Category Archives: News

November 2024 SPSA Update

Hello Sailors,

Here is the update for November.

 

SPSA Fall Series Races 3&4 Recap: This session of the series debuted Tony Sanpere’s new SPSA RC boat.  With a light wind forecast, the RC was able to get one race in with the second race abandoned.  Tack Tick, Charisma, and Desiderata made it around 1st in their respective classes.  Results can be seen here.  Rear Commodores Doug Jones and Connie Reichert put on an Oktoberfest themed post-race party to remember.  The club provides grilled beer brats & buns, and members brought the appropriate side dishes. The 50/50 raffle was a success with the winner generously donating the proceeds back to the club.

 

King of the Bay:  October’s KOB winner is the Yankee 30, Opal.  Darrell was able to propel her around the course and score a corrected time of 53:05.  Scores and info on the King of the Bay contest can be found at this link.  Get your crew together and sail for November's KOB prize.

 

Upcoming Events: 

SPSA Fall Series Races 5&6:  This Saturday 11/9 is the Fall Series races.  Tony’s RC boat will be out there again to provide race management.  The post-race event will be at the Big Catch at Salt Creek.  Many members are already talking about taking their boats there for the after race festivities.  Remember if you can’t sail the regatta, you can sail the bar and meet the membership.  Member packets will be there if you haven’t picked yours up yet. Hope to see you there. 

 

SPSA Dolphins Cruising: 

The Annual Emerson Point Cruising Rendezvous:   November. 23rd-24th. The storm damage report for this location is that the dinghy dock is gone after the hurricanes, and local knowledge reports mud on the beach too deep to land on.  Steve Shortt on Hula Girl II is hosting a modified version of the cruise to Emerson point.  This will be an on the water event, as the pavilion and restrooms are also closed.  This is an all club sailing fleet rendezvous for DIYC, Dolphins, SPSA, BCYC, TSS, and any other sailing fleet clubs that wish to join us.  Sign up and see more details here. 

 

This next cruising opportunity requires some advanced planning:

Come Sail Away!!! January 10-12, 2025. Cruise to see the band Styx play the iconic song “Come Sail Away” at Clearwater Sound.  Either anchor out and listen from the boat, get a dock slip, or come by dinghy, but do not miss this outing! Host boat will be Vicki & Jack Brennan-on SV/Sonos, with pre-concert Docktails on Hula Girl II.   More details on concert tickets and dock reservations here.

 

Historic Distance race: DIYC Egmont Key Race:  November 23rd, 2024.  This regatta dates back to 1935 and is the oldest running sailboat race on the west coast of Florida. NOR and race registration on this website.

 

See you out on the Bay!
Brian Conlin

SPSA Commodore

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October 2024 SPSA Update

Hello Sailors,

The past few weeks have not been conducive to sailing in the Tampa Bay area.  I hope that you and your boats are well so we can get back to doing what we do best, sailing.

 

SPSA Fall Series Races 1&2 Recap:  Our first SPSA races of the season were held in September.  We were able to get two races off with a pre-race thunderstorm rain delay. The Race Committee was the Soverel 26 Obsession, as our new RC boat had mechanical difficulties.  Tack Tick came away with two bullets to win the racing division.  You should have been there to see them come from behind and cross before Gimmi Shelter in race one.  The cruising division saw some excitement as both the Cruising Spinnaker and Jib & Main classes were decided in tie breakers.  Congrats to Charisma & Slow Bell.  The post-race event was changed from Localz to the Big Catch, where sailors came by land and sea.  Results posted here.

 

King of the Bay:  Not surprising, but there haven’t been any KOB results submitted for October.  This weekend will be windy.  Be aware of potential post storm debris, and some red tide in Tampa Bay.  More info on King of the Bay here.

SPSA/SPYC Classic Regatta: We had lots of logistical complications planning a successful event, so we have elected to cancel the 2024 Classic Regatta.  We will pick up the pieces and have set the 2025 Classic date for Oct 10 & 11.  Refunds have been issued for your registration. Hope to see you next year. Event website: https://neighborly.org/events/

 

SPSA Dolphins Cruising: The Clearwater Jazz Holiday has been canceled for this weekend.  And the Halloween cruise to Boca Ciega Bay on Oct. 25-27 is also cancelled due to damage in Gulfport and at Boca Ciega Yacht Club, where we were planning to have a party. Boca Ciega bay itself may not be safe for anchoring as the bay is still full of hazards to navigation including debris and uncharted sunken boats.  

However, the annual All-Sailing-Clubs Fall Kick-Off Cruise at Emerson Point is still on schedule for Nov. 23-24. Here's hoping everyone is ready to sail by then! Find more updates on cruising on the website

 

Upcoming Events: 

SPSA Fall Series Races 3&4: We have next Saturday 10/26 set as a tentative makeup date for these races.  We have the Race Committee boat and team confirmed.  The plan is to have the races and the Oktoberfest after party at the Sailing Center.  SPSA BOD will make the call next week to confirm moving forward.  A separate email will go out to the fleet to gauge their readiness.  And the club members will be updated.

 

See you all out on the Bay!


Brian Conlin

SPSA Commodore

https://spsa.us

https://www.facebook.com/StPetersburgSailingAssociation/

https://www.instagram.com/spsasailing/

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September 2024 SPSA Update

Hello Sailors,

Some quick notes on upcoming events this month:

 

  • SPSA Fall Series Races 1&2: –The first race is this weekend Saturday 9/14 with a 1100 start on the bay.   Please sign up on the scratch sheet to make the job easy for the Race Committee and for scoring the races. Regatta info & click the links to enter https://spsa.us/racing/regattas/

 

  • Special Notice : There is NO Parking in the Sailing Center on 9/14-9/15.  The SPYC Green Fleet Regatta will also be happening.  They are expecting 300 Opti’s! Please consider parking at other parking locations (Al Lang Stadium, or South Core Garage and others.

