Despite the havoc that
Hurricane Charley brought to Punta Gorda in 2004, we
welcomed the opportunity to bring the Sunfish Class back to the area. I personally could not wait to get back to
the area to see friends I hadn’t seen in over a year and to enjoy the
hospitality that is always bestowed upon us from the locals.
We knew it wasn’t going to
be the typical “roll out of your bed and into your boats” convenience we had
been spoiled by, given that Charley turned the Harbor Inn into the vacant lot
it now is. But, we were ready to
experience a different type of race venue in Punta Gorda,
despite having to wake up before getting out to the course.
In anticipation of a great
weekend, I cut out of work early and was on the road by noon on Friday. Our traveling tunes blaring on the radio for
the first 3 hours and a switch to our race ready “Guns n’ Roses” CD for last ½
hour.
Friday evening we enjoyed a
get together at the Rowland (Rose and John) household where we were able to
meet the race crew and offer some bribes (but none were taken).
Saturday twenty-six sailors
arrived at the new sailing site of the Punta Gorda
Sailing Club. It was a sunny day with
winds ranging from 5-8 out of the North.
Four races were sailed with Joe Blouin leading
at the end of Saturday, followed by Paul Strauley.
Sunday also greeted us with
hot-sunshine and light winds (5-8mph) out of the North. Towards the end of the 3rd race
you can tell everyone was getting over-heated and tired. One more mark rounding to the finish and the
“loudest” highlight (for me) of the regatta presented itself.
I am working on a 5th
place, maybe 6th if Charlie Clifton could get past me. Coming to the last leeward mark everyone is
outside of me, commotion behind me as Danny Escobar (on port) must have
misplaced his port-starboard stickers, as he takes half the fleet (on
starboard) for a ride. I approach the
mark, ignoring the screaming behind me, knowing I have room but not enough to
do a wide jibe without taking off Paul’s head, who was
just outside me. So, I round slow, close to the mark but next thing I know Paul is
yelling at me, “you need to go up, go up.
Can’t you round a mark. Blah, blah blah
(you fill in the words).” But obviously
I couldn’t go anywhere, because as Paul did his jibe, his big fat butt landed
on my tiller instead of his own boat. I
responded, “get your big, fat _ _ _ off my boat so I can move.”
Suffice it to say, we split
tacks, annoyed at the situation. Joe Blouin maintained his lead to win the Florida Regionals at Punta Gorda. Trophies were given out and everyone extended
their congratulatory remarks to PGSC for a job well done.
For me, my trip home was way
different than my anticipatory trip to Punta Gorda.
It was a long 3 ½ hour ride home with Paul as the only thing breaking the
silence was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pouncing the
Buffalo Bills. We pulled into our
driveway as I turned to Paul with my first words being, “What were you
thinking?” His response, “I wasn’t.”
Paul and I look forward to
going back to Punta Gorda and he promises that next
time he will think while he sails instead of watching Danny mess up.
Full Results as follows:
|
Place |
Name |
Total points |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
R5 |
R6 |
R7 |
|
1 |
Joe Blouin |
24 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
1 |
|
2 |
James Leibl |
34 |
7 |
2 |
8 |
11 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
3 |
Jeff Olson |
35 |
3 |
6 |
12 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
4 |
Paul Strauley |
55 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
3 |
8 |
18 |
6 |
|
5 |
Tony Elliott |
60 |
10 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
13 |
3 |
9 |
|
6 |
Mindy Strauley |
64 |
14 |
8 |
13 |
1 |
14 |
4 |
10 |
|
7 |
Ursula Olson |
65 |
13 |
11 |
14 |
9 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
|
8 |
Danny Escobar |
67 |
4 |
10 |
3 |
15 |
7 |
11 |
17 |
|
9 |
Charlie Clifton |
69 |
11 |
9 |
4 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
5 |
|
10 |
David Olson |
73 |
27 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
27 |
4 |
|
11 |
Cindy Clifton |
77 |
27 |
14 |
1 |
5 |
12 |
7 |
11 |
|
12 |
John Fletcher |
80 |
2 |
13 |
16 |
16 |
10 |
8 |
15 |
|
13 |
Bob McElwain |
81 |
6 |
7 |
27 |
7 |
11 |
9 |
14 |
|
14 |
David Hartman |
84 |
12 |
1 |
19 |
21 |
6 |
13 |
12 |
|
15 |
Erik Erickson |
86 |
16 |
17 |
11 |
14 |
9 |
6 |
13 |
|
16 |
Rita Steele |
91 |
8 |
15 |
15 |