Temperatures in the 70s and winds from 8 to 18 made for fine sailing conditions on the clear waters of Sarasota Bay.

Sailors came from Canada, Chicago, and New York in addition to those from St. Pete, Tampa, and Sarasota, Florida.

Chip Puccio brought crew Fred and Rob from the east end of Long Island. Chip is a new SR owner so, due to northeast winter conditions, had not had a chance to sail the boat before arriving in Sarasota.

Mike Coan made the trip from Chicago with John Wilczinski and picked up Gary Ogden off the dock from the Daysailer fleet.

Two crews trekked down from Canada. Scott and Iza Hansen with crew Emily brought one boat. Tim McCullogh with crew Gord brought another and picked up SSS crew extraordinaire Micki Gramm upon arrival.

Unfortunately, the Hansen crew sustained damage to their keel the first morning when they fell prey to the shifting shoals of the New Pass Inlet. They couldn't sail but had a good time at the Oak Ford Golf Course, which they described as a combination sporting event and wildlife safari.

A blustery, shifty northerly set the scene for the beginning.

The "Viento" crew of Bill Embree, Howard Miller, and nephew Jimmy Embree set the pace in the first race.

The second race things got exciting as "Viento" was leading at the first mark when she got impaled on the crusty iron piling sporting sharp edged beacons. The "Lucky Pony" crew of Donna Steele, Dalton Tebo, Dave Connolly and Charlie Clifton went on to win race two.

The wind was piping pretty good by the time the third race got off. The "Viento" crew patched their jib aboard their tender. Then John House and Dan Wiedenhoft, sailing with NOOD winner Tim Snow, on "Snatch" took the third race.

That left the winners of the first three races each separated by one point at the end of Saturday.

Saturday night Tim Snow had the SR Max Clubhouse parked right across the street from the beer wagon and Bar B Que pit.

Sunday morning the wind was a little lighter and out of the east.

Tim Miller and Mariella Doyle, with Dean Cleall driving "Elixir", romped off to an early morning bullet in race 4.

The "Viento" crew came back with another ace in race 5. Dave and Jeff Olson with cousin Josh Kohlman came second.

That left "Viento", "Snatch" , and "Lucky Pony" all tied going into the last race.

With the easterly dying, the shifts got larger and the puffs more infrequent. The RC set the longest course of the day.

"Viento" popped out to an early lead which she held until the last beat.

"Snatch" and "Lucky Pony" were neck and neck all around the course.

But on the last beat, the two boats began to gain on "Viento". At the finish all three were overlapped and "Lucky Pony" won by a nose.