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YourHub.com \\ Fort Pierce \\ Stories \\ Outdoor Sports, Activities \\ Boating

Octogenarian Sailing Challenge @ FP Yacht Club

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Contributed by: Charles Jones on 5/29/2008

THE OCTOGENARIAN CHALLENGE RACE
May 17, 2008

Members of the Fort Pierce Yacht Club and their guest, the Saint Lucie Sailing Club, joined forces to promote the sport of sailing. The main event was the First Annual Octogenarian Challenge Race which featured two senior members of the Fort Pierce Yacht Club with identical "Slipper 17" sail boats. The two friends agreed, after a little urging to give their all for the sake of betterment of the "Club".
The combatants were Dick Spalding, past Commodore 88 years old, in "Huff & Puff" and Charlie Jones, in Blue Moon, 82. Both men selected two of the clubs top racers to serve as their crew. Dick chose Lou Tomasovic, also President of the Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation. Captain Charlie chose Joe Krivan, also a past Commodore of the FPYC.
The course was set up by two members of the TCYSF, Candace Banack Treasure, in her pontoon boat, and again Lou Tomasovic, President of the TCYSF. An estimated crowd of 170 people were lined up on the FPYC Balcony, the sidewalk and the dock anxiously awaiting to cheer on their favorite sailor.
The two boats battled for position at the starting line heading south toward the City Marina but Captain Charlie was flagged for crossing the start line too early and had to circle and go back around to the starting line. That gave "Huff & Puff" a leg up and he rounded the first buoy at least two boat lengths ahead. They were almost neck and neck at the second buoy with "Huff & Puff" in the lead. Heading back south toward the City Marina again Captain Dick got caught in the heavy 4 knot current and ran into the mark requiring him to do a 360 around the buoy. This gave Blue Moon the break he needed to close the gap and take the lead and finish with a three boat length win with the crowd cheering.
Captain Charlie was gracious in victory, stating that he had agreed to the challenge since the worst he could finish was second place and that would be his best finish ever in his racing career.
After the race the crowd was treated to hamburgers and hot dogs prepared by the FPYC Chef, Charlie Hayek with plenty side dishes and fancy desserts there was more than enough to go around. Certainly, a good time was had by all!

The Fort Pierce Yacht Club was founded in 1980 for the purpose of promoting safe boating and associated activities for both power and sailing craft. The Club has been historically been active in major boating events along the Treasure Coast, hosting many competitive invitational sailing regattas, plus pre-Olympic trials for sail boarding and sponsoring the Lincoln Park Academy Sail Team.
The FPYC has also adopted a spoil island in the Indian River Lagoon. On Island SL7, north of the north bridge in Fort Pierce, club members cleaned up and constructed fire pits and picnic tables for use by all visiting boaters. In addition, the Club hosts local raftups, weekend cruises, island picnics and a variety of social events at it's clubhouse on Indian River Drive. For more information visit HYPERLINK "http://www.fortpierceyachtclub.com" http://www.fortpierceyachtclub.com or call 772-461-9152

The FPYC also sponsors the Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation, founded in 2005. The foundation teaches 9 to 15 year-old kids how to sail in Optimist dinghy class sailboats. Summer sailing camps for beginner and intermediate sailing are held at Jaycee Park in Fort Pierce. The two week summer camps for 2008 will begin on June 9th. The Club also began the first adult sailing classes this spring. For more information visit HYPERLINK "http://tcysf.homestead.com" http://tcysf.homestead.com or call 772-462-0230.

The Saint Lucie Sailing Club is located in Stuart, Martin County Florida. It was established in 1975 as a place where sailors could go race or cruise in our area. For more information visit the web site at HYPERLINK "http://www.stluciesailingclub.com/slsc or phone 772-475-6820" http://www.stluciesailingclub.com/slsc or phone 772-475-6820

Photo Captions
Photos by Arland Phelps
.0013 - Racers Charlie Jones and Dick Spalding with Master of Ceremonies Joe Marinaro.
.0016 - Dick Spalding with crew member Lou Tomasovic with MC Joe Marinaro.
.0017 - Crew member Joe Krivan being interviewed by MC Joe Marinaro.
.0019 - waiting for the races to begin inside the FPYC Clubhouse.
.0023 - Candace Banack and Clive Daem setting the buoys.
.0028 - Huff and Puff under sail.
.0031, .0036 , .0050, .0066, .0068, &.0073 - The crowd is getting anxious and moving outside the clubhouse.
.0032 - Blue Moon surveying the course.
.0033 - Huff and Puff and Blue Moon nearing a buoy.
.0054 - Blue Moon closes the gap.

For any questions contact:
Tom Tutterrow
772-465-8007

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