The 2016 Tradewinds and US F18, F16 and Hobie Wave Midwinters were held over Martin Luther King weekend at Guy Harvey’s Islander Resort in Islamorada, FL. This regatta is open to F18s, F16s, Hobie 16s, Hobie Waves, Wetas and Open Beach Cats. We have 3 days of typical 15-20 knots of wind in the flat, crystal clear water of the Florida Keys. Teams began arriving Friday to some less than ideal conditions due to a low pressure system rolling through Southern Florida creating 25+knots of wind and thunderstorms. 12 F18s registered to race sharing a course with the F16s.
Saturday brought east winds 5-10 knots with a 12:30pm start. Everyone was eager to get off the beach and do some sailing, considering the looming low pressure system that would be coming our way Saturday night into Sunday evening. 4 races took place where pin end of the line was favored for most of the day, however the current definitely made the sailors have to fight their way off the line. The first race, the sailors who went out right for the first and second upwind leg made huge gains compared to the rest of the fleet who went course side left. During the second race, both sides of the course seemed to be equal with little advantages from playing more of the left middle of the upwind course. For Races 3 and 4, the lefties were rolling in; however, during Race 4 there was a crazy and sudden header on course side right near the windward mark that gave everyone a run for their money. This greatly divided the fleet with Ravi Parent/Sam Armington and Ken Marshack/Arielle Darrow having a severe lead compared to the rest of the fleet. At the end of the day, Ravi Parent and Sam Armington took 4 bullets, Ken Marshack and Arielle Darrow are in 2nd place with 6 points and Jeff Rehm and Collin Rehm are in 3rd place with 12 points. There was 1 point separating everyone in 3rd place to 7th place.
A strengthening area of low pressure system came into the area Sunday morning, which brought along with it gale warnings and small craft advisories. Winds were clocked above 40 knots and at one point gusts were at 49.1 knots. Everyone met for a Skipper’s Meeting at 9am and then at 11:30am to discuss whether to go out or not. It was finally decided it has not calmed down enough to safely hold races. Everyone then hit the roads to Key West to enjoy the day.
A cold front then set quickly in on the Keys with an area of high pressures setting in 
producing winds out of the North at 15-24 knots. The day started off with everyone trying to find clothes to wear or wearing everything they brought due to having an early start at 9am where the temperature was at 560F. The first race was off where the pin end of the line was slightly more favored and Dave Ingram/Terry Beck rocketed off the line. Everyone raced to course side life to find relief from the waves. During the race there were multiple capsizes/pitch poles that left some boats with damages. Some F18s and F16s turned to shore due to break downs or the wind being to strong for some to sail. Race two of the day continued to on with the same results of course side left being favored with a very nice lift on port tack on the windward leg. Laura Muma/Alex Shafer took first place that race. There was long lull of time in between race two and three of the day due to a capsized boat. Race three and final race of the day finally occurred with it having three laps instead of the typical two laps for the whole regatta. Ken Marshack/Arielle Darrow held first place the whole race by staying out further left on the upwind legs before taking the port tack layline in to the windwark mark. Everyone was delighted to head in after that race to put on dry clothes and enjoy some hot beverages. Ken 
Marshack/Arielle Darrow took first place overall, Laura Muma/Alex Shafer took second place overall and Dick MacDonald/Karl Landfeld took third overall. It was another successful regatta with an awesome race committee and a very reliable safety boat. We are excited to see what Tradewinds Regatta and F18 Midwinters will bring for us in 2017.
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