SAISA Fall 2v2 Team Race

Saturday morning was clear and cool for the area, warming quickly from the low 70's to low 80's by race time. After a skipper's meeting to review the course, and introduce the various R/C and Jury boat personnel to the competitors, the sailors finished rigging their boats and set off into the Halifax River. Sailing out of the Halifax Sailing Association's Sailing Center in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Sailing would be two rounds of six races for the four teams attending, with a single rotation in-between the rounds. While we setup the course just south of our facilities, a steady 8-10 knot breeze filled from the NE, just a forecasted. The races were exceptionally competitive, and the scores might suggest that there was some level of dominance on the course, but many of the races had to have the finish orders confirmed from the video captured, as boats were regularly overlapped crossing the line.

Kudos to the JU Fins and Dolphins, who tied for the top spots, while the Eckerd College Women Tritons and the host Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Eagles tied for the lower spots. The Tritons won the tie-breaker over the Eagles. Thanks to our out-of-town sailors. We hope you had as much fun attending as we had hosting.

This event would not have been possible without the many volunteers that worked to make it happen. Thanks to the unnamed army of ERAU Sailing Club members who helped prepare the fleet on Friday. Thanks to the ERAU Offshore Sailing Club President, Kevin Martin, who brought our Evelyn 32-2, Lively, to serve as the finish boat for our digital N course. He had help from Zoe Spanos and Brian Herbster, student volunteers from our Sailing Club. The Start boat was skippered by ERAU Sailing Club Faculty Advisor Chris Herbster, with time and flags by Lisa Herbster, and Kathy Sinnett. Jury 1 was skippered by Todd Stebleton (owner) with Jury Chris Sinnett. Jury 2 was skippered by Mark Baker with Jury Dave Dunn (owner). Both of these boats also helped to establish our course, and also worked to tweak the course when the changing tide collapsed the finish line to about one boat length by turning Lively during a race. Thanks to the Halifax Sailing Association and Halifax Youth Sailors, who worked with us so that we could all occupy our shared facilities and do our own thing. Thanks! All this with a sunken sailboat at our dock, another wedged on shore adjacent to our pier, and docks closed due to damage from hurricane Ian.