LAKE EUSTIS SAILING CLUB

The lake winds tested the catamarans on Lake Eustis Sailing Clubs Annual Catamaran Regatta over the weekend. These are the boats with two hulls. When the wind is up a little, and they can lift the windward hull out of the water to sail on just one narrow hull in the water, they go very fast. When the wind drops and they have to pull both hulls through the water, they go very slow. Over the week end they were having patches of fast and slow all over the lake as the wind gusts and lulls were coning and going.. It tested their abilities of changing gears from fast to slow and trying to stay in the windy streaks on the water. The numbers from 40 or 50 boats of 2 years ago to 26 this past weekend was blamed on the economy with fewer sailors traveling.
Catamarans are not raced regularly at the local sailing club, but two members sailed this weekend. Luke Yates, Youth member, Optimist Pram and Laser sailor, crewed for Pete Halley of Daytona Beach on a Hobie 16 to win their division. Richard Kinnie of Ocoee and LESC member sailing an A catamaran for his second year was second in the first of 10 races ending up 6th of the 9 boats in the A catamaran fleet. Richard usually sails an MC scow at Lake Eustis, but can often be seen sailing his A cat with it’s tall square headed sail, when he practices on the lake.
First place A cat was Chris Cordes, second Rush Bird, and third was Woody Cope. There were five Hobie 16 with first place Pete Halley of Halifax SC in Daytona Beach, second was Steve Grinstead and third Mike Burley.
The other seven types of catamarans were raced against each other in two groups on time allowances, adding time to the finishes of the faster boats. The first in the non-spinnaker group with the slowest boat, a Hobie 14 with Bill Brooks. Second was John Cole sailing a Hobie Getaway and third was Mike Teal sailing a Hobie 17 Sport.
The Spinnaker fleet was lead by David Ingram sailing a Formula 18 and second place was Beth Bonifant with another Formula 18 and third was Matt McDonald in a Formula 16.
Next weekend the sailing club goes back to club races on the weekend with sailing lessons on Saturday.