Hey Sailor,

Here’s our listing of the upcoming events and other things.  This us a no frills email blast attempt from Dallas TX on my iPad.  I hope it works!

King of the Bay. Today through Monday look like easy pickings for a winner for November 2020.  

2 December SPSA Board meeting.  Another Zoom event starting at 6 PM.  On the agenda: post race planning for the next series race day and New Year’s Day pursuit race.  Those are the pressing decisions.  We will work other things too.  All SPSA Members are encourage to sit in.  Send me an email for the Zoom meeting invite. TreinenRich@aol.com

5 December Fall Series Race Day #4, 11 AM.  Dan Dawson on Last Tango is your Race Committee.  We really need good weather conditions to finish up the Fall Series.  With only 3 completed races so far, we need two more. It would be a crying shame to end up with surplus funds in the liquid trophy budget.  We might burn up the current excess funding with a top shelf brand.  If you are a skipper looking for crew or vice a versa we will do what we can under the current conditions to get you out on the Bay. Email Brian at Membership@SPSA.us

5 December Post Race Gathering.  To be discussed at our Board Meeting.  Watch for an email blast with details. 

1 January 2021 Pursuit Race.  This is a 2 PM start for obvious reasons. There will be defining info posted at the very end of 2020.  Watch for course information and start times in an email blast, on the SPSA web page, on the SPSA FaceBook page and thumb tacked up on the SPSA bulletin board at the Sailing Center.  Yes we have an old fashioned bulletin board.  If you’ve never seen one, look above the drinking fountain. If you are looking for a ride or crew contact Brian at Membership@SPSA.us

1 January 2021 Post Race Gathering.  In years past we have served food and held a gift exchange. Not really a White Elephant gift exchange, not all the gifts were crap, a couple items were worth testing a friendship. There are rules, they are subject to interpretation as the conditions require and the Commodore always has the final say.  Don’t worry – I ended up with an old rusty anchor last year.  However, Robert was Commodore last year.  Watch for an email blast once we figure out what we can pull off in the glaring light of the surge. 

16 January 2021  Spring Series Race Day #1.   This is the beginning of the second half of the 2020-21 SPSA Series.  You need not have participated in the Fall Series to be in the running for the Spring Series awards.   Someone with a boat for Race Committee is needed.  If you haven’t signed up yet for your turn, here’s your chance.  Not knowing how to do RC is not a valid excuse, an experienced sailor will be there for on the job training.  Please send an email if you can help out. TreinenRich@aol.com

Sad news.  Long time member Jack O’Connell has died.  Jack served as SPSA Commodore from September of 2005 through August of 2007 and as Rating Chair for two consecutive years, 2008-10.  More recently he was one of our skippers for a day sail with the Freedom Sailing Camp and On Board for Autism.  Click the link to view the video of this great event.  Gael Force, a Hunter 29.5, and her skipper will be missed by the SPSA.  Fair weather and good winds from all of us Jack.    https://www.facebook.com/StPetersburgSailingAssociation/videos/540318676694119/