Thanks to Paul Perry for this report…and for singlehandedly pulling together this Championship.
The Sonar Class Association held the 2025 Midwinters Championship in St. Petersburg, Florida, from February 14-16 at the St Pete Yacht Club. There were seven boats participating from the U.S. and Ireland.
Tacked on to the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series, the Sonar Midwinters Championship promised to be a challenging three days in varying wind conditions and it delivered.
A Weekend of Racing: Testing Skill and Strategy
Day 1 brought steady 7-9 knot winds, shifting gradually from 060° to 045°, with a manageable current. Conditions allowed for efficient course setting, with Sonars battling tight, tactical races throughout the day. With first warning at 1000, the race committee was able to get off four solid races. Kevin Holmberg’s Fawkes managed to win each of the four races though the fleet kept it incredibly close. Caileen Ban was hot on his heels with a total of 10 points and PINGrrrrr sitting in a very close 3rd with 12 points. Competitors returned to the docks by 1530.
Day 2 saw a more dynamic racecourse, with the wind clocking from 145° to 245°. Winds started at 10 knots, softened midday, and picked up again to 10-12 knots. The incoming current and shifting breeze tested crews’ ability to adapt quickly, making for an intense day on the water. With another 1000 first warning, four more races were completed. Fawkes continued their strategy sailing their own race in 5 and 6 securing victories. However, Caileen Ban took the victories in races 7 and 8. PINGrrrrr finished 3rd in each of the 4 races solidifying their placement. With the next day forecast looking windy, the class decided upon a morning of decision for racing.
Day 3 arrived with big breeze and big decisions. With a southerly cold front rolling in, winds built to 17 knots with gusts reaching 31 knots, alongside a 1.25-knot flooding tide. It was a thrilling final day. Four of the fleet went out with the others electing to play it safe and stay on shore. Kevin Holmberg’s team won race 9 followed by Cayennita IV and Sonar 04. There was one breakdown but happily no one was hurt. After race 9, the RC decided conditions were unfavorable and the fleet was sent in.
Over the 3-day regatta, Kevin and crew of Paul Perry, Ryan Gray, and PJ Hornik focused mostly on speed in their pseudo home waters. Changing cars, ensuring proper blocking, and sailing a few degrees off certainly gave them that speed through the chop and light air races. While some sailors focused more on pointing, Fawkes would bow down, power through, and round the top mark in first nearly every time. “Whenever we were tuned properly, our upwind speed was unmatched. After that and tactics, our biggest focus was on maneuvering. Executing a gybe or setting faster than the boat next to us gave us the edge a few times. We like to dial it in on our own race. Whether there are 30 boats on the course or 3, getting wrapped up in someone else’s tactics will distract you from what you know your boat is capable of doing well.” -Fawkes crew
Kevin Holmberg won the midwinters championship with a total of 11 points over 9 races. This gave him a commanding lead over John Twomey (24 points) and Sue Davidson (32 points).
Sonar Midwinter Championship Results
Final Sonar Standings:
🥇 Fawkes – Kevin Holmberg – Consistently strong throughout the event, Kevins team executed on their strategies, maintained speed through the chop, and sailed each race as if it was the only one which mattered.
1st Place at the 2025 Sonar Midwinters: Fawkes – Ryan Grey, Paul Perry, Kevin Holmberg, PJ Hornik
🥈 Caileen Ban – John Twomey – The Irish team from Cork delivered an outstanding performance, proving their skill in a variety of conditions. John’s boat was difficult to catch and if he rounded a mark in front of you, it was highly unlikely you’d be regaining ground.
2nd Place at the 2025 Sonar Midwinters: Caileen Ban – Michael Leinweber, John Twomey, Brad Kendall, Bryan Tabler (not pictured)
🥉 PINGrrrr – Sue Davidson – Demonstrating resilience and speed, rounding out the top three with competitive finishes each day. Sue was always a player at the top of the fleet. She played it safely and would adapt to what other boats around were doing to avoid losing ground and put her at a tactical advantage.
3rd Place at the 2025 Sonar Midwinters: PINGrrrrr – Sue Davidson, Jan Promer, Audrey Orgo (not pictured), Clay Smith, Lori Ledbetter
Special thanks to the seven sonars who came out to race. Without them, this regatta would not have happened. Each day upon hitting the docks, some of the fleet would gather and talk about tuning and tactics which worked for the recent races. We live for the competition but are only as good as the fleet as a whole. Every Sonar finished their days with a happy crew, positive feelings, and smiles on their faces. A true Corinthian spirit and what the class is all about!
(The crew members are not in order)
Acknowledgments:
This event would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Race Organizer Sarah Renz, Sailing World Editor & Master of Ceremonies Dave Reed, and the team of Principal Race Officers (PROs):
Mark F. DeGuire
Todd Fedyszyn
Dick Nevel
Jennifer Dorsch
Darcy Cook
Mike Kaspar (Chief Judge)
A sincere thank you to the St. Petersburg Yacht Club for hosting another world-class event. From race management to dock operations and hospitality, the dedication of the club and St. Petersburg Sailing Center ‘s staff, volunteers, and members ensures a top-tier regatta experience year after year.
A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors & Partners
The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series – St. Petersburg and the Sonar Midwinter Championship were made possible through the generous support of:
Helly Hansen Heritage
Mount Gay Rum
Quantum Sails
Helly Hansen Today
SailFlow
Marlow Ropes
Sunsail
Team One Newport
J/Boats, Newport, RI
US Sailing
Fishers Island Lemonade
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater
Ripe Bar Juices
British Virgin Islands
Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas
SafeSail
Regatta Rescue
With another Sonar Midwinter Championship in the books, we congratulate all competitors and look forward to another incredible year of racing. Until next time—fair winds and following seas!