to the Cortez Seafood Festival. The following weekend had folks sailing the SPSA Series and DIYC Around the Point race. After that the SPSA fleet invaded TSS at Apollo beach. The wind didn’t cooperate, but the fleet represented well at the party. The Tuesday morning sailing group continues to grow and enjoy practice starts and brushing up on their skills. Rumors are starting about adding a Sunday session, see more on whatsapp group.

Upcoming sailing events and happenings:

-This weekend sailors are sailing the gulf off Pass A Grille for the SPYC Pennington cup.

– Catch the sunrise & watch the start of the Water Tribe 2026 Everglades Challenge at Fort Desoto 830am. East beach.

-Sunday am, join Doug Jones at the St Pete Sailing Center. They will be there Sunday morning if anyone wants to join around 8:30 for rigging.

-Check out the foiling birdyfish all weekend at the St Pete Pier, with Performance Regattas.

–SPSA Seminar: Tuesday 3/10/26

Kristen Berry is BACK at SPSA — by popular demand! Starts & Marks — starting tactics, mark roundings, and rules clarity (so you can round smarter and start faster).

When: March 10 | 5:45–7:45 PM Where: St Pete Sailing Center Cost: $5 Members | $15 Non-Members. Flyer attached. Please RSVP, so we can get a head count. This is a great tune up for the Twilight races!

-SPYC Friday night Twilight Series, starts 3/13

Sail for fun or pay a fee for series scoring, register here. The SPYC RC boat will be on the bay, sail by for the course, and sail this magical event from now until August 28th. VHF 63. Races start at 630pm.

-SPSA Spring Series 13 & 14 (see flyer)

The Series continues on 3/14 at 11am on the bay. St Pats theme, competition for best dressed boat and crew! Competition is tight, see results so far.

RC boats are needed for this race, and for the rest of the season, we have RC crew who can help. Please volunteer and keep the series going.

–SPSA Dolphins Cruise to TSS, Apollo Beach 3/21

Sail to TSS to enjoy the TSS PHRF club race & St Pats party. More details to come on the Dolphins Whatsapp group.

WWSTB : Movie Night 3/25 more info here.

See you on the bay,

Brian Conlin

SPSA Commodore

https://spsa.us/

SPSA has been promoting the noble art of sailing for 54 years!

February 2026 SPSA Update

Hello Sailors,

We are in the heart of the sailing season in Tampa Bay. There are lots of events happening, pick one or all and get out sailing.

January had events on land and sea.

Cool temps cancelled the NYE anchor out with the SPSA Dolphins. The New Years Day fun race had shifty winds, results are here. And the holiday party at SPSC was at capacity. SPSA sailors sailed to Clearwater in the Salt Pines Cup, then celebrated with a pirate themed party. Next were the sailing clinics and seminars with KB. We had an amazing turn out and sailors learned a lot of useful skills for the coming regattas. The start of the SPSA Spring Series saw lots of boats. And the chili cookoff was another full house affair. Other members cruised to Emerson Point to enjoy the nice weather.

This weekend, *Stay tuned, as these events are weather permitting*

SPSA Full Moon Fun sail 1/31 & Off The Wall Regatta 2/1. Get off the dock with this pursuit style regatta, sign up today , invite your dock mates! Free registration. Come to the skippers meeting 1/31 , at 4pm St Pete Sailing Center. The post race social on 2/1. will happen regardless at Localz. Come and join the fun & support our season sponsor.

-Feeling like a pirate, join the WWSTB Gasparilla anchor out at Fantasy Island in upper Tampa Bay.

-2026 John Jennings Memorial Regatta SPYC, January 31, 2026, sign up here. There will be wind!

Upcoming Events:

-2/13-2/15 Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, St Pete. Not to be missed, there are 215 boats and growing. Sign up here.

-SPSA Spring Series 2/21, post race meet up & awards TBD.

-TSS Gasparilla Regatta, yes it’s pirate month. Don’t miss this one, the parties are legendary, sign up here.

