February 15 – 17, 2019 • Hosted by the St. Petersburg YC
So I asked myself again this year what would possess me to drive thru ice and snow, and leave my comfy confines at home in the polar vortex for the hope of sunny weather and decent sailing breeze for the Sonar Midwinters at the St. Pete NOOD. I keep telling myself I’ve done enough of these, I’m getting too old for these road trips and nobody else will bother to travel
Well the drive lived up to its misery (no disasters, I’m just getting old), but when I see Gene Hinkel doing the run like a ride to the grocery store, I’ve stopped complaining.
So although the ice and freezing rain made pumping gas and checking the trailer straps brutal, I think the El Niño came just in time for this years regatta. Sunny skies, temps in the 80’s, and sailing in t-shirts with 7-17 knot steady SW’ly all weekend. This years Sonar Midwinters was the most memorable conditions St. Pete could offer.
The racing was tricky as always here, as the wind direction had the course tucked up against the shore and the veering breezes were balanced by geographic effects of the peninsula. Stronger puffs were often found out to the left, shifts to the right. The fleet was often exchanging positions, with competitive finishes.
As always, the NOOD parties were outstanding with great music, splendid weather and fun RC boat racing in the pool. The SPYC was a fantastic host and we look forward to meeting back here next year.
See you at the Worlds,
Rick.
