Rainbow Regatta in Sarasota celebrates 50th year for Florida Women's Sailing Association
CITY ISLAND – The annual Rainbow Regatta marks a milestone for the 80 or so sailors set to slide across Sarasota Bay next week.
This year’s two-day affair is a celebration of the 50th year for the Florida Women’s Sailing Association.
Eleven FWSA sailing clubs from across the state are scheduled to descend upon the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, the home base for the event slated to set sail on Wednesday.
Kellee Johnson is a proud member of the Luffing Lassies, the female sailing club that has headquartered at SSS since its inception in 1972.
“I’m honored to be a part of it,” Johnson said. “Sailing is a great metaphor for life. You learn to be patient and resilient. You have to look ahead and have a plan.
“You get to become part of the ecosystem on the water. You get to see dolphins playing in the water and all kinds of wildlife.”
Johnson took a long and winding road to join the Luffing Lassies three years ago. Although she grew up in Sarasota and enjoyed sailing, her journey toward owning her own media company took her to stops in Chicago, San Francisco and Denver.
After 19 years living outside of the area, she now bases her business here, as well as, spending time in Nashville part of the year.
“I found a way to get back to Sarasota,” Johnson said. “I always knew that I would come back some day.”
All participants will be sailing solo and single-handedly rigging their boats this week. There is only room for one and no other crew in the three classes that will be competing in Sunfish, Prams and International Opti dinghy vessels.
“When you sail solo, you are the captain, the crew and everything else,” said Linda Tiffan, a Luffing Lassie for 16 years, who is a co-chair of this year’s regatta. “It’s quite a challenge. You are responsible for everything.”
The Sailors could take part in as many as six races over the two-day affair. But the conditions will have to cooperate. That includes the unpredictability of spring weather along Florida’s West Coast.
Early weather forecasts call for lots of sunshine and temperatures hovering in the high 80s on Wednesday. Any winds approaching 17 to 18 miles per hour on the Bay could bring the proceedings to a halt.
Eduardo Sylvestre became general manager at SSS last September, after a lengthy stint as World Sailing development director for Central and South America, as well, the Caribbean. He has sailed or coached in 30 different countries and on five continents.
“This 50th anniversary of this regatta is one of the great beacons for us,” Sylvestre said. “The winds and weather are terrific for sailing in the area.”
The Venice Bitter Ends are co-hosting this week’s races, along with the Luffing Lassies. Nine other FWSA clubs are scheduled to be on hand for the two-day event.
Joining the local clubs will be sailors from the Clearwater Bow Chasers, the Davis Island Dinghy Dames, the St. Petersburg Salty Sisters and the Tampa Mainsheet Mamas. The Boca Ciega Rhumb Runners, the Dunedin Wind Lasses, the Daytona Beach Windward Women, the Pass-a-Grille Broad Reachers, and the Sailing Sisters from St. Augustine are also coming along for the ride.
Racing is set to commence on Wednesday, following a skipper’s meeting scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on City Island at the SSS headquarters. Racing is slated to start at 10 a.m. on Thursday, with no races starting later than 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Rainbow Regatta at Sarasota Sailing Squadron celebrates women's sailing club
