Midwinters report: Jenny Long

After this year’s cold wet grey winter, I needed to get away to the sun. So decided to visit my sister and her husband (Sno-birds) who have a house in Florida where they spend the winter, and also to see some Americans whom I had visited thirty years ago in Orlando. Then, I thought, what about a bit of sailing whilst I am there, especially as there are plenty of lakes in the vicinity.

Are there any Wayfarers?
I gave Ralph Roberts a ring to see if he had any contacts in Florida. We had previously met at a Cruising Conference weekend one April and also on a rally from Wolverstone to Woodbridge last year.

What was the plan?
Little did I expect to have a regatta laid on, and a ready-made itinerary and accommodation arranged for five days. Ralph had arranged to meet with members of the Lake Eustis Sailing Club near Orlando. Here there was a fleet of Wayfarers which was holding a three day regatta over the first weekend of February. Ralph very generously included me in his plans.

How did we meet up?
Since I had flown out earlier, we met up on Thursday evening at Orlando airport as Ralph came off his plane, but had some difficulty in finding each other. We picked up a rental car, which Ralph had previously booked, and got on the road to Eustis. Confused initially by the sign posting system, we went wrong at a few of the junctions, and it took two and a half hours to do a forty mile journey!

What sailing did we do?
Friday was spent at the club: briefing meeting in the morning, finding a boat to borrow, rigging a suit of sails and taking part in two afternoon races in which we felt that we acquitted ourselves very well, bearing in mind the little time we had to get used to things. The courses were always windward-leeward ones, usually two and a half times round, depending on the strength of wind. The first two races on the Saturday were cancelled due to no wind and in the third, as we could not get our boat to “go” well, a bit of hand paddling was needed to get us along at crucial points in the race, before retiring on reaching the finishing line. Sunday was a little better with a slight variable breeze, but not enough for us to do as well in the last two races of the regatta, as we had managed on the Friday.

For more details and pictures of the racing, together with tips on how to get a Wayfarer sailing faster in light wind conditions, visit the Canadian Wayfarer Web site on: www.angelfire.com/de2/mid/ . Sunday afternoon came all too quickly, prizes for two classes – one with spinnaker and one without - were distributed and everyone made preparations to leave.

How were we entertained?
The Club has been in existence for many years but has recently been given a new lease of life by moving to a new site on the shore of the lake. Although the boat park is extensive, there is no clubhouse as yet because plans were shelved when the money was needed to purchase a further piece of adjacent land last year. There are plans for it to be built by next year. But who wants to be inside when there is such good weather. Much nicer under an awning under the trees.

Catering was provided by the ladies of the club with packed lunches to be eaten before, on the boats or after the races. There was a barbeque the first evening and a dinner the second night brought in by outside caterers. Iced beer flowed freely after the races! Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. A truly international English speaking-crowd including Canadians, “Floridians”, “Snobirds” from North States and English. The first had travelled down from Canada especially for this occasion. One of these had originally emigrated from Whyteleafe, which is a place 3 miles from where I live in England. 4000mls for me and 2000miles for him to enable us to meet!

Lakes and hills of the surrounding area are very attractive. We spent a day looking around Mt. Dora with its pretty houses and going to the National Forest. Alternatively, go further to Disneyland or NASA at Cape Canaveral. Wild life is different and interesting. (By the way, what happens if you capsize in a lake in Florida? Does the rescue boat get to you first or the alligators?) Hospitality is wonderful. We hope that we have made some contacts which can be developed when they come to England or other people visit Florida. Many lakes and rivers are interconnected so there is the possibility of some interesting cruising inland or there are the coastal waters to explore as well.

I am hoping to go again. Anyone holidaying in the area during February of next year would be made most at this annual Mid-winter regatta, or indeed any of the other weekend races. Contact Ralph Roberts, Bob Brown or Uncle Al for further information.