Nov. 9, 2004 – If the supermarkets have an abundance of turkeys on their shelves, the Coral Bay Yacht Club's 23rd annual Thanksgiving Regatta isn't far away.
It runs Nov. 26 and 27 in Coral Harbor with Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant as its base.
"Although it's a competitive race, the goal is to have fun," committee member Denise Wright said.
The regatta kicks off on Nov. 26 with races for crewed gaff-rigged boats and single-handed sailors on Lasers, multihulls and boats in the 35-foot and under and over 35-foot classes. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Skinny Legs, with the skipper's meeting following at 9:30 a.m. The race begins at 11 a.m.
Crewed traditional, cruising, multihull and PHRF racing boats in two classes set sail on Nov. 27. The skipper's meeting is at 9 a.m. at Skinny Legs, with the race starting at 11 a.m.
Registration runs $35 for one or both days.
The event concludes with an awards ceremony on Nov. 27 at Skinny Legs, at 7:30 p.m.
Last year the top prize went to Trinka, a Rhodes 40 owned by Coral Bay residents Thatcher Lord and Vicki Rogers. They beat out On-line Vacations, a Cal 2-27 sailed by Wright. Both were entered in the PHRF II class.
Wright said to look for a close race between those two boats again this year. Additionally, Windshift, a Vandestedt 29 sailed by Coral Bay resident Nina Fette, will be a contender. Windshift came in third in the PHRF II class in last year's race.
"These boats are very close in performance," Wright said.
Last year, 35 boats raced on the event's first day. On the second, 33 sailors went around the course.
Anyone who wants to crew should show up at Skinny Legs before the race. Enthusiasm is the biggest asset.
Wright said it's hard to say just who will participate in the race.
"I think people wait to see what presents itself that morning," she said, speaking about the weather.
As always, the yacht club will sell T-shirts. This year, they feature Coral Bay perennial entry Liberty sailing under full sail with Emmaus Moravian Church in the background.
"Liberty's on a close reach," she said of the T-shirt picture of the Alden 52 owned by Coral Bay resident Fletcher Pitts.