Bluster on the Bay January 13-15, 2017
The Bluster on the Bay was created and hosted by Hobie Division 8 and Red Gear Racing and held out of the Magnusson Resort in Tampa, FL and the course was in the shadow of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This was inaugural regatta for the Bluster on the Bay and had a great showing with about 70 boats consisting of A cats, Hobie 16’s, F16’s, F18’s and a wave class. We were run on a single course setup as a trapezoid course. I enjoy sailing a trapezoid course because it gives you a very different 
look that we don’t get exposed to at other weekend regattas. This was a 3 day alternate scoring regatta so for those teams that couldn’t make Friday they could still sail Saturday and Sunday and be scored with their fleets.
Friday started off warm with moderate breezes in the 10-12 knot range. The F16’s, F18’s and open classes started together. We sailed 3 races and Robbie Daniel and Charles Tomeo sailed consistently at the top of the fleet. After racing we were shuttled to downtown St Pete for the pub crawl. St. Pete has a lot of 
watering holes and enough to satisfy just about any personality.
Saturday’s conditions picked up where Friday left off maybe a little lighter and we sailed 3 more races. Robbie had equipment issue forcing to the beach for repairs. This allows the youth team from Sarasota to take the only bullet Robbie would spare. Saturday the regatta provided dinner onsite and raffled off a pile of awesome products from Red Gear Racing, Zhik and several other sponsors.
Sunday started off a bit lighter and was forecast to fade and fortunately we were able to get 2 races off before the wind completely shut off wrapping up a great regatta that we will certainly attend again.
-Dave Ingram
