Hello Sailors!

Hello Sailors!

Sailing season is upon us.  Gather your crews and get the boats ready.

See information below on upcoming events.

This Saturday, Sept 6th Sailing Double Whammy:

1) Informal Keelboat Practice:  9am-11am, Near Bayboro channel, Sailing Center will be RC, VHF 63.  5 minute start sequences, upwind & downwind, 1 lap practices. Practice multiple starts, upwind tacks and downwind jibes.  Grab your crews and get tuned up for the races.

2) SPYC Ocean Racing & Twilight JUJU Awards & Party

Saturday 9/6/25 at St Pete Yacht Club, 6pm.  Your Twilight Race Committee & Ocean Racing Committee invite you to party and award the second flight, JUJU, awards for the Twilight Series. That same evening we’ll also be recognizing the winners of all our Boat of the Year events. Please RSVP at this link:

SPSA Full Moon FUN Sail This Sunday 9/7/25, Gather at G3 around 6:30PM Sail across the Bay or wherever the wind takes us. Post Sail Meet-Up Demens Landing  on the point (bring your own snacks)

SPSA Racing Rules of Sailing Workshop 9/9/25 at Sailing Center 6-8pm If planning to attend please RSVP to the secretary@spsa.us email.

SPSA Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet with Twilight Perpetual Trophies

Next Friday 9/12/25 at St Pete Yacht Club, 5:30pm social hour, Dinner at 6pm.  Ticket deadline is 9/8/25 for planning purposes, more info at this link:

SPSA Fall Series, Races 1&2: *Note: Start time for this race is 2pm *

Saturday 9/13/25.  Tony Sanpere is back with the RC Boat.  Register on the scratch sheet so we know who to expect at the start line.  Post-race awards & social will be around 5pm, location TBD.

SPSA Cruising:

We are still working on the list of events for the upcoming cruising season.  Stay tuned.

In the spirit of cruising and comradery, BCYC has invited SPSA Cruisers to their cruise to the Dry Tortugas in November.  They are having meetings on Sept. 20^th  and Oct. 18^th to discuss float plans.  Reply to this email if you are interested in this.   Our friends at WWSTB are cruising see info on their website for events. 

Member Communications

We primarily use emails and the website, see more ways to stay current with SPSA below:

We are moving away from GroupMe, and going to WhatsApp. Contact me for more information. 

See other updates and event flyers via social media FB Members Group, FB Page,  & Instagram.

See you on the bay!

Brian Conlin

Hello Sailors,

The dog days of summer are almost over, and regatta season is almost here!

Your Board of Directors are busy planning for next season. Check out the current schedule for the racing season here.  The links on the regatta page will take you to the events, where you can enter.  You can also add the SPSA to your calendar.

Speaking of racing, a reminder that all certifications expired on July 1. 

It’s time to renew https://www.westfloridaphrf.org. Renew now and be ready for the new sailing season.  If you need an SPSA provisional rating email Rating.Chair@spsa.us

Do you want to be more involved in the St. Petersburg Sailing Association? Now is the time to find out how you can help out. Attend our next board meeting at the Sailing Center or send an email to commodore@spsa.us and we can discuss opportunities for you to be involved. Here are some ways you can be involved:

• Board Member – we do have a couple of board position open for our upcoming season (Cruising Chair & Marketing and Mass Communications Chair)
• Race Committee – we are seeking to establish a group of members to learn the skills needed to assist with the Race Committee for our races. Not for every race necessarily, but when needed.
• Event volunteer – work with our Rear Commodores to assist with SPSA event planning and set-up.

SPSA, established in 1972 has only been successful because of its volunteers. Let’s keep the tradition going to continue being a strong sailing club.

Summer Sailing Recap:

SPSA Sailors can be seen all over the bay sailing and beyond.  Some are traveling north for cooler weather. The Tuesday sailing group continues sailing at the Sailing Center, and folks are still getting out to the SPYC Friday Twilights, and Davis Island Thursday night races.  You can see some of the photos etc. on the SPSA FB page

King of the Bay: 

August is the last chance to sail the KOB for the 2024-25 season.  Our June King of the bay is the dynamic duo Greg Burney and Wendy Reeve with the Sonar.  All hail the KOB!  More info here.  Who will be the August King?

Upcoming Events:

End of year awards parties are coming up soon.  More details to follow. Save the dates:

SPYC Twilight awards are after the last race August 29^th at the Sailing Center.

The SPYC Annual Awards party is September 6^th. 

The SPSA Annual Awards Banquet is Friday September 12^th.   With the first Fall Series race on the following day, September 13^th.  Note the Start time for this race is 2pm.  All other series races are at the regular time, 1100.

2025 Classic Regatta: Start swabbing the decks and polishing the stainless of your good old boat to be ready for the 2025 Classic Regatta benefiting Neighborly Senior Services Meal on Wheels program. The event takes place on Saturday October 11th. More info on the regatta page and you can register your boat at Yacht Scoring .

Yes you can sail more.  BOTY series notices are getting updated. See here , here, and here. 

See all regattas on the Tampa Bay Master calendar updates here.

And don’t forget your SPSA merchandise at this link:  https://spsa.us/spsa-merchandise/

See you all out on the Bay!
Brian Conlin

SPSA Commodore

https://spsa.us/

Hello Sailors!

Another SPSA Season is almost over.  But don't worry you can still sail all summer long. See more info below. 

We are almost in the membership renewal season.  Some of you have already renewed, if not go ahead and log in, update your contact info.  If you aren’t sure if you are current and set up for next season just contact : secretary@spsa.us

And don't forget your SPSA merch at this link:  https://spsa.us/spsa-merchandise/

April and May recap:

SPSA sailors could be found all around the bay competing in regattas or sailing just for fun.  SPSA members can be seen sailing out of the St Pete Sailing Center Tuesday mornings, and Fridays for SPYC Twilight races.  April saw the last of the Spring Series races and May 3^rd was the Doublehanded / Couples race.  Both were well attended, and we had a full house at the post race, Cinco de Mayo themed end of season social.   Some SPSA sailors & boats made the podium in the 81 Bay /Charley Morgan Memorial regatta, DIYC Hospice Cup, and the 46^th Annual Suncoast Raceweek. 

King of the Bay: 

Back to back KOB winners for March and April are Greg Burney and Wendy Reeve with the Sonar.  Next time you see them offer a bow or curtsy and you might get them to reveal their secrets to success.  All hail the KOB!  More info here.  Who will be May's King?

Upcoming Events:

5/10/25 SPSA Full Moon fun race

Sign up to race at this link & poster attached.

Pursuit style race.  Race course and times & after party TBD.  Course for the day is based on wind speed and direction.  And will be sent out to membership this Friday 5/9.   Find your start time and join the fleet under the moon. Working running lights required!

5/10/25 TSS Commodore Cup, Apollo Beach : Link

Contact event organizers soon , ASAP as they are allowing late registration.

BCYC Raft up:  5/24 & 25

Come join the fun either or both days. See poster attached & more info here.

Women Who Sail Tampa Bay: Conference June 6-8th. Register today, more info at this link:  https://wwstampabay.com/nwsa-2025/

More sailing opportunities:  Keep sailing throughout the summer

Friday night sailing series : 2025 SPYC Twilight Series: sail one race or whole series : Link

Thursday night sailing at DIYC in Tampa https://diyc.org/racing/thursday-night-racing/