February 3, 2018


Southern Station Winter “Doings”

The 42nd Ft. Lauderdale to Key West Race, the third race of the Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) Islands in the Stream Series, took place in January, 2018.   The Storm Trysail Club (STC) and its Southern Station members were well represented on the winner’s podium and received several awards.

Privateer, a Cookson 50, owned by Ron O’Hanley, was first in the IRC Class.  Rear Commodore Ed Cesare was on board as the Navigator.  Privateer was awarded the Committee Trophy for Most Outstanding Performance in the fleet.  Ed Cesare was presented with the prestigious Navigator’s Trophy. Steve and Heidi Benjamin sailing their TP 52, Spookie, finished third in IRC.

Jim Bill, STC Southern Station member, along with co-owners Eamon de Lisser and Horst Baier, took second in PHRF A  on their Farr 395, Senara.  They also took second place in the overall PHRF Fleet.  Scott Giering and Joe Goulet, also STC members, were on board, and Joe was awarded the Navigator’s Trophy.  Senara, sailing in Sunday’s Conch Grinder Cup, took first place in its Class.

Representing the Storm Trysail Club, Scott Giering and Jim Bill presented the awards for the Ft. Lauderdale to Key West Race.  Shown below are the crew of Senara and Steve and Heidi Benjamin receiving their awards.

The third Regatta in the Etchells Biscayne Bay Series, the Florida State Championship, hosted by the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, took place February 3rd and 4th, 2018.  Steve Benjamin and crew took second in the Regatta.  As the top Florida boat, Steve was awarded the Florida State Championship Trophy for the third year in a row.

The Biscayne Bay Yacht Club (BBYC) Regatta Committee, chaired by STC Southern Station Member Bruce Harper, serves as the RC for all of the Etchells Regattas.  Ken Batzer is to be commended for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Etchells fleet.  Stuart Childerley is the PRO for all of the Etchells regattas.  

Many STC members are members of the BBYC Regatta Committee.  Remaining events on the BBYC calendar include the Etchells Mid-Winters Eastern Championship and the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta J-70s Class in March and the Stars Western Hemisphere in April. 

Bill Moriarty, Southern Station Fleet Captain

Photo Credits: Chris Woolsey & Cindy Saunders


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