RUM RACE #1

The Rum Races went off as planned on February 14 with a small hitch. The skippers meeting was pretty much on schedule and the new to the club skippers were instructed on how the races were to be run. The wind was as promised with speeds in the 20’s - Ross actually clocked it at 26 during the races. The high winds made the catamarans and the foiling boat very happy while the mono-hulls were cautiously happy(?). 

We got in two very fast races, then the heavens opened up with lightening and cold rain. We were greeted on the porch with warm, dry beach towels and the Nectar of the Gods.

There were a total of nine boats which competed, some of which didn’t turn in times and one which doesn’t have a Portsmouth Number listed in US Sailing. We will be researching that to determine the finishing order. 

My excellent crew for this race was Roger Roddy, two things that he never does is sail/race in high winds and rain…oh well so much for that. I think he enjoyed it anyway.

The next race which may be called Rum Races or the Nectar of the Gods will be held on March 13th with the skippers meeting at 11:30 all boats should be ready to sail at that time so that a noon start can be made.
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Ed Sims
S/V Pooneytunes

February Secretary Notes
February 13, 2021

Meeting was on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Gainesville, with 11 in attendance.  A thank you was given to our hosts, Jim and Lisa Edens.  There was one guest, William Clarke of Gainesville, who came to introduce himself and meet some of the club members.  We have new potential members in Rick and Bernadette Gosselin.

We first discussed the recent club inquiries, and addressed who should respond to them.  The vice commodore will be the one to field the inquiries from Jan Schumacher, and decide whether he should respond, or give to someone else in the club.  

A healthy discussion was had about whether or not to proceed with our April Regatta, and if so, how we should go about it.  Some of the issues discussed but not decided were: registration only online in advance vs. day of, early sign up with a reduced fee to catch early commitments, dinner or no dinner, two day or one day regatta.  A motion was made to have the regatta in April, and was seconded.  No plan was made for any details.

A motion was made, seconded and voted on for changing the Race Commodore to an appointed position by the Commodore.  It passed 8-1.  Our new Race Commodore is Lynn Sims, congratulations!!!   She will work with Art to take on race details, chase boats, committee boat duties, volunteers, etc.  

There are a few races coming up, Mt. Dora on March 27 and 28, and the Trans-Monroe race that currently does not have a date yet.  It would be great to show support for other clubs and patronize these regattas.
 
There was a lively discussion about the rum races, from the name to the trophy, and everything in between.  It was decided that we would keep our current arrangement of 1,2 and 3rd place trophies along with a drawing of chips for the big bottle, providing participation is adequate to purchase all of the bottles.  Lisa Edens will get the trophies for the race series.  The spring race series will be renamed, now called “The Nectar of the Gods Series”.  Discussion took place about a potential trophy to be made that would carry on for each series, to memorialize all of the past club members that are no longer with us.