With winter quickly closing in and boats in the East and Midwest headed for garages, it’s time to plan your winter 505 sailing.
The two events to mark down on your calendar are the Midwinters in St. Petersburg, FL from February 24th-26th and the Carolina YC Regatta in Wrightsville Beach, NC from March 31st-April 1st. Recaps from last year’s great events can be found here and here.
One idea that I’ve heard around the class with more frequency than past years is for more winter events or some kind of winter circuit. I am personally supportive of this concept though there are many logistics challenges. Other classes like the Etchells, Melges 20’s, Vipers and J80’s have obviously had great success with their winter circuits and these events are essential parts of the seasons in those classes. Do we as a class think a Florida and Carolina circuit could be put together and would people attend? I imagine we could likely get a dozen people on board with 3-5 events; would it grow? Would this many events entice any Canadians to come down and thaw out?
Would this work:
Miami or Ft. Lauderdale late January
Ft. Meyers or St. Petersburg early February
Midwinters in St. Petersburg late February
Wrightsville in early April
Charleston Race Week in late April if we can get in?
Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
I would need a 3rd boat.
Mike
I think Miami or St. Pete, January or February would be good. Miami does get crowded the last week in January because of OCR.
Ft. Lauderdale then?
Lauderdale could be good. Usually nice waves in the ocean and a good time for breeze. I only suggested Miami and St Pete because I know we already have boats there. Not sure if that really matters. The first weekend of Feb lauderdale runs a finn/ laser radial regatta. All part of the OCR winter circuit.
Maui is nice that time of year.