Category Archives: News

Joe Corey Memorial Sail – Sun 1/24

*** Update: Rescheduled for Sun 1/24 due to weather forecast ***

The club will gather the fleet at the St Petersburg Pier @ Noon on Sat Jan 23rd for a sail in remembrance of last year’s Rear Commodore Joe Corey who recently lost his battle with cancer.   Commodore Richard Boler will lead the fleet out to the Big “J” marker where we will drop sail and sound 8 bells.  Meet afterwards at Courigan’s for a toast with a Foster’s, Joe’s favorite.   I’d like to see everybody’s boat come out for this.   Those without boats, contact me and I will arrange for you to attend on one of the club’s boats.  In case of inclement weather, we will go Sunday 1/24.

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Twas the Night Before Christmas

In memory of Joe Corey 1951 – 2015 

Sail on, sail on, Sailor
You’ve stood your final watch

Twas the night before Christmas, I swung on the hook. Passed out on the settee, asleep with my book. When up on the deck I heard footsteps and stuff: I’ve been boarded! I thought, and I tried to be tough. Then down the companionway hatch came a dude. He was dressed like a nut and I thought “I am screwed”! But he laughed and he hummed and he surveyed my junk. So I figured he must be the resident drunk. His eyes were lit up like a junkie on speed. But he gave me a whole bunch of stuff that I need. Like rum and cigars, new charts and a dinghy and some kind of fancy electrical thingy. I thought it was stolen but I wasn’t telling. I hoped he was giving and wasn’t just selling. I poured him a grog which he downed with a wink. Then I poured one for me (I sure needed a drink). Then he staggered above to the dark tropic night. As I peeked I beheld an incredible sight. Eight tiny dolphins and a beautiful sleigh. And the dude hopped aboard and prepared to make way. The dolphins were ready to power the sled, but the guy raised a jenny and mains’l instead. With a burp and a chuckle he gathered the breeze and called to the dolphins now swimming with ease. “On Fatty and Foxy and old Barracuda! On Teva and Mountgay, Antigua, Barbuda! Or whatever your names, you cute little fishes, here’s to every last sailor, my best Christmas wishes.” As he sailed away leaving a wobbly wake, I hoped he had not many stops left to make. He got close to shore and he soon was aground, but the dolphins proceeded to pull him around. And I heard him exclaim as he sailed out of sight, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.” 

2016 New Year’s Fun Sail

SPSA will be celebrating the New Year Saturday Jan 2nd with a fun sail around the buoys!  There are no prizes other than fun.  Good practice before the St Pete Classic the following weekend!!

This will be a pursuit style race so we all finish close to the same time. There will be no RC boat. The first boat will start at noon.  You will start at SPSA mark “B” at your designated time on the attached sheet on your honor. You will sail the course, the order of finish determines winner. Meet up is at Courigan’s Pub afterwards.

 

Start at “B” at your designated time. Leave to port within 2 boat lengths.

Sail to E, J, F, and finish back at B, leaving the mark to port within 2 boat lengths. All marks to port.

 

On behalf of the board, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas! 

Steve Shortt

SPSA Vice Commodore

 

 

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2015 Series Race Results #7 & #8 Posted

The results from Saturday’s races #7 & #8 have been posted on the website at http://www.spsa.us/racing/spsa-series/results/

 

It was a beautiful December day… sunny, warm, and just enough breeze.   We had about a dozen boats show up and the fleet all stayed pretty close together respectively to the divisions making for some good racing.  Thanks to Rear Commodore Tony Barrett and the crew of “Back Off” for taking care of Race Committee and making some awesome chili for the Christmas party afterwards.   The gift exchange was a hoot, with the commodore walking away with his diesel oil that he brought and “Back off” gaining an antique 15 lb. winch handle that can double as a hammer or an anchor!  Don’t drop it on your toes!!  A couple boats went on over to watch the Christmas boat parade later.

 

That’s pretty much a wrap for 2015.  Our next event is a New Year’s fun sail the first Saturday of January followed by the St Petersburg Classic Regatta 1/12.

 

On behalf of SPSA, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  

 

Steve Shortt

SPSA Vice Commodore

 

 

2015 St Petersburg Boat Show

The SPSA crew will be working in the Southwinds Magazine booth at the St Petersburg Boat Show Fri, Sat and Sunday. Stop by and say hi! Fair warning though, if you get us started talking about sailboats, you might be there a while!!