Stay connected, stay informed. See all regattas on the Tampa Bay Master calendar updates here..

See you on the bay,

Brian Conlin

SPSA Commodore

https://spsa.us/

SPSA has been promoting the noble art of sailing for 54 years!

SPSA New Year 2026 Update

Hello Sailors,

The sailing season continues with more opportunities to get out on the bay. As you sail into the new year don’t forget SPSA’s mission. We hope you can join us.

December had SPSA sailing the fun sail on the full moon, the end of the Fall Series, and the Commodore’s Cup. The SPSA Dolphins had a successful happy hour and filled out the upcoming cruising schedule.

Upcoming Events:

See attachments for more information, and share with your dock mates.

This weekend : SPSA Dolphins Anchor out: sail to the Manatee river and enjoy the Emerson Point anchorage with fellow cruisers. Some sailboats are already on the move.

–New Years Triple Play: Come out NYE and anchor out with the SPSA Dolphins in the basin near Albert Whitted. There will be a raft up and fireworks. The following day at 1300 (1pm), the SPSA fleet will sail the New Years Pursuit race. Details on course and start times to follow. After the race, don’t miss the SPSA event of the new year holiday party and white elephant gift party & potluck. Be sure to RSVP here. The club will provide the ham, so let’s get an accurate count.

–Full Moon Fun sail 1/3/26: Sail under the moonlight and join fellow sailors at the SC dock for post sail fun.

SPSA Dolphins: Check out the webpage and whats app group for cruising event info.

–SPSA Spring Series: Shine your boats, gather your crews, and dust off those chili recipes. The spring series starts 1/24, with the post race chili cookoff.

Other sailing opportunities:

–SPYC/CYC Salt Pines regatta. Race up the gulf coast to Clearwater Yacht Club with a party not to be missed. More info here.

–SPYC John Jennnings Memorial Regatta: Celebrate the legacy. Spinnaker, Racer/Cruiser, Cruiser and One design are eligible (Sonars & J70s). See event info here.

–St Pete Boat Show: who doesn’t like a boat show. Join our friends WWSTB.

See you on the bay,

Brian Conlin

SPSA Commodore

December 2025 SPSA Update

Hello Sailors,

This month will be another good one for sailing on Tampa Bay!

King of the Bay: Three boats competed for the coveted crown in November. Bumbugo wins again for an unprecedented third month in a row. This time it was with spinnaker and skipper Robert Simone. Congrats! More info here. Who will be the December King of the Bay?!?

– 12/5 Full Moon Fun Sail, this Friday night.

Gather your pals, and go sailing to enjoy the company of like minded folks under the moonlight. Then come to the afterparty around 8pm at “the SPSA dock” in St Pete municipal marina on Demens Landing (SC dock, location on flyer) and this link.

– 12/6 SPSA Fall Series races

Post race event is at Nueva Cantina, please join us for after race fun and awards ~3:15pm. (1625 4th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701) You don’t have to race to come to the after party, come and join us.

NO Parking in the Sailing Center from Friday 12/5 through Sunday 12/7. There is 100+ boat Laser regatta happening. You can still use the hoist to launch boats from dry storage.

This weekend Sonars and J70s are available, reserve your boat today.

–12/13 SPSA Commodores Cup

(No J70 available this weekend 12/13)

SPSA Dolphin Cruisers: The next happy is on Wednesday 12/10 at 6 pm to discuss cruising events over next few months. 3 Daughters Brewing – 222 22nd St S, St Petersburg FL 33712.

Don’t forget the 12/31 anchor-out for fireworks.

Support your SPSA Sponsors: Check out The Yacht Rigger in St Pete. The SPSA coupon expires soon, xmas is coming! (more sponsors listed on website home page)

***Mark you calendars for the New Years Day Fun Pursuit Race & SPSA Holiday Party. 1/1/2026, starting at 2pm.

See you on the bay,

Brian Conlin

SPSA Commodore

https://spsa.us/