Florida Sunfish Regional Championships

Punta Gorda Florida: May 15-16, 2004

 

Sun Herald Story

By CHRISTIAN CZERWINSKI

Staff Writer for Sun Herald

cczerwinski@sun-herald.com.

 

 

Sailing skills: Charlie Clifton works to keep his lead over Conner Blouin during the Sunfish Regatta in Charlotte Harbor on Saturday afternoon.

Sun photo by Lester Kuhn

Regatta draws state wide participants

A few scattered showers didn't hamper ardent sailors vying for victory during the South East Region Sunfish Regatta Saturday and Sunday in Charlotte Harbor.

Participants ranging in age from 16 to 76 emerged from their 12-foot sailboats early Sunday afternoon looking haggard, but with most still managing a smile. Participants came from both Florida coasts and 12 boats came from the Melbourne Yacht Club.

Under a combination of dark clouds in the west and slightly sunny skies in the east, the little boats scooted along the water, jockeying for even the slightest advantage.

All of the boats, which cost between $2,000-$3,000, are identical. Because of the design, the skills of the sailor are the primary contributor to victory.

During the regatta -- which consisted of seven races -- the overall points winner from 35 boats earned an invitation to the world championship race in 2005. Race chairman Dennis Peck called the event "very successful."

The race course was about three-quarters of a mile, and participants completed multiple rounds. About 10 family members and friends watched the race.

The points winner, David Mendelblatt, 33, from St. Petersburg, didn't plan on celebrating too much over his victory. Sunday wasn't the first time he achieved first place.

Since he already qualified for the world championship, second-place finisher Jeff Linton from Tampa earned a birth in the 2005 race.

"It feels great to win. I'll probably just go home, have a nice dinner and get ready for another race," said Mendelblatt, a sailor since age nine. He participates in about 10 races a year.

"I was consistent this weekend and I placed in the top four in all seven races. I think I started well, and a little luck never hurt."

Conner Blouin, 16, from Tampa finished in the top five, but still hoped to finish a little higher. Blouin worked out hard for the race, but knew he had to add some strength to win.

"This is fun and I'm good at it, but I need to get bigger," said the eight-year sailing veteran. "I messed up when the wind came up, because I'm not strong enough to hold down the boat. The more experience, the better."

Some sailors, who brought up the back of the pack, still didn't fret too much. Instead, they enjoyed a day outside doing what they loved.

"I am still proud and I was having fun," said Bonnie Sevier, 62, of Tampa. "It's great fun and great exercise. It's also about the people and the camaraderie. You make great friends here."

 

FULL RESULTS:

Sail #

Last Name

First Name

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Score

Place

79320

Mendelblatt

David

1

1

2

4

3

2

2

15

1

75316

Linton

Jeff

2

4

3

1

1

1

4

16

2

4480

Blouin

Conner

3

2

1

7

2

8

1

24

3

7

Merrifield

Pete

9

5

4

2

6

12

9

47

4

37417

Lowrie

Chris

4

8

7

3

10

4

17

53

5

93059

Strammer

Fred

5

7

13

16

10

5

3

59

6

79323

Hartman

David

8

6

6

6

12

8

15

61

7

48474

Clifton

Charlie

11

3

5

5

34

3

5

66

8

78453

Escobar

Danny

18

12

11

11

5

12

10

79

9

78163

Fletcher

John

14

23

10

14

7

6

13

87

10

26898

Rahn

Charlie

12

15

8

20

14

11

8

88

11

61654

Elliot

Tony

21

13

12

13

13

10

11

93

12

76432

Pantall

Rick

15

9

16

15

8

7

25

95

13

79258

Wolfsohn

Brian

7

10

19

18

16

18

24

112

14

84800

Strauley

Mindy

17

18

17

8

21

16

16

113

15

76380

Silverman

David

22

14

21

17

11

19

18

122

16

22527

Erickson

Erik

25

19

18

23

20

17

7

129

17

59115

Clifton

Cindy

13

26

14

27

15

21

14

130

18

59935

Haberland

Bill

16

22

9

21

4

33

32

137

19