 

  • Post Race event at Localz one of our new Directory sponsors.  Come hang out with SPSA membership and support our sponsor.  If you can't race,  you can still come to the afterparty.  LOCALZ , 1 Beach Dr SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

  •  King of the Bay – August’s KOB winner is Charles Archer sailing Sprite, a Frers 30. The winning time was sailed on August 10th with a corrected time of 0:49:06. Congratulations Sprite Captain and Crew! https://spsa.us/racing/king-of-the-bay/

  • Upcoming Events: There’s more sailing to be had in Tampa Bay!
  • SPSA/Dolphins Cruising Happy Hour : 9/18, 
    6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  at Doc Ford's Bay Pines
  • 8790 Bay Pines Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33709. 
    This is an all-sailing-clubs social, so please spread the word. Food and drinks are on your own.

 

See you all out on the Bay!


Brian Conlin

SPSA Commodore

https://spsa.us

https://www.facebook.com/StPetersburgSailingAssociation/

https://www.instagram.com/spsasailing/

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SPSA is a member of the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing). We are a dedicated group of sailors who race throughout the year on Tampa Bay. Founded in 1972, our mission reads, “The St. Petersburg Sailing Association has been formed to encourage participation in the noble art of sailing and to organize such events to further that end.”

SPSA 2024-25 Our New Season is About to Begin

Hello Sailors,
I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the 2024-25 SPSA season to begin. We have an exciting racing and cruising calendar of events set for the year. And if you want to participate in other events hosted by other clubs in the Tampa Bay area check out the  West Florida Racing Calendar.  SPSA' s motto "encourage participation in the noble art of sailing" should be inspiration enough to get out on the Bay.
Our Annual Meeting is set for Friday September 6th at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Social hour begins at 5:30, Dinner at 6:15. What happens at the Annual Meeting you ask. Well you get a chance to socialize with fellow members of SPSA. The new Membership Directory and Sailing Instructions booklet will be distributed, the awards for the SPSA 2023-24 Season  and the 2024 SPYC Twilight Racing will be presented. You will meet and vote in the new SPSA slate of Officers, and hear about a couple of new and exciting additions to SPSA. And you get to participate in the now famous Trivia Contest. Don't miss out. You can purchase tickets here. If you prefer to pay by check please RSVP number of tickets to be purchased to secretary@spsa.us. Deadline to purchase tickets or RSVP is September 1st.

The kick-off race for the new season is on Saturday September 14th, with a post race event at Localz, one of our new Directory sponsors. The cruising season starts with the Halloween Cruise to Gulfport on October 25 – 27. 

Are you ready for the new season? 
This email wouldn't be complete without mentioning the upcoming 15th Annual Classic Regatta benefiting Neighborly Senior Services Meal on Wheels program. The event takes place on Saturday October 19th. You can register your 20 year old or older boat on  Yacht Scoring. If you need some inspiration to enter the race, check out this article that was in the Old Northeast Journal. Thank you Rich Treinen.
See you all out on the Bay!

August 2024 Happening

Hello Sailors
Lots coming up – let's just dive in:
  • SPSA Annual Meeting & Awards and the SPYC Awards Banquet is scheduled for Friday September 6th. Social beings at 5:30 Dinner will start at 6:15 followed by a brief meeting, election of the new Board of Directors, Awards and our famous trivia contest. Don't miss it. Tickets are $64 per person and can be purchased https://spsa.us/banquet/.  If you prefer to pay by check please RSVP number of tickets to be purchased to secretary@spsa.us. Don't miss out. This is always a fun event – a chance to dress it up a bit, think Snappy Casual. Deadline to purchase tickets or RSVP is September 1st.
  • The beginning of our 2024-25 season is a special time as we embark on our trial year of merging with the Dolphin Cruising Club. Like SPSA the Dolphin Cruising Club has a rich history of sailing around Tampa Bay and beyond. We are very excited to welcome Dolphin Cruisers to SPSA and participate more fully in the upcoming cruising events. 
  • Our racing and cruising events schedules are set.. Follow the links to see all of the events and to register. When you visit the events page you will also find links to easily add SPSA racing and cruising events to your own calendar. And if your racing prowess extends beyond SPSA you can find a schedule for all of the races and regattas taking place in the Tampa Bay area on the West Florida Racing Calendar.
  • All are invited to the SPYC Ocean Racing Awards celebrating the incredible accomplishments of our sailing community over the past year. Take place this Saturday August 17th, 6:00pm at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club – hors d'oeuvres will be provided with a pay-for-your-own-bar. Please register here.
  • The weekend of August 17th is also an opportunity for a Full Moon Sail. Try a full moon KOB, let others know that you plan to go. We can do a group sail and maybe a social afterwards.
  • Speaking of KOB – Slow Bell is the winner of the July KOB with a corrected time of 0:57:04. Congratulations Slow Bell Captain and Crew! July starts the new year of KOB monthly winners. Top time of the year will be crowned the Annual King. And who knows, your run around the marks may make it into the top 10 best times. See the winning times here.
  • Start swabbing the decks and polishing the stainless of your good old boat to be ready for the 15th Annual Classic Regatta benefiting Neighborly Senior Services Meal on Wheels program. The event takes place on Saturday October 19th. You can register your 20 years or older boat at Yacht Scoring then jump on over to the event website for more details including sponsorship opportunities and an Auction Donation form. Let's flood the Bay with boats and love and make this another successful event to support the seniors in St. Petersburg.
I think that's it for now. As always See you out on the Bay.