Category Archives: News

SPSA Mid-August Update

Hello Sailors,
 
I am so looking forward to the beginning of our race season next month. Here’s what happening:
 
We revised the 2023-24 schedule again. We moved the Commodore’s Cup to the Spring and adjusted the November Fall Season Race to avoid conflict with the Egmont Key Race. And here is the exciting part of the revised schedule, we added a Racing Rules Seminar to take place on Wednesday September 13th beginning at 6PM at the Sailing Center.This seminar will be a great introduction to all newer sailors and a great overview for veteran sailors as well.RSVP to the  Racing Rules Seminar by replying to this email,secretary@spsa.us, please include the number of attendees in your party.This is a no cost opportunity. Pizza and drinks will be served.
 
Our Annual Meeting and St Petersburg Sailing Association/SPYC Twilight Awards Banquet, will take place on Friday September 8th at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Tickets sales are closed at this time, but if interested please contact secretary@spsa.us to check ticket availability.
 
 
If you haven’t renewed yourmembership to SPSA please do. Membership dues are $49/year ($15 for students).  The membership season runs from July 1st until June 30th. See list of benefits at this link:https://spsa.us/spsa-membership-benefits/
 
Payments can be made several ways: 
– SPSA Website: https://spsa.us/membership/join/  
(Paypal check out, you don’t need Paypal account, see attached)
– Venmo users:  send payment to : paypal@spsa.us
– See attached membership form, and mail a check to  Post Office Box 174 St. Petersburg, Fl 33731
 
Please reply to this email,secretary@spsa.us if you have any questions or are having trouble with payments.
 
Don’t forget to renew your WFPHRF Certificate before the season starts. You may also want to read through the West Florida PHRF Class Rules before you renew your cert to have a better and complete understanding of ratings, and the sails and equipment you declare when you fill out the certification form.
 
TheClassic Regattahas been Moved toOctober 21. Details about fundraising opportunities should be available soon. In the meantime you can register for the race atyachtscoring.
 
King of the Bay (KOB) – A great way to tune up the boat and the crew for the new season. Report your times tocommodore@spsa.us.
 
See you out on the Bay

 

 

 
 
 

 

spsa-membership-form2022-23-2.pdf
 
 
 
 

Membership News

Hello Sailors!

The 2023-24 Season is almost here.   We are looking forward to another great season of sailing in Tampa Bay.
 
Membership dues are $49/year ($15 for students).  The membership season runs from July 1st until June 30th. See list of benefits at this link:https://spsa.us/spsa-membership-benefits/
 
Payments can be made several ways: 
– SPSA Website: https://spsa.us/membership/join/  
(Paypal check out, you don’t need Paypal account, see attached)
– Venmo users:  send payment to : paypal@spsa.us
– See attached membership form, and mail a check to  Post Office Box 174 St. Petersburg, Fl 33731
 
Please reply to this email if you have any questions or are having trouble with payments.
 
Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner (9/8/23)
We are thrilled to invite all our members and guests to the highly anticipated Annual Meeting and St Petersburg Sailing Association/SPYC Twilight Awards Banquet, and an evening of elegance and celebration! Join us for a night to remember at the prestigious St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Please contact secretary@spsa.us to check ticket availability.
 
 

BrianConlin

SPSA Membership Chair

https://spsa.us

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcrcXtSgNarvTOFnPSmrRow

https://www.facebook.com/groups/334874608036907

SPSAlogo250.jpg

SPSA is a member of the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) as well as the Florida Sailing Association. 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-Annual-Meeting-menu.pdf
 
spsa-membership-form2022-23-2.pdf
 
SPSA-webstite-paypal.docx

PHRF Certificate Renewals/General Rating Information

Hello, St. Petersburg Sailing Association members!


PHRF rating renewal time is upon us, so we wanted to send a friendly reminder to our members to make sure boat modifications and changes are reported to West Florida PHRF or the SPSA ratings chair (if sailing with a provisional SPSA rating). We believe it's important to keep ratings adjustments up to date to ensure we're all competing respectfully and in a sportsmanlike manner. Below are some examples of the types of credits and penalties we should report to WF PHRF. 


For all classes: Modifications you've made such as increases in rig height/boom length, modifications to underwater appendages, the addition or removal of ballast, or adding an oversized spinnaker need to be reported to West Florida PHRF or the SPSA ratings chair. The full list of penalties is available in appendix C of the West Florida PHRF Class Rules document, which is linked below. 


For cruiser class: In addition to the credits and penalties outlined for all classes in the WF PHRF rule book, the cruiser class enjoys additional credits, as well as a sail cloth penalty. WF PHRF assumes woven polyester is the base material for cruising yachts and applies a penalty for sails made from laminate materials. Sail age is also important to note on your rating application, as credits are issued for woven polyester sails over five years old. Please remember: if you are currently receiving a sail age credit and have purchased new sails, you should report this on your PHRF renewal application. If you add items such as a folding/feathering prop or a roller furling system, these additions should also be reported. With regard to any bulk equipment and canvas credits, these items must be on your boat and fully deployed at all times when racing. 


For more information on credits and penalties, please see appendix C of the West Florida PHRF Class Rules document. 


Microsoft Word – WFPHRF Class Rules CURRENT as of 8-12-21.docx (westfloridaphrf.org)


Thank you, and happy sailing! 


Charles Archer

Rating Chair SPSA

rating.chair@spsa.us 

July Update Membership Renewal

Hello Sailors,
July marks the beginning of a new year for SPSA. Which means it is time to renew your membership. Cost is still just $49 for a year of fantastic racing and social events.
*NOTE: If you first joined SPSA after January 1st 2023, your membership is good until 2024. No need to renew at this time.
Go to SPSA.US  and log-in to renew.


SPSA May Update

Hello Sailors,
 
It’s May and the wind is still blowing and the temperatures are fine. Take every moment you can to go sailing!
 
Let’s see what’s happening:
  • KOB winner for April is Doug Jones and crew sailing DJ Sonar. They sailed the course a couple of times on April 14th. They changed direction on the second run – S-G1 – Lil J – S was the winning time.Congratulations Doug.
  • This Tuesday May 2 at 6:00 – Location TBD – is our next Board of Directors meeting. The meeting is open to all members. Let me know if you plan to attend. Send email to commodore@spsa.us. If you are interested in serving on the SPSA Board of Directors for the upcoming season please let me know too.
  • The SPSA Couples/Doublehanded Regatta will take place on Saturday May 13th. The race will be a pursuit start. Starting times will be announced before race day. This is always a fun event and the last official race of the SPSA 2022/2023 Season. Don’t miss it – sign up now. 
  • There are a few days left to enter the Bone Island Regatta Race to Key West May 17th to the 20th. The race starts in Sarasota. It’s sure to be fantastic, I mean, who doesn’t want to race to Key West! The deadline to sign up is May 6th.
  • Another opportunity to do some long distance racing mixed with a slow cruise home is the May 26-27 iDIYC to Naples Race.
  • Have you heard about the Summer Sailstice? It’s a world wide sailing event taking place the weekend of June 24th celebrating the Summer Solstice. We’d like to plan a sail/meet-up/party possibly in conjunction with other local clubs. If you have ideas or would like to participate on a planning committee, please reach out to me at commodore@spsa.us.
  • One more Item – June will be renewal time for our PHRF certificates. I spent some time recently reading through the WestFloridaPHRF Class Rules and gained a better understanding of the certificate and ratings. Put it on your summer reading list. 
Cast the lines and set off on a sail. See you out on the Bay.
 
Sincerely,

Penny Simone
SPSA Commodore